Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-25
From the London Family Herald.


Labor issthe lot of man in this world. 1t
may be taif of the body. or toll of the mind,
or coihbination Of both; but in one form
or anotker, man must live BY exertion and
industry. The number is small of those
who are born to property, or who inherit
wealth sufficient to raise them above the
necessity of working for their livelihood
This necessity is the greater in country
like Great Britain, where the population is
dense, and where every field Of labor is the
scene of constant and busy competition
Itis, therefore, subject of important con-
sideration, in what drec ton the energies OF
youth may be turned to the best profit and
advantage. The difficulties attending this
inquiry are universally felt, and the choice
of business or profession is at this period
a theme Of anxious CONSULATE on In many
tamiI-.The following remarks are offered
in the hope that they may assist the deliber-
atoms both of young men and OF parents
in this important matter.
A young mans calling or occupation in
life is determined by a great variety OF cir
cumstances. Sometimes there is very
little room for choice. For example. son
may succeed to a business made by the in
dustry or skill Of father; or the assistance
of rejatives or the patronage OF friends may
direct to particular path in life. But we
are supposing youth without any of these
special advantages, having his own way to
make n the world, and with nothing but his
own talents, strength, and industry to de-
pend OF. Ia this case there are many things
to be taken into account. There is the
bodily health and constitutions; there is the
mental capacity and education; there is ma
tural inclination and acquired taste, and
other qualifications of personal kind. 1t
is fatal mistake when youth, either by
his own choice. or by the advice 1--WE shall
no: say compulsion) of guardians or parents
enters into an occupation for which ne is
by nature or by circumstances UNITED
Yet this is mistake constantly occurring,
and attended with miserable consequences.
Strength, realth, constitution Of mind as
well as of body, inclination, taste, social
position, cnG mora. influences, ought all
more or less, to be take into account in de-
termning the choice.
Besides these personal elements in the
inquiry. there mus: be consideration OF ex-
Iternal circumstances depending on the par
ticular state of society in certain places or
times. One branch of manual industry, or
one line of intellectual labor, may be sub
ject to competition SO excessive. that 1t
would be unwise to enter upon the struggle
exceat with qualifications certain to COM
mand success, however much the inclina-
ton might be bassed in the direction. In
other departments, capitil may De necessary
or patronage, or an introduction not depen-
dent on personal merit or exertion. In cIf-
ferent parts Of the country the chances OF
obtaining employment vary. and there are
some callings that can be carried on best in
certain bcalities, while others are in de-
ma no ilt every district. Those who aEe
willing to emigrate to foreign lands, or to
the colonies, may trust to qualifications dif-
ferent from what others possess who are re-
solved to remain at home. All these points
we merely hint at in this place, to show
how much need there is for careful and lu-
dicious de Iteration before choice is made.
Previous TO entering into details, we have
few suggestions to offer, which are aPPlic-
able to every case. From iuat,ention TO
the points to which we are now going TO
refer, much injury through life is sustained.
The choice should not be made too early.
Both in town and country the hard require
ments of poverty compel many youths of
tender years to begin oetmes to earn their
dailv bread. We have nothing to say where
the necessity for this exists, and a boy of
right feeling will gladly submit to toll, or
give up prospects that he might have after
better schooling. if, by his cary exertion,
he can make the burden lighter for his par
ents, and bring his share to the family re-
sources. In some trades. it is also neces-
sary for the apprenticeship 10 begin early.
But where there is no compulsion t'removs
youth from home and from school, it is
both unwise and unfair to hurry him into
the business of life. II a boy is idle, or
mischievous, or likely to be spoiled by an
indulgent mother, or led into evil by bad
companions, the case becomes different; the
sooner he is set to work the better. We
are supposing now, however, boy Of avar-
uge abilities and disposition. with will as
weHas opportunities of improvement, both
bodily ami mental. 1t is short-sighted policy
thrust such boy prematurely into the world
to begin 10 do for himself. The health may
be irrecnverably injured by labor beyond tie
strength in the years of early growth. II
there is no risk on that score there is the
arrest laid on education at the very time
when the mind is most capable of profiting
by instruction received. A good schooling
is often fortune in itself, and will increase
the chances Of success in any walk of life.
Parents or guardians ought never to grujge
the time given TO general education, although
the time may be thereby delayed for the
| spec;.l traiyias required for a business OF
profession. II is true that where the love
of knowledge exists, it will be cultivated
under any circumst tances. The grea. AT
| rican explorer, DR.. Living stone, has lately
told how he used TO read books, laid "n the
frame Of the loom at which he worked; and
| III W e"c pun
of knowledge under difficulties But where
parents can, by thoughifulne-s and even by
self-denial, extend the education OF their
chillren, it is their wisdom as well as the 1
duty to do so. Money and time devoted tt
this are well laid out. The greatest m"r
have looked back with regret to the year:
of youth as the season tor acquiring knowl
edge. Sir Waher Scott himself said hi
would give half his fame for earning whicl
he might have acquired at school. Apar
'ii-from the special qualifications which give
success in certain callings, every one un
derstands the worth Of a sensible, we lin
formed man, and the possession of this cla
racter very much dependsson the genera
education previous to entezug ona purtc
u!ar business or profession. Delay is herr
uften not lost, blt< 5eees time.
Grafton OF parents previous tothe chsic'
beino made. What is the object chiefiS<il