The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-10-03
From the Newburyport Mass Herald.
Let Them Learn Trades.

H'"" VIC Ne"Duryport lslass) herald.
Let Them Learn Trades.
There is very general disposition. espe-
ciaily among the weaker minded men and
the softest class Of women. to have their
ooys come up without mechanical trades or
knowledge OF other manual labor, as a reli.
ance Tor future years. The other day an
advertisement was inserted in our columns
by party wanting a lad fifteen or sixteen
years old, with directions to apply at the
Herald Office. For several days bows we're
calling upon us to know what store ,anted
a clerk, and several women wished to be in.
formed if it was dry goods store that ad.
vertised. When they were told that q bow
was wanted for an apprentice to a mecha-
meal trade, most Of them turned away, and
asked no further questions, though the busi-
ness was such as pays to journeymen as
much as the average income of lawyers.
| physicians, clergymen, editors, or teachers.
| in the State of Massachusetts,. 1t really be.
gan to lessen our estimate of the common
sense of the community, to see how many
parents wanted their boys to measure mus.
Inns and sell tape, rather than to have q sub.
stantial business that would make them in.
dependent in any part Of the world; and we
had less hope for the future, when we saw
how many boys were imbued with the false
notion that labor was less respectable and il
was more worthy Of their ambition to be
clerks
Usually it happens that these views are
held either by persons who are now Door.
or who have sprung from poverty recently.
How often do We hear such sayings, ~ do
not mean tnat my boys shall work as l
have;' or, 81 will give my boys ear ming,
and that is the best | can do for them; and
they will then be able to take care Of them.
selves" 1t is very natural that parents
should desire to smooth the way Of life for
their children; but is it not plain before the
eyes OF all that more young persons suffer
fail to develope themselves for good, or in
cline to mischief and vice-ten times over
from TOO little than too much to do? If
there is nothing in the child born to-day.
that Shall fit him for great acts, such as
should distinguish public or professional
ife, is it not well that he should be SO edu.
Gated and trained that he should be useful
IN some other ling, and independent from
the labor OF his hands, which are his patri.
mony and his fortune? and, if naturally
he has talent and genius, will he not find il
out as quickly, and will he not rise q. soon.
from behind a work bench as a counterp-
with hammer j. his hand, as yard stick,
Nothing is more unreliable for the future
than clerkship. IL may at first be more
agreeable to wear finer clothes and have
cleaner hands, than the poor boy who has
the smell OF the honest cattle upon him hut
coming years will show the advantage to be
on the other side; and mest sorrowfully will
three quarters Of the boys So eager to find
places in the stores, remember the day when
they refused, and perhaps despsed the place
of a mechanics apprentice O: the farm lad
that drove oxen and loaded manure!
Equally also i the idea of the min for,,o1
upon education, learning Of schools, for sue.
cess in life If our education was true. and
thorough, and practical, as it should be- then
might we the more readily say, "giye the
lad learning it is bis portion" But when
we hays to take our sons from even the high
schools, and send them 10 the commercial
schools to fit them for the counting room:
and when we find they have no gualifica.
tions in graduating from the university over
the grammar school scholars, for ordinary
business, we must confess that as a means
of livelihood, mere book learning is of little
avail. The man who sends his son to school
is bound further to direct him in the way
where his knowledge will be practical. or Of
all persons that son may be the most unfor.
tunate and mo unhappy Hundreds and
thousands of persons there are. of educa-
ton, as we term IT, who are absolutely SUPER
nuineraries in the world, without the ability
to set themselves TO work, without the means
Of living, without employment, and without
friends TO assist them. Some are simply
useless while they live, and die to be for
gotten at once; others are burdens to their
friends, unhappy that life IS failure TO them.
and rendering others unhappy around them;
and more still, disatfected and soured. first
complain that they are not appreciated, and
hen affirming that the word owes them
wing, sink TO bad company and bad habits,
md final ruin. There are any number of
hem in our prisons to-day. who are there
or want of employment. They did not
know what to do with themselves, till they
crime, and were hurried TO the
cell.
If there is anything, in addition to the
common advantages Of the schools, that are
open to all, that can give health and happi.
ness, ind pendence, pecuniary and mental;
activity of mind and nobleness Of thought,
and hence pave the way for future advance.
nent, if there be mental and moral founda-
ION for preferment, it is instruction in some
rade or calling, to which any man may turn
It any time of life, and be sure, by the no.
nest labor of his own hands, by his own
skill and industry, to obtain a competence
or himself and family. If in after years
,ther paths of usefulness open to him, and
ie nas ho ueeo ~ use Ills quauIant 10 navl.
gate his hoe in farming or his hammer and
Jaw in building, he can dispense with them
Ind be none the less man therefor; but If
IN the contrary he relies upon wealth, it
nay take to itself wings and fly away upon
salary, it may fail; upon trade, it may turn
against him; or upon genius. it may never
De recognized till he is dead and his children
ire paupers. In this world there is much
hat it would be Of advantage to know, that
AN be dispensed with-much that it would
'e pleasant to have for enjoyment but since
men rise or fall by themselves, and not by
,ames or families, that knowledge, always
eliable for bread, can in no wise be dis
,ensed with, and the possession Of an inde.
pendent and manly spirit, that never leans
lpon others, it is most unfortunate TO be
Without.