Liberty advocate., 1839-06-06
MECHANICS.

'Iook at that tailor, driving his barouche
and horses" said whiskered dandy in Broad.
way; show can America ever arrive at distinc-
tion, when all classification of persons is thus
annihilated, and the coach Of your tailor runs
against the wheels OF your own tilbury?"--
This is the opinion, no doubt, of many who
never earned a dollar by their own indus
TRY. Bonaparte, the best Judge Of human ma
ture and OF merit, never visited great paint
ing, or specimen of ingenuity or mechan-
c art, that he did not, on taking leave, walk
up formally to the artist, or mechanic, or
engineer, and, taking off his hat, salute him
with low and respectful bow it was an homage
due TO merit, and he always paid that debt
Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing
mechanic in his own coach, that is to say, if he
drives his own coach, on the actual profits Of
his occupation if he mistakes the time and be-
gins too early, he is lost; for mechanic who
sets up his coach, and is compelled to set it down
again, from premature commencement and
not understanding his position, is poor crea-
ture indeed, and runs ahead of his business.
1t is a CUSTOM and bad custom in England,
to look, on tradesmen and mechanics as an in
lerior class Of men, without reference to their
character or wealth. This however, grows
out ofthe distinction and classi6cations Of socie-
Ity in monarchical form Of government, and
keeps mechanics, excepting in the city of Lon
don, continually under the ban, and consequent
ly prevents their ever attaining high rank;
and we regret 10 add, that we are tinctured
little too much with the same feelings. Some
of our families, accustomed to believe that there
is in mechanic something low and grovelling
prefer bringing up their sons TO profession,
or in counting house, or in a retail fancy store
and when they come Of age, they have no cap
ltal to give their children TO commence business
with, and they drag out a wearied and poor ex.
lstence, depending on chance, and seldom at
tanning affluence. This is not the case with
the sober, industrious mechanic; he has bus
mess, capital Of which he cannot be deprived,
and if he possess ingenuity and enterprise, and,
above all, sobriety and industry, he is very
likely to attain fortune. The secret, therefore,
in this republican country, is to give your sons
a good education, an education suitable for any
profession, and then make mechanics Of part Of
theni because, if they are temperate, ingenius,
industrious, and frugal, they must make good
living; but if these principles are engrafted on
a good education, such mechanics not only be-
come rich, but they become great.
The education which qualities them for the
bar or the bench-for the highest honors Of a
profession, imparts a greater value to their
mechanical pursuits, and enables them to take
a high rank in the political world, sustained by
a powerful interest, and il we had larger por-
tion Of mechanics Ia Congress than we now
have, the country would repose in safety on
their sagacity and intelligence. True, there
are privations and inconveniences in learning
and working at mechanical busness--boys
must be up early and la'e--live hard-work
hard they must make great sacrifices of ease
and comfort for a term Of years, and then they
will begin to realize the good result-to taste
OF the good fruit; besides, what is above all
price, their habits from fourteen to nineteen
are formed in a proper and safe mould, free
from Incidence, vice, and extravaganza.
The very dandy who turned up his nose at
the tailor driving his barouche and pair, was
actually the son ola mechanic, and inheriteda a
large fortune, which he does not know how to
use. In few years he will have dissipated it
in folly and extravagance, and then become a
loafer, and without knowing how to earn his
bread he will follow the meancst trade in the
world, that of begging. .,
The parents who have several sons, and not
means to give them all fortunes, begin in time
to bend their minds TO the consideration of USE
ful occupations
"Jpst as the twig is bent
The trees inclined"
The other day held cooquy on this very
subject with one of my boys-a little fellow full
Of sprightlness aud ambition. "Father," said
he, "what trade am to learn,"--"A lady's
shoemaker; my son" ."-"A whatr' said the lit
lie urchin, his full blue eyes widening with
stare of aslonishment; and his broad cheeks
reddening to the crimson Of pulpit cushions
ga lady's shoemaker Why what is the use Of
my learning English, and French, and Spanish,
grammar and the globes, arithmetic and dan
cling, and playing on the fiddle, and compost.
,ion, and elocuton, and riding on horse-b back,
if I'm only to be a lady's shoemaker" "Pre.
cisey SO, my son; when you have finished your
education you shall learn TO be q ladY's shoe.
maker; when you have served out your time, |
will send you to Paris or Madrid, for year or
so to finish your trade with the very first Of
masters--there they make beautiful shoes
then you shall have store in Broadway, a
small capital viii set you up in business; and
do you not think that the ladies ofthe city would
prefer well educated gentlemanly young man,
with a good address and perfect master Of his
art, to take measure Of their delicate feet, than
a clumsy, rough looking, rude fellow, with his
fingers all over wax? CertainIy.--You would
be every where patronised--your work would
be praised, and your fortune soon made.--Now
is this not better than putting pair Of specs
on your nose--a threadbare coat on your back
Blackstone in your hands, waiting day after
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