Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-03-25
Encouragement - Mechanics.

In tate pubic auuIeos W oou'
James Brewster Of New Haven. CT, to
the mechanics Of that city, We find
some most useful an,l instructive sug.
gestions which We extract for the -
couragement ofthat class Of young men
in this city. The time Was when to be
= mechanic was considered a disgrace
by those who were engaged in what
they termed more respectable and gen
tcel business. But there has been
radical change in public sentiment W
on this subject. and Mechanics lnst'-
tutcs and Libra,ie les are now established
in almost every city, by the influence
Of which thousands OF mechanics have
arisen to the most exalted stations,
aud have digniiied the mechanical pur-
suits to such degree that 1t is no
longer disgiaccful but highly honora
bic To be a mechanic. Elihu Eurritt
is but a type Of this class of seli-educa
ted mechanics Mr.. brewster was a
carriage manufacturer and has arisen
from a poor fricndlcss boy To be one
of the wcalthicst ana most highly es-
tccme,i citizen OF New Haven. We
quote from hlr address the following
practical observ; ito .:
Make your mark high ion have
it in your power, make yourselvts 3"
aecill H. your employers that your
rviees viii become Indispensable TO
them, in which ease, il YOU DO not be
come partners yon will at least secure
very eligible positions. More than
ihiltv years ago, ! employed a Young
man. at mere nominal wages. From.
the tay he came 10 live with me he
gained upon my confidence, and ne
| finally made his services So important
% me, tina, from moti.cs Of interest. !
savc him share in nay business. This
once poor boy is now worth more
than S25U,0U0. Thus YOU see what
economy, industry and iileii,, will DO.
lie cluiormed h. circumstances ; and
cycn attor be was married MS expenses
Gor years did not exceed those of many
sirgl, young man.
''ipcspise not the day Of -mali things"
1t ur Illustrate this tri'c saving by an
areciote rom history. y poor boy
once applied ior a situation in a large
counting house in Pans. He was in
termed that 10 y.caney iheu existed,
bat that should his services be needed
he would be sent FIR. He left his
name and address, and proceeded
homeward. disappointed and sal heart
ed. onpasslng through an open court
he SAW pm lving on the pavement
and stopped to pick it up. His move
meLts had not been unobser,ed from
the window 81 III. establishment he
had lust left. He was sent tcr-cm-
plol !lcnt was found for hjn-ir rose
gradually and steadily in his profession
and finally he became one Of the most
eminent bankers in Europe, and also
Minister Of Finance to the French Gov
ernmen,. His name is Laftte. lie
that will AXE care Of pin. may be
trusted in weightier thirg-. You mus,
be industrious and economical. Thougu
You wear - patched aud thread bare
coat, and may not be held in high Is.
te,m 10y onr fashionable ladies, Vet
+, when YOU shall have attained an a..
walton far above them, You will hs,c
enough 10 compensate ven for all yoar
sacrifice Of feeling. once had the
misfortune to receive a slight from a
young man who attributed more con
sequence to dress than to common
sense I; but IN subsequent years | had
the privilege OF contributing to his ne
ce ssities.
| II ~ GRADUAL and sure quirs pA,.h
gre substantial @eaitA. Thus. 500
per annum laid by and invested at SIX
per cent, from the age of twenty one
TO fifty onc. at compound interest, " III
amount to s7,006 81. This is little
more than 25 cents day, which man,
persons spend for cigars alone, or for
that which is worse than useless. Dou.
bic that sum--say little more than
90 cents a invested as before
would amount to 1851 SO. THIS
sum, however, might be gradually in.
creased. ii psuden,ly invested in busi.
ness. l could designate many who
lave practised upon the principle |
have suggested. In each c.s they
have realized vastly more than they
anticipated. and at the same time have
been afforded the luxury Of doing good
to others. Most young men desire a
sudden acquisition of wealth. Nv
yours friends, let me tell you .La,
there Is no safety except when p,omr,y
is acquired by industry. | was once
acquainted with a youag man who
drew prize in lottery. When he
came to Inform me Of his good fortune
expressed my sorrow and regret, and
assured him that there was bu, one way
by which he might be saved. adyi.
sed him to invest his money in bank
stock, and solemn!y resolve to purchase
no mere lottery tickets. He adopted
my advice and for while he was re.
strained but the sudden acquisition Of
s4'ooo unsettled him. He purchased
more tickets and in few years he was |
vagrant in the city of New York |
here Is common error with many /,
IL Is supposed that 10 be mechanic |
IL adverse to social elevation. II me. |
eh"n'es are not held in as high estim..
.'on as those Of other professions il is |
because they are not SO well cducat.a:
but let me tell you, for your encourage:
ment, that mechanics are rising in ar.