The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-08-26


A young man in this city lately at
tempted. shooting himself with a pistol,
giving as reason for doing so that he
had no means Of living. He had writ
ten to his friends for funds, but not re.
ceiving any, he determined on self-de-
struction. We know nothing Of the
individual, and only gathered the
above particulars from some of the
daily papers but the case suggests
some important considerations.
l. Why is it SO many boys are
suffered to grow up in our country,
without practical knowledge of the
means Of an. honest livelihood? In
other words, why are not boys, all
boys, everywhere taught to work? Is
there any disgrace in being able from
early education, TO earn an honest liv-
ing by the labor ofone's hands, when
ever it may be necessary Do not
parents do an injury to their children,
and to the community at large, by
raising them and thrusting them out
upon the world unprepared to earn
competent subsistence? Are theirsons
too good to work? Alas for the want
of correct views on this subject, and
Of useful, honorable employment hun
dreds are led first to drinking and
gambling houses, and then to disgrase
and ruin.
2. In a country like this, where
openings for industry and enterprise
are so mum erous, where every healthy
man may do well if he will, why
should men and especially young men
complain of a want of the means of
living! 1t is certainly not because
there are no openings for them but
it is either because they are either too
proud or lazy to work. That's it. A
false education, connecting with false
views of their own important selves,
lead them to conclude that honest
labor is degrading. Yes, degrading;
though they will not often speak out
thus, this IS the feeling. To soiltheii
/ pretty hands and dirty their fine unf
paid-for chothes, is sloop to which
they cannot submit--their pride will
not allow it ;hence they are too often
ready to resort to almost any course
rather than go honestly to work. In
all this there is a radical error, which
in most cases may be traced to the in
fuence of early education. The pa
rent was, perhaps, some thirty-seven
and half cents better off than his
neighbors, hence he, weak man, was
led to suppose that his son was only
suited for some profession, or, at the
very lowest, to ego into some bust
ness" as it is usually termed-that
| is, to stand behind some counter, cut
tape, and calico. And this, in the
estimation of the over fond and delu-
sive parent, is "more respectable" than
the various handicraft pursuits of the
country. How upon the face of the
earth did it ever enter the heads of
men that it was more respectable to
stand by a counter than by a work
bench-to measure cloth than make
the coat-to shave notes than to shave
timber? How we cannot imagine
Out upon such minnyisna, say we! Let
our sons be taught that idelness is
disgrace, and that no man has right
to live upon the common stock without
contributing his share to the support
Of the whole; and let each and every
man clay to- and do something
useful to himself and others. If he
cannot do this let him do that; but
let him never be idle, but always
usefully mPloyed; then he will not
be so anxious to hurry himself out Of
this world, bad as some pretend to
think it is.
i .s g.