The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-11-17
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN LIFE

mere Is not more foolish uoiian rloat
IN the world than the one that it is occupo.
ton that gives The character TO mnn. Gao
| occupation, as the means Of "gettng
living, as the phrase goes, is precisely as
high and creditablc as another, provided
that 1t be honorable, and in accordance
with the laws Of God aud man. The man
who holds the plough, hammers the iron,
or drives hisPeg TO supply his family with
the neccssaries Of life, is no, Wilt below
The one who measures tape behind the
counter, mys'ifies lay at the bar, or pre-.
sides over the nation. TLere is a vulgar
and pernicious feelin. abroad in the com.
munity on this subject. Fathers must ed.
uca;e their sons for ooe Of what is called
the learned professions" Daughters
must marry lawyer, doctor, q clergy
man, or a merchant. Horror the good
lady would as soon think Of marrying her
daughter to Winnebago, as 10 homoly,
Industrious mechanic. Why, the family
would be dlshonored No, no The bust.
ness of carpenter, a blacksmith, or a far
mer, is not so respectable as that OF shaving
notes, drawing solidity from the desk, ped.
ding rotten wood pills, or selling snuff or
tobacco And yet the duties Of all the
learned profession, as well as those Of
merchants, are performed for the same
reason that shoemaker wakes his thread
and the farmer plants his potatoes, viz. TO
obtain living. Still set of miserable,
ups,aT, fools, WHO are almost universally
low bred people, who have begun life in a
ditch, endeavoi 10 establish in society ar.
tticial distinctions which they hope will
elevate them above the common mass from
which they were taken, and to give them
an Importance which innate honesty could
not command.
Labor is labor-honest labor is honest
labor. Honesty and honorable labor is the
same, whether performed by the king or
the beggar, and it is just as honorable in
the one as in the other. 1t is true that all
men by habit and taste are not permitted
to pursue the same vocaIions, and there
are natural divisions, and distinctions, as
tho word is commonly used, created BY
harmony and taste. This is as i, should
be, and fits US for the members Of society.
But to say because man performs any
given duty. however humble, through ne.
cessiy, degrades OF renders him less mer-
Itorlous than his neighbor who performs
another duty, yet not more faithfully, is to
say We still adhere to the monarchical
principles Of the old world.
Let the father educate his son TO some
honorable calling, and if he has predilec-
lions, for any particular business, as often
is the case, let him follow it, il 1t be pos.
sible 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 that fools have attempted to build
up. Let children be laugh. to be honor
able, honest, and upright, to Sc, proper
value upon the riches of the world, which
is at best but bubble, blown into existence
10 day TO burst tomorrow, and TO under.
stand that the only true and real distinc.
lions in society are those of virtue and
vice; the only true and enduring riches
are an intellect duly cultivated, affections
schooled, and heart that knows no guile.