Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-05-28
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FrOm;the Savannah Republican,.
=. THE PROFESSIONS.

L Y Isot GEH2 otsSsF!
> What is said in the subjoined arlicIe'of
the profession Of the Law,is equally true
in reference 70 that Of Medicine-and il
is lamehtabiy blt. too true in regard 10
both. Every State almost in the Union.
has: from one 10 three Medical Colleges.
where young men are . taken in'' and
"turned out'' annually, as it by machine
ry-one. two, three, and even four han
dred at a time. These men, armed with
their lancets and pill-boxes, crowd every
city, town and hamlet The land. Many
of them of fine intellects and allainments,
are doomed to drag oul miserable exis-
tencesfor years before they can realize
even a. reasonable competence from their
professional pursuits. Others less firm
and. persevering, yield to- the temptations
which surround them. aud become profess:
sional loafers or .vagabonds:<: A few only
are eminenily successful. Such a state Of
things is well calculated to awaken the
attention of parents and guardians to the
causes of the evil. Why is it that young
men will close their eyes to facts, and
desertolher respectable pursuits 10 choose
life of such almost certain poverty and
dependence II is because they are
averse 10 honest: labor, OF because they
court the kind of quasi responsibility which
a professional position entities them 10 in
society? If either, they are not to be
envied in their lean and beggarly condi-
lion-lhcir fancied aristocracy-their pro.
fessional torpidity. We have at this
moment in our eye two men who COM.
meuced their career in life contemporane-
orsly.; The one, Of brilliant powers, of
esimable character, of rich and respecta-
BILE connexions. The other, of moderate
eBdowments and pretensious, the son ola
poor widow. The former was attracted
by the. show and promise Of professional.
life, the latter was content to be bound an
apprentice TO an industrious tradesman:-
The one is now a aloaf6g, vagabond gam
bier; while the poor apprentice boyist the,
holder of about two hundred thousand
dollars worth of real estate in the city of
Philadelphia respectable, Influential
member. Of the. community in which he
lives. The difference in their circumstan-
ces so far as humanity can discern, is
attributable solely 10 llie difference in their
choice of pursuits. The one was trained
to industry and frugality, while the other, :,
compelled TO keep up appearances in gen
leel circles, was forced 10 the hazards Of
the game, and finally ruined. The case
here mentioned is but one of;the many
which every. rehecling mans experience
will attest as being only TOO common in
the land. ;Wesallude to it not for the pur-.
pose Of reaeclius upon either. Of the learn
ed professions, whose members generally
are entitled TO great respect on account Of
both their Intellectual and moral attain
ments i, is referred to only for the pur--
pose of correcting that perverted ipublic 2
tasle which is al present driving hundreds,
of our young men to destruction, through
the high way of the professions.
10 our; own city, how few youth, COM
paratively, 'dirert their attention to The
mechanic and other similar pursuits p
How few have selected the wild and ad:
venlurous life of the sailor 10 seek; by In
dustry. the respectable and responsible po-
slions of masters and males 10. cur mer-:
chant vessels =? In all our extensive ac-.
quainlance, we know of but Two or three
instances in the last few years, OF young
men who have had frmness. enough TO
brave the dangers of The sea rather than
remain in idleuessa at home. Such exam
Piles deserve to, be. e.made honorable mem
lion Of. The great commercial and mari
time Of the country: demand that our ships:
should be both of1icered and manned By
the right sort Of men. Every Sta,e-evel
ry seaport at least, should furnish its pro-
portion Of those who are to conduct aud
defend the commerce Of the country
Congress should make provision by law
for the more intimate blending of our
commercial aud naval interests. Asfin
England. all our mail steamers might be
differed by persons holding commissions
10 the navy. Provision might also be
made for the easy transfer Of men Of Tried
character and approved requirements from
our commercial vessels TO the navy in time
Of war. = ,,1,>c7-.8 2
Such a provision would add respecta-
bility TO the character of the sea:farer; it
would open wide field of employment
10 The youth oil the land II time of peace.
j, would add to our security in times of
conflict with other powers-and above all,
it would draw off hundreds Of ambitious
young men, who are otherwise destined
to drag out miserable existence in the
learned professions. Who will move in
the matter! -,
o.
Poor, but Honest" newspapers
and other equally great authorities, make
use Of This phrase in biographical notices.
".he was horn Of poor but honest parents !''
Poor, but honest; thai is to infer that tho
parents oushl to have been dishonest
because they were poor; but that in the
particular case, they were honest, spite Of
theirpoverty. This lon:phrase isan
insult 10 the condition of nine,y:nine men
oul hundred. and an indignity to human
nature. There might be, considering the
manner in which many fortunes are ac-
quired, some. little shade of meaning in
saying Of lhe,sheir of fortune, "he was
1