The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-11-14
CLERKS AND APPRENTICES.
BY JAMES PARTON.

Sixteen years of age! What shall be !?
what shall | do? how shall | make the
most of this one life which have to live in
the world?
Here we are, with the huge continent of
America to subdue, people, civilize and
render accessible. What piece of work
lies before The next two generations of
American citizens! Three Or four rail
roads acro&e the continent-a system of
ship canals between the Far West and the
Atlantic Ccean-the Istlmus of Darien to
I've ricrccd-the national dclt discharged
tie Government purified and simpliiied-
Canada, Cuba and Mexico not conquered,
not absorbed, not even annexed, perhaps,
yet united IL lis by the unrestricted inter
change of products and sctviccs-our cities
recognized and rebuilt, and the blessings
of civilization far more equally diflused
than has ever yet been contemplated =
These are hut a few items i'll the great task
of preparing the continent of America to
play that leading and controlling part in the
affairs of mankind for which nature has
fitted it.
Sixteen years of age! How shall | pre-
pare myselfto do a mans part in this great
work and. by so doing, procure for my
self a fair share of safe and rational Eappi-
ness ?
II YOU 60 to the West, and talk with the
leading men in Chicago, Cincinnati, st.
Louis, omaha. San Francisco, and ask
them what kind of men they want i'll the
Western country they will all make you the
same answer:
I'VE want men out here they say,
"whu know how to DO something OF make
something. Ofbuyers and sellers we have
a superiority; and Of professional men,
such as they are, there is no lack. We
want men who can start a factory and work
in one. We want men who really know
how to cultivate the land Send us doers
ard makers, as many asyou please; If they
are really competent, we stand read to give
than start.
Such language as this I have myself re-
peatcdly heard in the Western country and
any one who goes there can see for himself
what field there is for men who know
how to take hold of work and do it. You
can also sec for yourself that the strong
rooted men of the West, as Of the East, are
men who in their youth learned that sub
tie. incommunicahle wisdom which comes
of doing homely work with their own hands
and mind, patiently and areN. One of the
most thriving establishments i'll Chicago is
a wagon factory, founded twenty years ago,
by poor mechanic, whose entire capital
at starting just sufficed to enable him to
complete one rough farmers wagon but it
was good, strong wagon; it gave great
satisfaction to the man who bought it it
brought in plenty of new orders to the ma
ker, and the factory is now turning out
| from five to seven hundred wagons weok.
remember visiting, in Cincinnati, a
large mandatory of bolts and nuts, il
which two hundred men were employed
| This establishment was one Of five in diff
fercnt cities, owned by the same company,
| anu llluiiaSctl ny itS SillCl. OlGttt,
was my establishment, on being introduced
to this captain of industry, to find him 6
brisk and smiling young gentleman of thir-
ty-two. l thought it must be mistake
I supposed lie was the son of " the ole
man." But no he was the veritable
founder, chief owner and manager of five
extensive iron works, and during the wal
he had worked contract for supplying al
army with biscuit. This youngster o.
thirty-two had done these things! And
with the generosity natural to youth, h'
was in the habit of giving away $25, 600 ;
year to the benevolent operations of The
city. This young fellow had been inure(
to work and to responsibility from his boy
hood, and he carried on these large enter
prises with an ease and gayety wonderful
to witness.
Few persons have looked into the lives o
so many remarkable men as l have, yet
cannot call to mind one of the acknowl