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C Lxfn . n~ \ \ i v i: DEVOTED TO VOL. VII. CHOOSING A PROFESSION. Few questions of greater import- tance are presented to young men for consideration. What avocations are best suited to certain individ- uas, may be a question for the spe cialist to ponder. For what occupa tion am I best suited, and what call ing in life do my talents seem to point as best calculated for me to fili, are questions for every young man to look at in every possible light before a final conclusion is reached. It is a lamentable fact that many avocations of mankind are burdened with men who have been pushed into them, so to speak, by mere circumstances of light im portance, or else they are filled bv men who just drift into them with out any consideration at all of the important question. Frequently young men, by the influence of fond parents, are induced to enter call ings in life for which they have no taste, nor inclination, nor talents!— Thus the doting mother has her fa vorite preacher, and her boy is con stoutly persuaded to take as his model the said preacher, and it is ■whispered to him what a joy it would be to mother for him to be such a man. The proud father has his favorite pl»3 r sician or lawyer, and the praises of such an one are sqng to the young man until the calling is invested with a fascina tion that renders action less akin to reason than infatuation. The young man himself may see or hear some distinguished man, and from the trifling fact that he has great admi ration for the man, may decide on his life’s course for no other reason. While this is obviously the case it does not require a second thought to see the folly and absurdity of such a course. By careful observa tion on the part of parents certain traits of character and disposition may be noted in a child of very ten der years. Thus it may be noted that one child seems to reach a con clusion, as it were, by magic, with out evtfli seeming to be conscious of any mental action, while another seems to expend an enormous amount of mental energy. Shall the father choose such a calling for the latter as may require rapid thought and quick conclusions as in the case of sudden emergency? And must the child with a quick perception be advised Y ilfT H f HE INTERESTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. ATHENS, G-A., SATURDAY JAN. 14, 1888. NO. 12 to fel'ow some calling requires long and laborious jht? Limy wMl show a fond- for leruin things at a very which thou ness early age. fit may be noted that one child is paid*'! ately fond of horses, and will spend hours riding an im aginary hors; 1 made from a stick, while he is nu-er so happy as when allowed to take the reins in his hands. Shall such a boy be sent off to a business college and receive a mercantile ed ication with a view of entering the calling of a merchant? One child is noticed to be passion ately fond of reading, and may be found with a book or paper in his hand nearly 11 the time; another is fond of using tools. Shall the boy who is fond <f books be advised to enter the c lling of a carpenter, while the one with love for tools be made to entei the calling of a lawyer or divine? Thus we may safely conclude thai one of the very tirsi things to emsider when we are choosing ^{ling or profession in life is whetlW we have a fondness for such woiii as may be required. If one does not love his work there is high probai iiity that he will neglect it, and will trove a failure. Another mint to be well consid ered is our nentsl capacities and in clinations. As much as we hate to admit the f: it, it is nevertheless true that nearly all of us are deficient in some parti;ular mental capacity. One of us has a fondness lor lan guages, an kher for mathematics, and anotlie for philosophy or physs ics. True I is the old maxim— “Many nun of many minds.” It would beat absurdity for a student who is a socially bright boy in chemistry, ind who takes a delight in performing experiments, but who has a hatif cl for searching out Greek roots or breading the intricate mazes of Latin Syntax—it would be the highest absurdity for him to seek to ma ie himself a professor of ancient lanjgunges. Again it is well to consider the feelings, as well as the preference, for certain branches of study. If one’s feelings are re bellious at the idea of public speak ing, how can he ever hope to make a public speaker of any note? If one sickens at the sight of blood, must he take up the calling of a surgeon? Though there are some disagreeable duties connected with nearly every calliug in life, yqt there are certain dispositions which seem suited to perform certain duties. Many men can face a cannon's mouth without a quiver, but they quake and trem ble at a sheet carelessly left on a clothes line. Another point to con sider is our physical fitness for any calling in life. If a man be small of stature, weak of body, he cannot befitted for any calling that requires much fatigue, exposure, or bodily exertion. If a man has a weak or harsh voice he can never fill accept ably the position of public speaker. A man who is maimed or deformed can never stand before an audience without exciting in some degree, in some of his hearers, an unpleasant feeling. His language may be beau tiful and his reasoning perfect, but EXCHANGES. Again we take pleasure in noticing tlie exchanges which have reached n during the past week. They hue been few, but those which have Ten received are very high in the S ale of merit. The Pennsylvanian is among our liw weekly exchanges, and among o r best. Its editorial department is very strong, while its locals might it; improved upon. On the whole htwever, it is an excellent paper. The Adelphian comes to us filled ’ with interesting pieces. Among p liers, we note its selections from rl ffereut authors which are very tb'od. As a proof of our regard for the literary merit of the Messenger, from there is a vague feeling of uneasi-fe clmiond college, we place on out ness, of uniest, in the audience - . .. - which it is impossible to overcome. We cannot afford to overlook our physical adaptability when choosing our life work. The quick and im pulsive temper is hardly suited to such a calling as requires tedious and laborious work. The quick tempered man cannot hope to make a good teacher until he has acquired such control over his temper as few with such tempers ever attain. Many other points should be con sidered, such as our patience, ener gy, perseverance and zeal. It is important to choose a calling in life as early as practicable, in order to so direct and shape our training as to best fit us for our lile work. But it is equally important to take time for mature consideration. No young man has a right to rush headlong into some vocation for which he has no talents, and in which, so far from being useful, he is a burden and a hindrance. Nor has he a right t( neglect the means God has givei fiont page a very fine selection from its many articles. We are glad to place on our ex- jciange list the Georgia Cracker ifiom Atlanta, Ga. It is edited by -j lido Ramsdell, an expert in the no upon which the Cracker is run* Uthough it is not a college paper, re wish to see it often. him by which he may judge of hi| fitness to fill any position and seek to find out by experiment wha may be found out by a little reason ing. Will we not be held account* ble for such portions of our lives as we may waste in such experiment ? Fellow-students, let us ponder well before we enter into our life work,in order that we may act well our part, and do credit to the work as well as gain honor for ourselves.- Richmond College Messenger. VNIVERSITT PRATER MEETING. The exercises of the University Prayer meeting were resumed after a long cessation on last Friday night at 7:30 p. m. Quite a number of students were present, and every thing seemed to indicate that much interest is being manifested in these meetings, and that the meetings in the future will be well attended. Mr. J. D. Mell led the meeting, read ing as a lesson the 103rd Psalm, and taking as his leading verse a portion of the verse “The fool has said iu his heart, there is no God.” In his clear, logical, and impressive way, he disproved all the assertions and arguments of the infidel and pointed out the benefits to be derived from a Christian life. His remarks were greatly enjoyed by all present. Mr. T. W. Reed will lead the next meet ing, aud Mr. W. A. Davis will lead the one following. The attendance of all students is earnestly solicited. Go to W. A. Jester’s for Fishd an Oysters, served in any style. W. A. Jester has just received a shipment of Malaga grapes, Banana nas, Oranges, Apples, etc., to which he calls the attention of the stu dents.