ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN AND BOYS [Illustration: _Stephen Girard._] ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN AND BOYS _A SERIES OF ADDRESSES_ DELIVERED BY B. B. COMEGYS MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF CITY TRUSTS OF PHILADELPHIA TO THE PUPILS OF THE GIRARD COLLEGE ILLUSTRATED WITH Six Photogravure Portraits on Steel PHILADELPHIA GEBBIE & CO., Publishers 1890 Copyright by GEBBIE & CO., 1889. PREFACE. In January, 1882, I was appointed by the Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas of Philadelphia to the Board of Directors of City Trusts, which has charge of Girard College, having for some years previously, by the kind partiality of President Allen, been on the staff of speakers in the Chapel on Sundays. My interest in the Pupils was of course at once increased, and ever since I have given much time and thought to the moral instruction of the boys. From the many Addresses made to them I have selected the following as fair specimens of the instruction I have sought to impart. Some repetitions of thought and language may be accounted for by the lapse of time between the giving of the Addresses, not forgetting the well-known Hebrew proverb, “Line upon line――precept upon precept――here a little――there a little.” The word “Orphans” as used in the will of Mr. Girard has been defined by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to mean boys who are fatherless. The book is published in the hope that it may be the means of helping some boys and young men other than those to whom the Addresses were made. 4205 WALNUT ST., _November, 1889._ CONTENTS. STEPHEN GIRARD AND HIS COLLEGE. (Introductory) PAGE 9 HOW TO WIN SUCCESS “ 25 LIFE――ITS OPPORTUNITIES AND TEMPTATIONS “ 39 ON THE DEATH OF WILLIAM WELSH “ 51 BAD ASSOCIATES “ 59 ON THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD “ 69 THE CASE OF THE UNEDUCATED EMPLOYED “ 79 WILLIAM PENN “ 99 OUR CONSTITUTION “ 113 JAMES LAWRENCE CLAGHORN “ 129 THE LEAF TURNED OVER “ 143 THANKSGIVING DAY. (November 29, 1888) “ 155 ON THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT ALLEN “ 169 A YOUNG MAN’S MESSAGE TO BOYS “ 179 A TRUTHFUL CHARACTER “ 188