Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-08-20
From the Springfield Gazette.
WHAT SHALL BE DONE FOR OUR
YOUNG MEN?


This is question which is often asked
We wish to press it upon the public attention.
What shall be done for their improvement
and happiness' ls the inquiry of any conse
quence? This will scarcely be questioned.
They are the growing hopes, the rising pride
Of the republic. They are soon to stand on
the watch-towers offrcedom, to man its walls,
to garrison its citadels, to watch over its
most precious treasures, and minister at its
hoiest rites'-They are soon to make, ex-
pound, and execute the law, to preside over
the peace, order, and security of society, and
the happiness, purity, and charities of domes-
tic life. They are now rehearsing their part
for the last time, and are soon to enter upon
the stage, and to take their share in the great
drama of the world. Their character will
speedily be fixed. 1t is settling down into
the infexbiity Of manhood.
We know that this has been said; but has
it not been duly felt? Take a single Glass;
How many hundreds and thousands of clerks
and apprentices are rising up through the
length and breadth Of the country? They
are engaged in useful occupations, and de-
stined to form two ofthe most influential clas-
ses of the community. They are to mingle
in all the active enterprises of society, to hold
q large portion Of its wealth, and to control
an immense number Of its suffrages. But
how little is done for their happiness, or in
tellectual cultivation, or moral elevation! They
are generally ripening into manhood almost
without guidance or instruction, except in
their business; many fhem may be said 10
haze no home; most Of them are away from the
parental roof, with no substitute for it's domes-
tic influences, and in the midst Of temptation
to vicious company and to evil places Of re-
sort. Ought not something to be done?
lfit be the duty of any one to nterposc for
the preservation of this interesting class, that
duty rests with peculiar force upon their en-
ployers. They stand towards these young
men in the place of parents. With few ex
ceptions, such is their legal relation. An
authority and an influence are confined to
the master, which may be made the instru-
ment of boundless good to the clerk or ap-
prentice under his charge. Ordinarily no
one else can exercise the same authority and
influence. Upon the common principles of
benevolence, therefore, no one has the same
responsibilities.
Habits of subordination must be commenc-
ed during youth. If employers wish to pro-
tect the community against tumultuous as
semblages, and themselves against unlawful
combinations and violations of contract here
after, let them lay the foundations Of good
order, intelligence, and principle now. The
apprentice soon becomes the iourneyman, as
the clerk does the merchant. In this view
simply, we believe it TO be the interest of the
employer, particularly the mechanic, to exer-
else careful supervision over the young men
under his care. The best remedy for the
evils which disturb society is prevention.
We are not so anxious to see authority ex-
erted by employers more strict, as more pa
rental. We wish to perceive it more obvi-
ously seeking The Happiness and improvement
Of the individuals whom it controls; to dscov-
er it unconGned to the hours Of business
merely; to see clerks and apprentices provid- |
cd with more domestic comforts, and thus
bound by more domestic tics, to keep them
from bad influences abroad. We desire to
have every one of this class, truly as well as
nominally, in possession Of a home.
Employers may be unwilling to submit to
the trouble and inconvenience. But is it no.
thing to have afectionate inmates Of their
families? to have clerk or apprentice, in
whose attachment they can confde? to have
their interests identified in feeling with those
of the persons whom they employ? Will they
find intelligence Of no use in their business?
And do they think it Of no consequence to
have their authority strengthened and per-
fected by affection? There may indeed be
trouble and inconvenience; but no capital will
more surely repay the outlay.