Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-07-25
APPRE NTICES.

The Editor of the New Haven Palladium
has written an article upon apprentices, whlcl
leads us Ia give expression 10 some oi on
own thoughts upon the same subject. Tho
doubt whether any advantages, IN pecn
mary sense, are derived from the services o
apprentices over aud above the care, rsk,an'
expense they occasion" is, in It's general np
pllca,ion, well founded. An honest, indus
irlons, and capable apprentice is, indeed {
treasure; but Ike all treasures few have tht
good fortune Ia possess them All young
people, with little experience OF the world "
hlnh estimate of their own abilities, warm
INA gnaiions, brilliant hopes, no anxiety re-
spccting the supply of their immediate wants,
are generally very difficult to guide either
By the influence Of advice or authority. TO
those, who are all cXpectaTion experience Is
nothing; and they who arc constantly look
ing forward soon forget what is left behind
They never reflect that the HABITS they form
during their minority. have as important a
bearing upon their future success IN life a
the irades they are learning. They never
can be persuaded that upon their steadlness
houcs,y, and sobriety, depend their future
characters and standing IN society. Conse-
quently, present enjoyment aud exemption
from labor, arc their immediate objects OF at
tcniion. The pride of craft or desire tor eX-
ccllence is frequently dormaut,and can never
be awakened by promise of future reward or
distinction. On the part OF the master,
there IS required continual watchtulness, a
consuming anxiety, an apprehension ana
trclful supervision, which Is tar more valna-
bic than the pccunlary remuneration render
ed IN return. A bad apprentice can bc trust
ed in no situation. lie neither cares fo'
your interest or his own. When you arc
absent, he is idle ; when you are indugeni
he is mprudcnt when severe, abusive. liz
is not only annoying in the workshop, but Ia
is impertincnt and troublesome at home. iI'
aspires To an equality which. though admitted
as a principle IN politics, cannpt be claimed
with any safety 10 the maintenance oi prope
and wholesome authority in his present con
dltion; aud this makes him not only trouble
some, but dslked-and none the more re
spcctcd. Perhaps to this he adds, sander
Gus tongue or dlsordcry conduct. lie feign
sickness, spoils your work, or abscondS-
which last is the first step to state PRISON.
All apprentices, whether good or bad, are to
apt to look upon their instructors as the bene
hcIares Of their services, which Is seldot
the case and never unless an apprentice b
boy of industrious habits aud sound mora
principles. When you hire JourneymaI
you have a person to whom you pay wage
only when he works, and according to tn
amount of his labor. The responsibility
shifted from you To him, and no accident c
contingency can force you to feed aud
clothe him while he is idle. A man, unde
these circumstances, will generally produc
at least as much as two boys, and yet yo
may employ him at a smaller outlay. An
the only reason why this is not done is, be
hus tpu SD
on a system ofcredt and barter. In England
where in all mechanical cmploymcn,s, there
Is no credit, the apprentice has 10 pay Tor al
the instruction lie receives. A profession
there is regarded in its proper light-that o
an available capital, worth more than sllve
and gold, to acquire which, much more thar
the voluntary offering Of a regular sever
years apprenticeship is made. The bond u
obligation is much stronger; and the bene
fits derived from II are much greater tina
those actually accruing to the apprentice D
this country Not that he has not equa
chances for remuneration. Quite the con
trary. In no country on earth has the me
chances apprentice the same prospective
reward for good conduct. An Apprenticeship
well employed in the acquisition OF Il knowl
edge OF his trade and Faithfully served, mus
inevitably produce the man prepared to max
his way in n world where labor and pcrsovc;
ance accomplish every thing. II, in addltlo
To the time required TO learn his trade, th
apprentice economiscs his opportunities fC
the acquisition Of useful knowledge, he ma
make not only man OF wealth, but a gre;
man. There arc, 1t should be rcmcmbcre
IN n seven years apprenticeship, one who
year of Sabbaths and when We add TO thes
his hours of leisure aud his holyddys, we ma
claim for him at least one year more. llcl
arc two ycnrs so divided aud dispersed throua
the seven, as To be moro valuable than fo'
in uninterrupted succession, for the acquisl
ION of knowledge ofcvcry branch Of sclcnC
aud the attainment OF q proficiency IN llter
turc. which united to good natural abll;le
must conduct TO greatness for, to such pc
son, every avenue is open.
Yet apprentices do not appreciate thes
advantages. The loose manner IN who
they regard their connection with ihcir mas
to renders them NJ once careless and rt
hactory. And tins H. encouraged not onl
by parents aud guardians. but by many ma:
ter mechanics themselves. who do not ht
tale la employ boys al reduced wages, VIII
have obtained a lIitlc knowledge of their bu
IN Sc, and deserted their fbmrr employer.
THIS y 'ublc ininsticr, for II not only IN
uriausly affects the Interests ul the trade .bu
destroys the character &C thc boy, who seldom
or never succeeds IN life
Oar advice IN an apprentice would ke con
cult your mnstcr's interests. aud you prunut
your own. Remember that y"ut business
~ learn. not io teach; To obey. Mt io con,
nIand-ibst according 10 the meats "f you
services, wi be- The regard of or mslfuclo
ham n 90 90