The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-08-12
Professions and Trades.


There never was period when energy
met better reward in Virginia than at pre-
sent; if directed in the proper channels
We should remember, however, that the
times have changed, and that our young men
should not be all striving to become lawyers
or doctors now. We have enough in those
professions and to spare. Formerly the
young gentleman who was able to get a
thorough legal or medical education, had
some other property in land or negroes upon
which he could in great part rely for a sup
port. IF he received but few fees for the
first five years, it was but what he expected,
and he could afford to wait Now he can do
no such thing, and the lawyer or doctor not
established in life has generally a hard time
of it.
We advise parents to bring up their child
rem to look towards something else than the
professions, Or indeed any other calling that is
not remunerative. There is but little chance
of youth doing much nowadays at clerk
ing-for this is overdone also. Clerks on
an average barely receive enough for many
years to keep soul and body together, and if
they engage in business without fair start
their chances of success arc but slim.
One great cause of young men not doing
well in the commercial line is that but few
are properly educated for it. A lad that goes
into counting room without proper prcpara-
ton, should no more expect to succeed than
that an aspirant to the law should expect a
run of business without having read Black
stone.
Reading, writing and arithmetic, constitute
the most essential parts of every education !;
but they make up but small portion OF
what every merchant should know. He
should be well acquainted with the geography
Of the whole earth and with the productions
Of every country, and especially with those Of
his own. He should know something of at
least one Or two modern languages, and should
be fair mathematician. So far from a imi-
ted education being sufficient for the mercan-
tile profession, there is no line in life to ex-
eel in which requires more varied information
What we wonder at is, that more of our
youth do not learn trades. A good mechanic
can, at twenty five years Of age, make more
in one day than the most Of clerks can in
three, and his chances of success in life are
infinitely greater. In the mechanic arts there
are many prizes and no blanks; for every
young man who works hard is sure to obtain
handsome support, which cannot be affirm
ed of any other calling whatever.
To gain good living in any trade, all thai
is required is a fair English education ane
industry. To reach the highest point, how
ever, scientific instruction is absolutely re
quired for blacksmiths and carpenters, a.
much as for any Of the other vocations il
life.
In former days there was general distast,
in the youth Of the South to go to trades
The causes Of this fact are plain enough, ant
need not be referred to. They exist no long
er, and labor will in Virginia be far NOR
honorable now in the estimation of all than i
was under our former condition of society
1t is absolutely essential to the materia
welfare of the State chat more of her son
should devote themselves to the mechani
arts 1t is the mechanic that makes the pros
perity of the city, and without him it canno
be great or permanent AT no period il
our history did these pursuits pay better, an,
the young man Of education and Of stead
habits that engages in them now, has faire
chance Of becoming wealthy than were he t
devote his energies to any other calling.
| We advise Our people to place more Q
their sens at trades. The old order of thing
has departed, and people will have hence
forth to work hard to get their living. Ever
one wishes his son to become useful mem
Der of society and to accumulate competen
cy, and the best means Of accomplishing thi
is to learn good trade and to stick to it,
.Norfak Journal,