Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-08-05

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hands whatever he has since had to direct
others in doing
But such examples arc humberless. All |
my acquaintance with business men teaches me |
that the fundamental secret Of success in bus !
mess is knowledgc-rcal knowedge--such /
knowledge as is only acquired by becoming
particularly familiar with methods and pro-
cesses-such knowledge, in fact, ~ man
gets by taking hold Of work, aud doing il
until he can do il easily aud perfectly
There is noble establishment IN Broad
way, where many Of us 60, occasionally, for
the rehabilitation Of our outer man. II was
in the grand upper room of this palocc-like
store, while ! was being measured for coat,
that conceived the idea Of writing this ar
tioe. In well conducted establishments Of
every kind you will notice the same faces
year after year; for able men naturally gath
er able men around them, and employers and
employed, by reciprocal justice aud courtesy
become attached TO ono another, and have
neither motive nor desire TO sever the conncc-
tion. And yet, on thatoccasion, seeingaround
me the same skilful and obiging persons that
| had seen there ten years before. | could not
but reflect how little chance they had to ad-
vance from clerkship to mastership.
1 Suppose" thought |, ga lad of sixteen or
seventeen should propose to himself as an OBJ
iect in life, to become the proprietor Of an es-
tt4blishment like this--what would be the
shortest and likeliest path for him to strike
into 2n
feel certain that the best thing he could
do would be to apprentice himself to a good
tailor, and learn all there is to be known
about the making of clothes. Having acquir-
cd that knowledge--not with his head only,
/ but with his fingers as well-nothing would
[ be easier than to set up small shop Now,
what is the difference between q small tailor
J shop, (wel placed and well conlucted,) and
the overshadowing clothing houses of Brooks
or Devlin2 Why, nothing, but thirty years
Of growth
The knowledge which clerk acquires is
part Of the Indispensable equipment Of a man
Of business but it is far from being so vital
to a grand success as that which comes Of a
true apprenticeship Gibbon says that going
out with the militia on training days was OF
material assistance to him in writing the his
tory of the great Roman wars. Just giving
the word of command to a few companies Of
country militia let hin. into the secret Of com.
plcated battles and great campaigns.
Learn a trade, then, lads, you who aspire
to do something credtable and substantial
during your life. Would you be an architect
and build the new Capitol West of the Mis-
sissippi? Well, then, 60 apprentice to th'
best carpenter or mason within your reach
Do you wish to be sculptor, and yet canno
E pay a masters fee Instead Of pining il
your mothers chimney corner, 60 to the near
r est stone cutters and cut tombstones
The educating effect of learning gooC
e trade has never heen sufficiently considered.
= Why do we have now-a-days, so many sim
( pering, foolish girls about, who know nothing
- can do nothing, and are nothing2 They hav
been at school long enough to get littl
o knowledge, and they do not appear to be want
. ing in natural capacity; and yet so empt
I, are they of sense and reflection, that, ofte
c when look into their expressionless countc
a nances, find it difficult to believe in the in
0 mortality of their souls. 1t seems more re;
d s0nable to think that such abortive efforts {
Nature would be quietly absorbed or dissipai
Y ed, like the leaves which futter to the groun
and are no more seen.
: What is the matter with these poor ere;
d tures2 The matter is they have never boi
If ed potatoes, ironed clothes, made pudding
" cleaned paint, made beds, nor III any 9th,
!. way seriously applied their minds and han'
n TO the exact and skilful performances Of hom
N ~ tasks They have missed the precious G
n ucation which comes of carefully done wor
" IL any good soul would take half a dozen
d, these unfortunate beings, and give them
v. good three years drill in the work of we
C. ordered house, the educating effect would
G. astonishing to every one who knew ther
st GU cannot boil an egg precisely right wit
th out getting little education out Of it.
40 Compare the mechanics in the Novel
an Works with the clerks in Stewards stoi
wv The clerks are excellent fellows; they lo
wv we'll, dress well, understand their businei
ms and are in every respect worthy members
society but our best mechanics have a &c
&c tain force of manhood, weight of charact'
To and depth of reflection rarely seen in tho
III who only buy and SELL
ed should be sorry to say anything to d
its parage our institutions Of learning. New
mt, theless, T. feel confident that an inteligC
us. youth, who remains at school until he is s.
na teen or seventeen, and then apprentices hi
ust self to a good trade, can get better edu'
Of tion out of his shop with an hours study
ta- principles in the EVENING" than it is possi
i've to get in any college in cxistence-that is
be say, a better education for this new and for
my ing country, where for fifty years at least
wo come, no man can hope to play leading p
er. except in welding material forces.
of say, then, lads of sixteen, if you wol
ont Law n foundation for n sure prosDerity be
ow by learning trade, If you would esc'
ity the perdtion of being fool, learn ira
esq If you would do mans part for your col
city try, begin the work of preparation by lea
ing trade.