Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-23
The Learned Professions.

Ills 'sCihi ioiihciiy iluu q ucHuilt
meaning. But now that meaning has
been entirely perverted. We have
known men with license and diplomas
who could not write sentence of En-
glish correctly. The country is overrun
with pretenders 10 knowledge of law
and medicine; the only wonder is that
the people manage to live and accumu-
late property when surrounded by these
charlatans. In addition to these, there
are many thoroughly educated men, de-
serving of confidence and support. But
between the shams and the reals, there
are two many members of these profess
sions. just think--ihere are in the
United States $500 medical studenis.-
Certainly the country cannot support
this additional number of physicians
every year. The lawyers are increas-
ing as rapidly, though it is impossible
TO ascertain the number Of students, as
they are not compelled to attend law
schools.
"All this is great evil. II can only
be remedied by convincing young men
that other occupations, equally respecta
BILE, pay better. DR.. Riddell, in his lee
ture before the Lyceum, stated that there
was deficiency of scientific in men the
country. We have not enough of en-
gineers to met the demands of the times.
The engineer who devotes himself to
the theory as well as the practice of
physical science is sure of high remun-
Grafton, and adds to the knowledge of
the world. To throw bold arch over
some yawning abyss--to curb turbu-
liant river with granite bits and complete
it TO its unwilling strength to the help Of
man-to cut tunnel through the noun
tain-these are nobler labors than TO
make the finest argument ever heard in
court house.
.'But besides this, our country wants
the expenditure of physical labor rightly
directed by educated mind. If half the
young men now studying professions, or
confined IN counting rooms, were pre-
pairing themselves for the labors which
require mechanical skill and scientific
attainments, the country and themselves
would be the gamers. The fault falls
too frequently on the parents. An in
stance is at this moment under our OBJ
servation. A small planter in the neigh
borhood of the city began life with san
arpant 'front.' and two negroes. He
worked in the field, and the wife worked
in the House. Year by year he in
creased his force-his slaves worked
cheerfully, for he shared their labors.--
He grew rich. His sons instead of be-
ing taught TO work, had their horses,
dogs and guns. They were gentlemen.
The old couple died rich. In a few
years the estate which had been accu-
mulated by the labors of long life were
gone, and the children, ignorant of any
trade whatever, are In a most miserable
condition.
during the same time, another man
i'm this city followed the laborous trade
of the blacksmith. In time his forge
and anvil enlarged into the foundry,
where he carried on the most extensive
operations. He too had sons, but in
stead of being brought up to idleness
and genfihty, they learned the fathers
business, and when his ldbprs ceased the
blast was not stopped, nor did the mol
ten iron cool, but fiercer burnt the fires,
and redder glowed the metal, and quicker
fell the ponderous hammers. And the
sons, proud of their fathers trade, are
now the great machinsts of the South.
Now, who are the gentlemen?-who the
useful citizens9- who the true patriots"