The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-01-01
s. HINTS TO FARMERS AND ME
CHANICS.

We think there is one radical error IN,
American sOcIely, VIZ: universal dispU-
aitIOn to underrate the mechanical pro-
fessions, Whsu cou,Tasied with What ara
termed Tho ''learaed professions" and
with almost oil the other avocatiOns.
Does the rich aud respectable ms-.
chanic, the artisao,Ihe architect ne Who
rears our public and private edlhcessS
the builders Of ou. canals sad raIssays
never permit a course oiconduct in him
ffSsff Mich goes direcllyto take away
from the respectaO.ay Of thsprufevsleS
by which he has gained all he possess
ses! When lie comes to decide upon
the business his sons shall pursue - 10
it not often the case that an OverweeH-
ing disposition is displayed to make
them lawyers, doctors. mcrcbants,-
any thing but bnng them up at the res
spectacle calling OF the their parent.
And let us ask, the same tue ot eVe'
~ class in the community
The sons of American citizens must
be educated for,,genIlemen. They must
not learn q trade, or an art upon which
they can always depend for respecto-
BILE living, This would be to lower raih
or than 10 raise thsm in The scale ofpub
lie Op,n,on-- and henceit is that thou
sands nnd thousands Olboys are crowd
cd into the ''protesslOns" and "behind
counter s"-to become, in the eGd, gem
,eel paupers, living upon the products Of
other mems labOrs, rather than relying
upon their own hands for good liveli-
hood.
| We repeat. i, is a wrong estimate Of
the comparative respec'ab'nly OF the dill
ferent pursuits, that causes SO donger~
Qua an error. We would not stIii3 ee-
nious, nor deride learn'ng-nol co wo
entertain the least d,srespect 10 any pro
fession-hui we would have onr sons
taught honorable and made TO feel that
!, il IL far more honorable 10 learn soma
handcrafr; by tue practice OF which they
can live 10 Independence and honor
than to be C, owded into the always overi
, flowing rank Of "prclessions," which
Twill not y,eId their bread -and but too
ofeo lead to the entire prosira'ion OF
? h- better feellug Of the human heart
1 n low cunning, dupIci,y end knavery.
Wac arc he props acd pillars of our
T. pnhilc ediEcel Who ore tho bone
t. aud muscle Of socletyI We say ia
v mechanics and husbaudmen ofihe land.
d From the ranks u! these two, have
, .prung statesman, philosophers, and Sa
II pss, who have shed lnperichab!e lustra
. upon the aae IN " hich they have lived
= If the amount Of useful attainment could
e be correctly estimated, we entertain no
= doubt that tie rsnkS Of the intelligent
, mechauics and agriculturlsts, would car
c ~ of the palm by immense maJoTitles.
- Then why should the almost unWer-
$ cal effort to disgrace these professions,
: by a simultaneous rush into other ranks
= any longer prevail! Better. Infinitely
e better, would it be that our hardy a,hlel
1t o youth shoald shoulder the ak & away
!. into The forests, than by false estima
IS of true responsibility, they should bs
d thrust into wrong channels, TO decrease
10 society, and weaken the bonds Of the
= body polite. There they might live
|, in the nobility Of nature cultivate thell
n own fields and sumber beneath thei
III own cottage; and perhaps become the
IS founders of uGw communities OF moral
d physical anO intellectual giants.