s success. No man has a right to a fortune; he has no right to
expect success, unless he is willing to work for it. A brother of the
great orator, Edmund Burke, after listening to one of those eloquent
appeals in Parliament, being noticed as employed in deep thought, was
asked of whom he was musing. He replied: "I have been wondering how Ned
contrived to monopolize all the talent in the family; but I remember
that all through childhood, while we were at play, he was at study."

Ah! that's it. The education, moral or intellectual, must be chiefly his
own work. Education is education, no matter how obtained. We do not wish
to be understood as depreciating the usefulness of colleges; not at all.
But a mere college diploma will avail a young man but little. As before
stated, education, no matter how obtained, is equally valuable. Study
like that of Webster and Greeley, by New Hampshire pine knots, and that
of Thurlow Weed before the sap-house fire, is just as valuable, when
once obtained, as if it had the sanction of some college president.

The world will only ask, "What can he do?" and will not care a fig for
any college certificate. The point is; if a young man be not endowed by
self-reliance and a firm determination, colleges will avail him nothing;
but if he have these, colleges will push him wonderfully. Nevertheless,
colleges are not essential to success--an educated idiot will never make
a statesman. It is said that when John C. Calhoun was attending Yale
College he was ridiculed for his intense application to his studies. He
replied, "Why, sir, I am forced to make the most of my time, that I may
acquit myself creditably when in Congress." A laugh followed which
roused his Southern blood, and he exclaimed: "Do you doubt it? I assure
you that if I was not convinced of my ability to reach the National
Capitol as a representative within three years from my graduation, I
would leave college this very day." While there are some things in this
speech that were possibly unbecoming; yet the principle of
self-reliance, this faith in himself, this high aim in life, was
undoubtedly the marked characteristic which brought to Calhoun his
splendid success.

No young man will ever succeed who will not cultivate a thinking mind.
If he is not original in aims and purposes he will not succeed. Witness
the attempt of others to continue the business of Stewart. They had not
only his experience, but the benefit of his great wealth; he