Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachu setts. JOHN F. TROW, Printer and Stereotyper, 49 and 51 Ann-st., N. Y. TO THE READER. In the Preface to the "Young Man's Guide," first edition, the reader may find the following paragraph, which will be a sufficient apology-if apology is needed-for the appearance of the present volume. "Nor is it to be expected that a work of this size would make the lofty pretensions of embracing every thing which it is necessary for young men to know and practise in order to become useful, virtuous and happy, in all the relations of life. A few topics only have been presented; and those with a brevity which, I fear, will detract from their importance. Should the work, however, meet the approbation of those for whom it is intended, and be a means of improving their character, it is not improbable that another volume, embracing several other important and interesting topics which were necessarily excluded from this, may hereafter be attempted." Now if the sale of about 50,000 of the "Young Man's Guide," during the past fifteen years, requires that I should redeem the pledge thus publicly and voluntarily given, I herewith make the attempt. But I do so in part only; for there remains a wide range of subjects belonging to the department of Health and Physiology, as necessary to young men as any thing I have yet written; which may possibly bring me, once more, before the many millions of a class of citizens for whom well written books, in the right style and spirit, are, at the present crisis, most imperiously demanded. I should also observe, in this place, that some of the following letters, in a crude form, have already appeared in the columns of the New-York Evangelist and other papers and journals. In the present case, however, they are considerably altered, amended, and, as I trust, improved. West Newton, Mass., June, 1849. THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. The Author's Apology-Young Men do not aim high enough-Re- sponsibilities of the Young Men of America-Their peculiar situa- Self-Knowledge greatly facilitated by Self-Reverence-What Watts says-Some of the evils of Self-Ignorance-Our threefold nature- Apology for the condition of the young at present-Erroneous edu- Harmony of Character-The Balance-The Young to be men in miniature-Condition of Society-Difficulties in the way-Moral Analysis of the Human Being-Comparison-A great law-The War within-Effects of divided labor-Errors of the schools-A word of The Keys of knowledge-A comparison-The Ancient Athenians— Anecdotes of Self-Instructed Young Men-Young Men have time and means-Errors in regard to reading-Reading at late hours, Definition of Terms-Reading by Snatches-Newspaper Reading- Reading in fragments-Facts-Depraved taste-Caution required- Right and duty of choice-History and Geography recommended to The study of Grammar a failure-Examples-How to acquire the The author not an enemy of schools-Proofs adduced-Defects of the |