Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-02-26
The Best Profession.

There are many young men of earnest and
noble purpose who are asking themselves
the question, what is the best profession
There are many parents who have sons of
promise, who are seeking an answer to
the same enquiry. We propose to address
a few words to such on the subject in which
they are so much interested.
1t is well that they are interested in this
enquiry, for a profession is generally a
life business. 1t is at once an occupation,
a field of usefulness, and a school of cul-
ture. 1t is more than a question of food
and raiment, it is a question of character,
standing and usefulness. A mans life,
be it good or bad, is made in his profess
sion. The profession often makes the
man; not because the profession is intrin-
sically so important; but because it is
adapted to a mans mental characteristics.
What is the best profession for one man
is not always for another. One may do
well in the law, and fail elsewhere. An
other may succeed nobly on the farm and
make poor Roadway in other pursuits.
Another may be very useful in the min
istry, and be of little service in any other
calling. Another may make his name
great and his life a blessing in a machine
shop, who would make a poor figure any
as professions. The first question is, what
am | best adapted to? What is my son
made for +? 1t is vain to put a natural born
farmer into tho pulpit or the bar. 1t is a
suicide to put a fine mercantile ability into
a blacksmith shop, or a genuine black
smith at a jewelers. bench. Almost every
boy has a peculiar adaptness to some cal
ling. Much as we honor the profession
of agriculture, we know many men make
a sorry job of it, because they were made
for something else. There is bad farming
rs well as bad preaching and bad plead
ing. So there is bad mechanism and mer-
chandizing. And much of all bad work
in all professions is done by men who are
l out of their places. Many a minister
ought to be Il farmer many Il lawyer
ought TO be Il mechanic; many a farmer
ought to be in some other profession. 1t
t is a great thing to get in the right place,
, and the first thing to be aimed at.
But still the question is unanswered,
, what is the best profession ! or what pro-
~fesSion is best for the greatest number !
There is undoubtedly some M calling
better than any other; some one which on
the whole answers the great ends of life
: better than any other. We say, undoubt-
ingly, that one is the farmers.
! 1t is best, in the first place, because it
suits the greatest number; is best adapted
to the general tastes and abilities of man
> kind is best because it combines mechan-
ical and mercantile operations with its
own Is best because it supplies the lead
= ing wants of families and society is best
y, because it is surest and safest; is best be-
: cause it is most essential and must always
: be the chief pursuit of man; is best be-
cause it is heallhiest, ard affords the besl
! physical school for our BODILY powers; j,
= best because it is the most independent
and conferS the most peace is best be-
n cause it confers the most solid blessing,
(; upon a country, is. in a word the grand
r source of national wealth, virtue aud pros,
e pcrity; is best because it is most favora-
: BILE to liberty, virtue and good will among
r men.
We do not contend that in the present
e state of society agriculture is the best pro.
o fession for everybody, but best for the
$ greatest numbers; is best for the mos
d purposes; and for the most substantial
reasons,