"The time will be coming--is come, perhaps--when your young people must
decide on the course and main occupation of their future lives. You will
expect to have a voice in the matter. Quite right, if a voice of
counsel, of remonstrance, of suggestion, of pointing out unsuspected
difficulties, of encouragement by developing the means of success. Such
a voice as that from an elder will always be listened to. But perhaps
your have already settled in your own mind the calling to be followed,
and you mean simply to call on the youngster to accept and register your
decree on the opening pages of his autobiography. This is, indeed a
questionable proceeding, unless you are perfectly assured of what the
young man's unbiased choice will be."