Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1850-05-28
{: TIE LEARNED PROFESSIONS"

II cal anot be denied thatthere is much truth in
the following comments fthe New,Orleans Gre
scent upon " fke Learned Professions" Like the
Crexce,ii, we have known members Of the learn
ed Professions who were rot only incapable Of
wtiting.sa sentence grammatcally, but whose
spelling: would disgrace an infant in primary
school. But countrymcn are recovering from
their mania upon this subject, and the rush into
the learned Professions" is gradually subsd-
ing. Says the Crescent:
."THE; LEARNED PROFESSIONS This term for
mcrly had a definite meaning. But now that
meaning has been entirely perverted We have
known soen with licenses and diplomas who could
not write a sentence of English correctly. The
country is overrun with pretenders to know
ledge nflaw and medicine; the only wonder is
that the people manage TO live and accumulate
prdpcrtv when surrounded by these charlatans.
! In addition to tilase, there are many thoroughly
edIcatea men, deserving of confidence and sup
mort BEt between the shams and the reals, there
are too many members of these professions. Just
think -tilerc Prp in the United States 1900 medi-
cal stndhnts. Certainly the country caDnotsup-
port this additional number oil physicians every
| year. The lawyers are increasing as rapidly,
| ihDngh Il is impossible to ascertain the number
of students, as they are not compelled TO attend
law sCht,nls..
GAIL ii 3 is n arcat evil. Itcan only BIO rene
died by convincing young men that other occu-
pations, equally respcctablei pay better Dr:
RidtIrll IN his lecture before the I.yceum, stated
that there was deficiency of scientific men in
the country. We have not enough OF engineers
to meet t4ie demands of the times. The engineer
who tlcvGies himself to the theory well as the
praGtcc of physical science is sure OF highremu-
neratinn and adds to the knowledge OF tile world
| TO throw a bold srch over some yawnng abyss
| to curb ii turbrlent river with granite bits and
com pei 10 lend its unwilling strength to the
I uoIf fktrNtf FIN IN FT1nf
tan-thc*e arc sfobler labors than to make the
| finest argument ever heard in courthouse.
'sBnt ltesides this, our country wants the eX-
penditute of physical labor rightly directed by
educated mind. II hal!ihe young men now stu
DIVING professions. or confined in cOuntng-rooms,
: were preparing themselves for the abors which
requirc I4echanIcal skill and scientific attain
! men,s the country and themselves would be the
gaipers. The faRt falls too frequently on the
parents. An instance is at this moment under
our observation. small planter in the neigh-
! borhood az: the city began life with an arpent
I front" an4:two negroes He worked in the field,
k and the vile worried in the House. Year by year
|: he Increased his fa'rce-hs slaves worked cheer
l:fnlIy, for ke shared their labors He grew rich.
i His sons, instead of being taught to work, had
itheir hors,.s, dogs and guns. They were gentle
Is,nen. Tie old couple died rich In aEew years
Iithe estate:.EYhich lad been accumulated by the
I.Iabors Of G;long life were gone, and the children,
Iiipnoranl dG any trade Whatever, are in most
limiscrable condition.
During the same time, another man in This!
I3city folloviId the iaborious trade of the black
Itsmith Ii. lime his forge and anvil enlargsdinto
lhe foundry, where he carried on the mostexlen g
lsiye ono ra fIons lie TOO had sons, but insteado
lheing brought up 10 ialensss and gentiiity, they
learned ,hS:fatkers business, and when his labors
ceased, tbs blast was not stopped, nor did the
molten iroa cool, but fercer burnt the fires, and
redder gloNed tho metal, and quicker fell the
| pondrous banners And the sons, proud OF their
! fathers trade, arc: now the great machinists Of
! the South. Now, " no are the gentlemen who
! The useful aitizens 77who the true patriots y