The native American., 1839-06-22
THE NATIVE AMERICAN.
From the Newnk IN. J.) .Aduertiser.
APPRENTICES.

GIN Win lHoSt WHO are III yOutll. III TeSiTu 10
mind, manners or morals, cannot expect verv
great Improvement in those who have passed mid
die life, our endeavors should be directed to the
Apprentice.
The relation of Master and Apprentice was
closer and warmer one in former days The
lad was willing to allow that he had master.
tor certain tune and certain purpose, and in
expectation of being one day master himself.
He thought this was no more disgraceiu than the
subordlnatou of the scholar to hls teacher, or the
soldier 10 his captain. And, in return, the en-
ployer felt responsibility proportioned 10 his
authority. Good men were accustomed to treat
their apprentices as their sons: they gave them
many little instructions out of the line of their
trade, and had an eye to their religious duties
unnecessary to say that the state of things is
very much altered INSTRUMENTATION, radicalism,
and false and impracticable theory of equal
rights, have destroyed the gentle authority which
used to exist. The. whole affair of ndentures,
as my readers very well know, is in some places
becoming mere .formality. 1t is less common
than II used TO be for boys TO serve out their whole
tline Many, influences are at work 10 make lads
impatient. and 10th to continue in one place, how
ever good. And when they abscond from their
proper service, it is not every employer who now
thinks 1t worth his while TO take the legal mea-
sures Tor recovering their time. 1t is known TO
those who are eonyersant with mechanical estab-
shments in our cities, that the old fashioned sys-
TEN is found to be Intellectual; so that master
workmen have 10 try new methods of getting the
requisite amount OF work from their hands In
some cases, this is effected by small remunera-
tions for task work. There are many shops in
which there are no regular apprentices; the en-
pioyers choosing rather to hire such labor as they
can get. have even heard the opinion express
ed that the day is not far off when the whole sys-
tenn OF apprenticeship will be thrown aside.
The spirit OF our age and country is a spirit
OF restless hurry. We are for quick turns, short
cuts, and sudden results Amidst the increased
risks Of human life, seven wears is a great portion
OF the human span. Another trait Of our nation
al character is dislike 10 all rule, lust or unjust
1t Is natural for boy TO prefer variety to same
ness OF occupation; and when regular service is
no longer compulsory, we must expect to see our
yealh nylng IRON the severe work OF shops TO
those chance jobs which give bread TO SO MANY
thousands in our Streets
The effects Of this condition of thincs ore ma.
nifestly bad We are falling between two sys-
tems. We are, slipping away from the old plan
OF former ages, and have not vet alighted upon
oetter-one more suited to modern improvements
IL boys ana youth may serve one year or six at
their own option-if they may run from one en-
ployer to another, upon every whim-if thew
may even exchange their trade two or three times
before they come of age,-s it not as plain as
day, THAT the proportion Of really accomplished
workmen must lessen from year to wear! And,
tnls Deng the case, several evils must necessarily
cnsue, which are too obvious to need recital.
But the nature of things does not alter: skilled
labor, like other commodities, will find market.
and will bring the highest price. This is begin
ming to show itself in certain kinds of manufac-
ture, III which foreign artizans are coming in. TO
the exclusion of our own countrymen 1t is as
vain as It is unrighteous, for us to fold our arms
ana raise an ontcry against foreign labor and form
associations OF Native Americans if we do net
secure the thorough trade-education Of our own
youth. We must expect to see all the finer and
more difficult branches taken out of orr hands
AS general thing, | am glad to know that this
IS far from being the case. speak only of ten
dencaes; and do not think it can be denied that
the tenuency of the change have mentioned is
to evil.
But there are moral consequences of this relax
alton OF the old system, which are still more to
be deplored. As the tie between the EMPLOYER
and the apprentice becomes slight there is a les
senlng of authority on the one side and Of duty
on the other, as well of affection on BOTH
we often talk Of the advantages Of domestic in
tuence, the bonds Of the freside, the charm of
nome; and on this point it would be hard for us
20 speak TOO much or too enthusiastically But
'chere IS the apprentices home? 1t is not his
iaihers house; in the greater number of cases,
inns Is not within reach.' 1t is not his EMPLOYERS
mouse; at least, under the prevailing system, and
NJ our cities and large towns. For This, there are
VARIOUS reasons In great manufactures, where
there are at least dozen boys, these, of course.
cannot be allowed TO overrun the empIoyer's
mousse; they are often put out to board elsewhere.
IN neither case, have they home. Even where
!nere Is only an ordinary number, as the master
is no longer parent, the apprentice feels ls, No
longer IKE a son. Where can he spend bis eren,
!ngs! Not in the garre, or loft where no s1oaan.
an winter 1t is cold; in summer. il is sa,ca,;r,
Not III the kitchen: lie would be IN no ,,..,.
Not IN the si!ting-room tha, would ba ,oo e.;
nar' where can he spend the long hours Of lie
Sunday! d>et,us look the truth in The Care. JT
apprentice has no home! Is it anv wonder ,ha,
at night we hear the heavy tramp Of ,her i~a, fea,
upon our pavements, as they career alone ~. w.
scores! ds it any wonder that tiey crnwI o,;,
,oyster-houses, 1portor-cellars, bar-rooms. shows
and wait for checks about the doors of our ,he,
tres?
The moral consequences Of this ] need no
uwel upon: they are open 10 the day. | an
not so chimcrical as To propose return TO ol,