Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-05-21
From as Men yors Eusning Star.
MECHANICS.

dandy IN Broadway how can AmerI-
lea arrive at distinction, when all classic.
cation of persons is thus annihilated, and
the coach Of your tailor runs against the
wheels Of your own tilbury.n This is the
opinion, no doubt, of many who never
earned dollar by their own industry.
8onaparte. the best judge Of human ma.
ture and of merit, never visited a great
painting, or a specimen of ingenuity or
mechanic arr, 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 il was 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 begins loo early, he is lost for
mechanic who sets up his coach, and is
compelled to set it down again. from a
premature commencement and not under.
standing his position, is poor creature in
deed, and runs ahead of his business.
1t is a custom, and a bad custom, in
England, to look on tradesmcn and me-
chanics as an inferior class of men, with
out reference TO their character or wealth.
This, however, grows out Of the distinc-
ton and classifcations of society in a
monarchical form Of government, and
keeps mechanics, excepting in the city of
London, continually under the ban, and
consequently prevents their ever attaining
high rank and we regret to add, that
we are tinctured little too much in this
country with the same feelings. Some of
our families, accustomed to believe that
there is in a mechanic something low and
grovelling, prefer bringing up their sons TO
profession, or in counting house, or in
retail fancy store, and when they come
Of age, they have no capital to give their
children TO commcnce business with, and
they drag out wearied and poor exist
ence, depending on chance, and seldom
attaining affluence. This is not the case
with the sober, industrious mechanic: he
has a business, a capital Of which he can
not be deprived, and if he possess inge-
nuity and enterprise, and, above all, so.
briefly and industry, he. is very likely to at
tain fortune. The secret, therefore, in
this republican country, is to give your
sons a good education, an education sui
table for any profession, and then make
mechanics of part Of them, because, if
they are temperate, ingenious, industri-
Gus aud frugal, they must make good
living, but if these principles are engraft.
Id ~ Cd
not only become rich, but they become
great.
The education which qualities them for
1.-THE bar or the bench-for the highest hon.
ors Of profession, imparts greater val
ue to their mechanical pursuits, and ena-
bles them to take high rank in the po-
ltical world, sustained by powerful in
forest, and if we had larger portion of
mechanics in Congress than we now have,
the country would repose in safety on
their sagacity and intelligence. True
there are privations and inconvenience in
learning and working at mechanical bu-
siness-boys must be up early and late
live hard-work hard they must make
great sacrifices of ease and comfort for a
term Of years, and then they viii begin to
realize the good resUlts-to taste Of the
good fruit-bcsides, what is above all
price, their habits from IA to IS are form.
ed in a proper aud safe mould, free from
incidence, vice and extravaganza.
The very dandy who turned up his hon.
orabIe nose at the Tailor driving his ba.
rouche and pair, was actually the son Of a
mechanic, and inherited large fort,i
which he does not know how 10 use.
few years be will have diss;pated it In
folly and extravaganza, and then become
a loafer, and without knowing how to earn
his bread, he VIII follow the meanest trade
in the world, that of begging.
Let parents who have several sons, anc
not means to give them all fortunes, begin
in. time to bend their minds TO the conside.
ration of useful occupations
"Just as the twig is bent
The trees inclined.
The other day held colloquy on this
very subject with one of my boys--a 1T
tie fellow, full of sprighlliness and amb
. tton. $ Father" said he, what trade an
! / to learn ~ 9 a lady's shoemaker, my
son" "A what I" said the little urchin
his full blue eyes widening with stare q
astonishment, and his broad cheeks red
dening to the crimson Of pulpit cushions
:. a lady's shoemaker Why what IS thu
use of my learning Engiish, and French
ind Spanish. grammar and the globes
! arithmetic. and dancing, and playing 81
J the fiddle, and composition, and elocniion
Z and riding on horseback, If I'm only (
Be q lady's shoemaker z 8 Precisely 50
my son when you have finished you
! education, YOU shall learn to be lady!
shoemaker when you have served on
your time will send you 10 Paris Of Ne
! ard, 5or a yeaI Of Sol To finish your trade
With the very FIRST maslers-there the.
make beautiful shoes then yon shal
J. have store d Bsoadway, q small capita
!. VIII set yon upi d bpsine md 90 ycl
not dim M ladies' tho on'
3 PREFER vel ealed gent salaalz eea'
nan eea address and efIee
n ART 10 take aeasu 81 iAe'
han q greasy, onsa
lis oN with his finger 81 exc
wax You would e el
where .a wo ald 2
\ praised ard yo1f fortune o9a aqs
Is o not this better ban putting pa
a 81 specs 81 your nose thread paI
e black coat on your back Blackstone
Z Nour bands, Waiting day after day tor
client but father sad n