The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-02
MERCANTILE EDUCArIoN.


Let us inquire how FAR those who have
entered upon the life of merchant have edu-
Gated themselves for their calling, and fitted
themselves for the work they are expected to
perform. Would that the truth were more
agreeable to state than we find 1t to be in this
easel Generally speaking, merchants have
not that large cultivation we should expect
them to possess, or that fund of Information
which profession comprehendlng interests
so extensive ought to imply. The theory of
the Pennsylvania Dutchman seems to be too
widely adopted. The "old Berks" style Of
l education, extending as far as calculations of
compound interest, and including the mys-
teries Of addition, subtraction, and multplica-
| ton, Is too much in vogue
Few of our merchants feel competent to
| take an active part in public affairs and
! they therefore hold back, leaving the field to
lawyers and others Of more liberal education,
even when there are matters at stake in which
mercantile interests are deeply involved. How
! often have we been compelled to regret the
| absence of business men from meetings con-
vened to discuss affairs relating to the trade
of the city, or suffered chagrin at seeing the
management of such conventions left to those
who cannot be expected to feel as deep an
interest In the subject as the mercantile class,
who keep aloofl There can be but one cause
for the backwardness so frequently and 30
painfully displayed-the want Of that kind Of
education that will give the merchant a full
conception OF his Importance in society and
his influence upon the destinies Of mankind.
The establishment of libraries in our princi-
pal maritime cities, and the devotion OF some
degree Of attention to literary pursuits, have
served rather to make the commercial class in
this country conscious of Its defects than TO
supply the deficiency. The usual course of
lectures during the winter season is not of
much avail, for the reason that the themes are
not chosen with an adaptation to the audience
and there is an absence of solid fact, for which,
to the practical man, no trope, or figure, or
rounded period can compensate.
The library proper, however, furnishes the
leisure hours of the merchant with the means
of widening his range ofinformation-ofris rising
above the balance-sheet of the counting-house
TO look abroad ON the great world, and tho
wondrOus march of events-the distant lands
knowledge Of their products, political systems
grade of civilization, or anything else that
bears upon the commercial pursuits in which
he has engaged, save the simple idea Of cheap
purchase and dear sale-to study the pro-
bable effect and tendency of treaties, and
other measures Of national policy-to reach
down 10 the fundamental principles that uu-
derlle the traffic between various countries of
the globe--to note the changes worked by
Improvement in the facilities Of transportation,
and the exploration Of new routes and new
fields Of enterprise.
These objects can be attained through the
careful use of well-selected library. But
something viii still be wanting TO give the
merchant his due influence among his fellow
men. Even the most extensive fund Of com
mercia intelligence, and the most wonderful
reach Of sagacty, win be hut as gold in the
ore that is never mined, If the possessor has
not slllhd command of the means through
which to impsrt his resources. He must be
competent 60 speak OF write, "a the occasion
ealls, With force and clesrness, in his native
tongue while no member OF society has more
reason for cultivating an acquaintance with
the languages of other lands.
Here we find a great deficiency Of our
mercantile class. How few even Of The men
OF widest experience and largest information
can come before the community either by LETT
Ter OF word Of mouth, when any measure OF
Importance TO our trade is broached, and by
advocating them with strong array Of facts,
set forth in the clearest light, push on the
enterprise TO q eonsummatiOni We cannot
mention, at this time, more than halEa-dozen
in any city Of this Union, and probably it
would puzzle us to find SO many.
There may be lights hid under bushel,
but certainly they do not shine before men
either In our public journals or Of meetings
70 forward commercial interests.
A thorough collegiate education is just as
necessary to the highest style Ofmerehant as
to the lawyer, Htterdtsur, or divine. We
should check this all-pervading tendency 70
exalt the so-eAlled "lberap professions at the
expense Of those which are Of as much res
pectability and Of more influence upon the
afiairu Of mankind
The constant sulogy Of the former ia the
principal reason for men Of cultivation pre-
ferring their more honoTed walks, but the
practice has been exaggerated into can't The
young merchant, just entering upon busi-
mess, may do much by selEculture to attain
high position. But more may be accomplished
By the proper training Of youth who may be