Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-12-07
OCCUPATIONS.

There is not more foolish notion afoat
in the world, than the one that it is the oc-
cupaton that gives character TO the man.
One occupation, as the means Of "getting
a living" as the phrase goes, is precisely
as high and creditable as another, provi-
ded that it be honorable and in accordance
with the laws Of God and man. The man
who holds the plough, hammers his from
or drives his peg TO support his family with
the nccssarles and comforts of life, is not
a whit below the one who measures tape
behind the counter, mystifes the law at
the bar, or presides at the councils of the
nation. There is a vulgar and pernicious
feeling abroad ia the community on this
subject. Fathers must educate their sons
for one Of what is called $ 1.-The learned pro-
lessions." Daughters must marry law
yer, doctor, clergyman, or a merchant.
Horror! the good lady would as soon think
of marrying her daughter to a Winncba-
go, as to homely, Industrious, and hon
orabie mechanic. Why, the family would
be dlsgraced, the name dishonored. No
No: The business Of a carpenter, black
smith, or farmer, is not SO respectable
as that Of shaving notes, drawing stoIidity
from the desk, peddIing rotten wood or
pills, or selling snuff and tobacco. And
yet, the duties Of all the learned profess
sons, as we'll as those Of mercantile are
performed for the same reason that shoe
maker wakes his thread, and the farmer
plants his potatoes, viz: to obtain a living
Still, set OF miserable, upstart fools, who
are almost universally low bred people
themselves, people who have begun life in
the ditch, endeavor to establish in society
artificial distinctions which they hope will
elevate them above the common mass from
which they were taken, and give to them
an importance, which innate worth and
honesty could not command Labor is la
Dor. Honest labor is honest labor. Hon
esty and honorable labor are the same
whether performed by the king or the beg
gar, and it is ust as honorable in the one
as IN the other. 1t is true, that all men
by habit and by taste are not fitted to pur-
sue the same vacations, and there are ma
tura divisions, and not distinctions, as the
word IS commonly used, created by harmo-
ny and taste. This is. it should be, and
fits US for discharge Of all the peculiar
duties that devolve upon US as, members Of
society. But to say because d man per-
forms any given duty, however humble,
though necessary, degrades him or rem
ders him less mertorious than his neigh
Dor, who performs another duty, yet not
more faithfully, is it to say that we still
adhere TO the monarchial principles Of the
old world.
Let the father educate his son to some
honorable calling, and if he has the prcdi-
Lotions for any particular business, as is
often the case, let him follow it if possible,
- It is the man that ennobles the bust
ness, not the business that ennobles the
man; and not spend thought upon the
distinctions in occupations, honorable and
honest, thai fools have attempted TO build
up. Let children be taught 10 be honora-
Bile, homes: and upright, to set proper
value upon the riches of world which is
only at best but bubble, blown into exist
ence to-day TO burst tomorrow, and to un-