Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-05-11
THE LEARNED PROFESSION,

THE LEARNED PROFESSION.
Said gentleman TO us, yesterday, ~ have
a son Just about TO leave the High School
what shall do with him ~ Not a week
! passes that we do not hear a similar cnuuiry.
In all such cases, the wisest course is 10 study
the bent of the lads genius, and endeavor ID
give him pursuit for life which will agree
with his capacities and wishes alike Thou
SANDS OF young men are made useless mem
bers of society," by being placed at ayocatons
which are out of harmony with their organi-
zatlon, or from other reasons distasteful 10
them. Others are ruined by being taught
professions and trades which are over.crowd-
ed, and for which they want that peculiar
fitness which will enable them to rise above
all competition. As a general rule, the learn
ed professions have too many votaries, and
mechanical pursuits too few. Commerce
also Is oVerstocked, while agriculture is COM
/ paratively neglected. On this subject of the
learned professors, we find al excellent ar
tiUle in the New Orleans Delta, worthy of
being quoted. 1t is as follows:
"Ths term formerly had definite mean:
| ing. But now that meaning has been entire.
| ly perverted. We have known men with
licenses and diplomas who could not write
sentence OF English correctly. The coutitry
| is Oyerrun with pretenders 10 knowledge of
law and medicine the only wonder is that
people manage 10 live and Accumulate proper
ty when surrounded by these charlatans.
In addition 10 these, there are many thorough
| ly educated men, deserving Of confidence
and support. But between the shams and
the reals, there are too many members of
these professions. Just think-there are in
The United States 1900 medical students.
Certainly the country cannot support this ad-
dltonal number Of physicians every year
The lawyers are increasing as rapidly, though
II is impossible TO ascertain the number of
students, as they are not compelled to attend
law schools
All this is a great evil. It can only be re-
medled by convincing young men that other
occupations, equally respectable, pay better,
DR.. Biddell, in his lecture before the Lyceun
stated hat there was deficiency of scienti-
fc men in the country. We have not enough
of engineers to meet the demands of the times
The engineer W no devotes himself TO the theo-
ry as well as practice of physical science, is
sure of a remuneration, and adds to the
knowledge of the world. To throw bold
arch over some yawning abyss--to curb a
turbulent river with granite bits and compel
it TO lend its unwilling strength TO the help of
man--to cut tunnel through mountain
these are nobler labors than to make the
finest argument ever heard in court house.
But besides this, our country wants the ex.
pendi!uTe of physical labor rightly directed
by educated mind, If half the young men
now studying professions, or confined in coun-
ting-rooms, were preparing themselves for
the labors which requte mechanical skill and
and scientific aitainments, 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 observa-
tion. A small planter in the neighborhood
of the city began life with "an arpent front"
and two negroes. He worked in the field,
and the wife worked in the house. Year by
year be increased his force-his slaves work.
ed cheerlully, for he shared their labors. He
grew rich. His sons instead OF being taught
TO work, had their horses, dogs and guns.
They were gentlemen. The old couple died
rich. In few years the estate which had
been accumulated by the labors Of long life
was gone, and The children, ignorant Of any
trade whatever are in most miserable con'
dition.
During the same time, another man in this
city, followed the laborions trade Of the black
smith In time his forge and anvil enlarged
into The foundry, where he carried on The
most extensive operations, He too had sons,
but instead Of being brought up to idlsnsss
aud gentility they learned the fathers busi-
ness, and when his labors ceased, the blast
was not stopped, nor did The molten iron cool,
but fiercer burnt the fires, and redder glowed
the metal, and quicker fell the pondrous
hammers. And the sons, proud Of their
fathers trade, are the great machinsts Of the
South Now, who are the gentlemen l-who
the useful citizens who the true patriots