Kent's new commentary: a manual for young men

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;:S OF AMI

UNITED STATEfi

Preface To Second Edition

The first edition was issued four years ago. It was a venture then, without prestige. We sent it on its mission, not knowing how it would be received by the impartial critic. We were not a little anxious for its fate while " waiting for the verdidl." We had not long to wait ; and we do not wish to be thought egotistical when we say that it surpassed our most sanguine expe6lations.

The "press" treated our efforts with marked consideration. Their "reviews" were generous — complimentary, and their commendations were unqualified, fully endorsing the New Commentary.

Letters-testimonial, unsolicited, came by the hundreds. Their tone was marked by the most emphatic language of approval — "The best book I ever read;" "Worth its weight in gold;" "A capital book for young men," and similar forcible expressions.

Many of them came from distinguished personages. We mention a few names to show the class and standing of those who were so kind as to favor us with their opinions of the New Com.- mentary^ over their own signatures :

Rev. George F. Magoun, D. D., President Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa; Hon. G. W. McCrary, Judge United States circuit court, Keokuk, Iowa; Rev. H. W. Parker, Professor Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa ; J. L. Pickard, President Iowa University, Iowa City, Iowa ; Rev. A. L. Frisbee, Des Moines, Iowa ; Rev. Dr. Salter, Burlington, Iowa ; Prof. M. T. Brown, General Agent Johnson's New American Encyclopaedia, Davenport, Iowa ; Rev. D. R. Dungan, D. D., President Drake College, Des Moines, Iowa ; Rev. Dr. J. M. Sturtevant, Jr., Grinnell, Iowa ; Rev. Samuel Hodge, President Lenox Collegiate Institute, Hopkinton, Iowa; Rev. W. H. Stifler, D. D., Davenport, Iowa; Rev. Canon Kellogg, Professor Griswold College, Davenport, Iowa; Miss Frances E. Willard, of Evanston, Illinois, the distinguished scholar, author, and lecturer, now President of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union ; Hon. John V. Farwell, Farw^ell & Co., Chicago, Illinois ; David C. Cook, Chicago, Illinois ; Rev. J. G. Merrill, St. Louis, Missouri ; Rev. T. W. Post, D. D., St. Louis, Missouri ; Rev. C. L. Goodell, D. D., St. Louis, Missouri ; Rt. Rev. Frederick D. Huntington, S. T. D., Bishop of Central New York, Syracuse, New York ; Prof. John R. French, Dean of the

X PREFACE.

College of Liberal Arts, Syracuse University, New York; Rev. J. M. Clarke, D. D., Re6lor St. James Episcopal church, Syracuse, New York ; Prof. George A. Bacon, Ph. D., Syracuse, New York ; Rev. Richmond Fisk, D. D., Syracuse, New York; Rev. A. F. Beard, D. D., American Chapel, Paris, France; Rev. Nelson Millard, D. D., Norwich, Connecticut ; Rev. T. T. Munger, Author, North Adams, Massachusetts ; Rev. E. B. Webb, Boston, Massachusetts ; Rev. A. B. Kendig, Boston, Massachusetts ; Rev. E. H. Greeley, Concord, New Hampshire ; Rev. E. F. Clark, East Boston, Massachusetts; Rev. Dr. S. F. Smith, author of '' My Country, 'Tis of Thee," Newton Centre, Massachusetts ; Rev. A. H. Currier, Lynn, Massachusetts ; Gen. H. K. Oliver, Salem, Massachusetts ; Rev. Washington Gladden, Columbus, Ohio ; Rev. Dr. H. N. Powers, Bridgeport, Conne6ticut ; Rev. Charles F. Deems, Pastor of the "Church of the Stranger," New York City ; Hon. John F. Dillon, New York City ; Rev. James Powell, Secretary American Missionary Association, New York City ; Hon. Wm. E. Dodge, New York City ; Rev. Howard Crosby, D. D , Chancellor of the University of New York; Prof. W. B. Kirkbride, "Columbus, New Jersey ; Prof. A. C. Perkins, Principal of Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire ; G. H. Rollins, Deschutes, Oregon ; Prof S. K. Henrie, Greensburg, Pennsylvania ; Prof. L. C. Stiffler, Hagerstown, Maryland ; Prof. Will. A. Cate, Maryville, Tennessee ; R. J. Beatty, Esq., Treasurer Iron and Steel Works, Portsmouth, Ohio ; Prof. Wm. M. Bristoll, Yankton, Dakota ; W. C. Stiles, Esq., Rome, Ohio ; Prof. Samuel Hammitt, Hamilton, Ohio ; Rev. A. H. Chittenden, Hartsville, Indiana ; Rev. Henry S. DeForest, President Talladega ( Alabama ) College ; Prof. Abner J. Phipps, Superintendent Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

