I never cared for the decision being given against me so little as I did this time, for everyone, almost, in the audience knew the right. Our debate no doubt resulted in waking up the people to some degree, for our opponents could only eulogize you. Ever rest assured of my highest appreciation of the points sent me. Wishing that you may live long to continue your fight for the many against the few, I am, Very respectfully yours, S. B. MCCALL. A missive like the foregoing is decidedly interesting to me, and the spirit moves me to say certain things to my correspondent, which I do, in manner and form following, to wit: A LETTER TO A BOY MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND: I do not know you personally, have never grasped your hand and looked into your eyes, but your letter makes me think well of you. In the first place, it discloses the fact that after all your careful preparation for the debate, _you made an extemporaneous speech_. Good. No one can be a debater on any other terms. It is possible that one may be an orator and be unable to leave the written form, but the gift of extemporaneous expression _is absolutely essential to a debater_. _To think on one’s legs_—that’s a gift; and it seems that you have it. * * * * * Again, I learn from your letter that you _knew_ you had on your hands a hard task in maintaining the unpopular side of the debate, and that you did not shrink from the burden. Good again. That’s the way to become a _man_. The boy who is ever on the lookout for the easy job, the popular side, and who runs away from obstacles or opposition, will always remain a boy—and not much of a boy at that. There is but one rule for you if you want to be a man—absolutely but one—and that is to do your level best to reach a clear, correct idea of what is right, and then stick to it and fight for it, in spite of the “world, the flesh and the devil.” This rule will make you enemies, and will give you just about as many hard knocks as are needful to your health, but if you want to be a _man_, that’s the price you’ve got to pay. * * * * * You say you found difficulty in securing impartial judges. Well, I should think so.