We quote a single extra6l from a letter by the late Hon. William E. Dodge, of New York City, the retired Christian merchant. He says :

''As I read it I could not but wish that it might be put in a cheap and popular style, so as to secure a wide circulation in our railroad cars, to take the place of the miserable trash which is thus being sown broadcast over the land, growing up to destroy the precious youth."

Occasionally an order was received from an anxious mother, which indicated the depth of a "mother's love" — not expressible on paper — requesting a copy to be mailed to "my son, away from home. Write his name on the 'fly leaf,' 'from mother.'"

One pastor writes that he has recommended the New Commentary to the young men of his congregation ^'from. the pulpits A well-known Boston pastor says that "the New Commentary ought to be in every Sabbath school." A principal in Ohio recommended it as a "reading book" for the public schools. Super-

PREFACE. xi

intendents, teachers in Sabbath schools, and business men, have ordered from one to a dozen copies for presents to young men in whose welfare they felt a deep interest.

The first edition had a wide circulation, reaching every state and territory, and the Canadas, and many were sent "across the water." In the revision we have aimed to make this edition superior to the first in many particulars, which are here apparent. The handsome dress, with its brilliant armor — the superb paper, the beautiful and clear type, the telling illustrations — can but attract the eye; while the " words that burn" — its living principles — ought to absorb the thoughts of the inmost soul of every young man who may be awake to the mighty possibilities that await him, and are within his grasp.

We hope and trust that these undying principles may be woven into the web of the life of every young man into whose hands this little book shall fall, to be a beacon light to illuminate his pathway along the margin of that illimitable ocean which he may hereafter be permitted to traverse in the exploration of the mysteries of that vast universe which is now veiled from mortal vision.

A WORD TO PARENTS.

The New Commentary is sent on its mission in the fullest confidence, with the utmost faith, believing that no young man can carefully read it through without being strongly impressed with the convi6lion that "life is worth living," and living well; that its principles and teachings must tend to inspire faith in himself, by encouraging, strengthening, and stimulating him with a desire to emulate the examples of self-made mien, and to resolve to "go and do likewise" — to choose some worthy life-purpose upon which to concentrate his entire energies ; that it may be the means of rescuing some young men from impending ruin who may already be on the "down grade," whose feet are treading close by the threshold of despair — which once crossed is to be doomed.

If, however, the New Commentary shall be the means of rescuing one young man on the brink of that spanless chasm — a xii PREFACE.

vicftim of that most-to-be-feared, and of all evils the most to be dreaded (who can conceive of a worse evil?) — that insidious foe that lurks within the gilded covers of the too popular books of the news-stands and railway trains — those masked demons, coiled from sight, but filled with the most virulent poison, deadly venom. Those vile sensational stories, gilding over vice, painting crime in such glowing colors that it would seem a virtue to do evil, the influence of which is more to be dreaded than the most venomous reptiles of an African jungle, were they lurking beneath our sidewalks, watching for an opportunity to infli6l every passer-by with their deadly bite. If one young man shall be rescued from so great a peril, our efforts will not have been in vain.

The Author.

Park Place, Davenport, Iowa, 1884.

Preface To First Edition

When an author writes a book he is supposed to have an objed: in view. He should certainly have some purpose, though it may be difficult for his readers to discern what it is.

We must confess that for years we have had a desire to write a book, and our desire is now gratified. We sele6led the name, ^^ Kent's New Commentary,'^ because we thought it the most suggestive, and as comprehensive as any we could hit upon. We believe that commentaries, as a rule, treat upon various and sundry subjedls, and in this particular we judge the reader will be satisfied with the number we have introduced.

With this brief preface we lay down our pen, with the sincere hope that our labors may, in some measure, be rewarded, by accomplishing some good wherever our little book goes. If some pathways are made brighter, and every home it enters made happier, we shall be more than satisfied.

The Author.

Park Place, Davenport, Iowa, 1880,

Contents

Page.

PRELUDE, 17

A Boy Lost, 17 ; Must Have a Guide, 22.

Part I. The Missing Host, - 24

"Missing, My Son!" — "Ten Thousand Dollars Reward," 24; The New Hampshire Boy, 26.

THE SCHEMES OF SWINDLERS, - - 29

The Minister's Son, 29; The Clergyman From Illinois, 30; Sharp Men are Bitten, 31.

SOWING AND REAPING, -.----... 33

Patiently Waiting, 34; Stick to Your Business, 35; Don't Cut the Corners, 35; Laying the Foundation, 36 ; The Fall of the Pemberton Mill, 37 ; The Davenport Bridge, 38 ; Chara6ler- Building, 38 ; Admiral Farragut at Ten Years of Age, 40.

FORTUNE, 42

What to Do, 43; Fortune-Telling, 45; The Astrologers, 45; The "Spirits," 48; The Gypsies, 49; The Fortune-Teller, 51.

READING FICTION, - 51

Dime Novels, 53 ; What to Read, 55 ; How the Man Went to the Circus, 56; Improving Literature, 58; Fighting the Indians, 60 ; Sad End of One Young Man Ruined by Bad Books, 64 ; Good Books to Read, 66.

HEALTH, 68

Good Living, 69; Cleanliness, 70; The Best Medicine, 71; Beware of the Do6tors, 73 ; The Conne6licut Do6tor's Remedy, 77; Invalid's Retreat, 77 ; Getting Up in the Morning, 78; How to Develop Lung-Power, 78; Ministers vs. Lawyers, 80; Advice, 82. ^

HABITS, - - 83

A Horrible Death, 83 ; Filthy Habits, 84 ; Good Manners, 86 ; Dress, 86.

xiv CONTENTS.

Page.

HOW TO DESERVE SUCCESS, --------- 88

Politeness, 88; Two Ways of Doing the Same Thing, 88; Did it Pay ? 90 ; Thirty-five Thousand Dollars a Year, 90 ; Profitable Politeness, 90; Hotel Clerk, 92; Please Your Employers, 92; Make Your Employer's Business Yours, 94; Pacific Mills, Lawrence, Massachusetts, 96 ; Put On the Appearance of Business, 97 ; Don't Be Above Your Business, 99 ; Choice of Boarding- Houses, 100.

HOW TO INSURE SUCCESS, --------- 102

Pluck, 102; A Sermon in a Paragraph, 103; Waiting For the Elevator, 103 ; Burned His Ship — Blew Up the Bridge, 105 ; Do Not Procrastinate, 106.

THE BATTLE OF LIFE, ---------- 107

The Conflict is Yours — Are You Ready For the Battle? 107; Opposition, 108 ; Every One Must Take Care of His Own Head, 108; General Zachary Taylor, 109; On the Voyage — Each One His Own Pilot, no; What Every Young Man Must Have, 112; Don't Give Up, 112; Perseverance, 113; How John Morrisey Went to Congress, 114; Catching the Train, 115; Ten Thousand Dollars Lost ! Ten Thousand Dollars Won ! 116; How We Learned to Play the Organ, 116; Experience Must Be Paid For, 123.

HOW SOME MEN HAVE SUCCEEDED, ------ 124

Economy the Secret, 124 ; Emma Abbott, 127 ; Working to Win, 128 ; Keep Out of Debt, 130.

HINDRANCES TO A SUCCESSFUL CAREER, 131

Is Poverty a Hindrance? 131; Money Well Earned Goes the Furthest, 133 ; There are Many Things Money Cannot Buy, 135.

BRAINS AND LABOR: RESULT— SUCCESS, ----,- 137 Brain-Power, 137 ; The Path-Finder, 138 ; Want a Turnpike, 139; Born Great, 139; After the Bugs and Rocks, 140; How One Man Won, 144.

MEN WHO STARTED AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER, - - 146 President Johnson, the Tailor, 153 ; Hiram Sibley, the Famous Millionaire of Western New York, 153; A Plucky Boy, 155; Gun- Boats, 158; The Great Undertaking, 158; The St Louis Bridge, 159.

WHAT BRINGS HAPPINESS, 160

Happiness vs. Gold, 160; A Millionaire's Enjoyments, 163 ; One Wealthy Lady's Experience, 164; Poor Richard's Advice, 166.

INDULGENCE OF APPETITE, - - - - 167

Ruined by Whisky, 167; "Wanted — A Boy to Attend Bar," 172; Temperance, 173; Tobacco as Vile as Whisky, 174; "Tobacco Does Not Hurt Me," 175 ; Delmonico's, 175.

CONTENTS. XV

Page.

CIGAR-STUBS AND OPIUM, ----.-..- 178

The Dele6lable Ingredients of the Modern Cigarette — A Growing Vice, 178 ; Smoker's Catarrh, 180 ; A Bill to Make Idiots, 181.

WHISKY VS. HOME, 182

How Are the Mighty Fallen? 182; Fire, Sleigh-Ride, etc., 192; Boston Red-Tape — Two Beautiful Children Frozen to Death, 204 ; James Noxx's Home, 212 ; A Lesson From the Noxx Family, 218.

HAPPY HOMES, 220

A Wife, 220; Falling in Love, 222; Business is Business, 223; The Modern Belle, 224; Good House-Keepers Are a Rarity, 226 ; What Iowa Girls Are Taught, 228 ; Unhappily Mated, 230 ; The Girl of the Sort to Get, 232; Some of the Evidences of Conjugal Felicity, 233; A Wife to Her Husband, 236; Newly- Married Couples, 238; "In Ye Olden Time," 239; There is Nothing Too Good For Man, 241; A Song For the "Hearth and Home," 242.

THE MAGNITUDE OF TRIFLES, 243

Trifles — Little Things, 244; The Chicago Fire, 245; A City Destroyed, 246 ; Fourth of July Time, 248 ; Discovery of Steam, 249; Ele6lricity — Its Pow-er, 251; Trifling with Human Life, 253 ; Whisky Did It, 255 ; The Terrible Result of One Bo3''s Sin, 256 ; Small Beginnings, 257.

ACTION ! ACTION ! ! ACTION ! ! ! - - - - - - - 258

Talent and Ambition, 259 ; Political Honors Unsatisfying, 260 ;

EXAMPLES OF HEROISM, 260

Napoleon Bonaparte, 260 ; Florence Nightingale, 263 ; Every- Day Heroes, 265 ; A True Hero, 266 ; Frank Hamilton's Tragic Death, 268.

WHAT SHALL I LIVE FOR, 270

What I Live For, 270.

SUBLIMITY OF A PURPOSE, - 271

The Emperor of Russia's Way of Building"" Railroads, 273 ; Independence, 273 ; Crazy Inventor, 274; " Fulton's Folly," 274; The World's Martyrs, 275 ; Palissy, the Potter, 276 ; The Impassable Barrier, 278 ; Opposition, 280 ; The Discoverer of the Planet Vulcan, 282 ; Communism, 282 ; Revolution Among the M. D.'s, 283 ; The Old Meeting-House that Stood On the Hill, 284 ; The Student, 286 ; The Mysteries of the Centuries, 288.

EXAMPLES OF MEN WHO HAVE LIVED FOR A PURPOSE, - 290 Horace '.Maynard — Setting His Mark High, 290 ; Johns Hopkins's Purpose, 290 ; The Wrecker, 292 ; Saved From the Wreck, 294 ; Peter Cooper, the Great Philanthropist, 296.

xvi CONTENTS.

Pa DELUSIONS OF THE AGE, - - - - 301

The "Mirage," 301; Thirst, 302; Thirsting for Fame, 303; Thirsting for Honors, 304.