The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-30
oi why bon't boys Learn Trades.

The present generation of young mon
seem to have strong aversion to every
kind OF trade, hpsiness, calling or occn-
patton that requires manual labor, anu
an equal strong tendency toward some
30 called "genteel" employment or pro-
fession.' Tho result is seen i'll n super
abundance of elegant pensmen, book.
keepers, and clerks of every kind, who
can igetfno employment, and are wasting
their lives in the vain pursuit of what is
not TO- be had; and terrible overstock
OF lawyers without practice, and doctors
without patients.
The passion on the part of the boys
and yonng men to be clerks, Office ut
,tf.ndants, essengers-anything, so that
it is not work Of the kind that will make
them mechanics or tradesmen-is n de-
piorable sight to those who have full op
port1nities TO see the distressing effects
OF it In the struggle for such employ
inents by those unfortnuates who have
putit out of their power to do anything
elso by neglecting to learn some perma-
nent trade or business. in which trained
skilf can always be turned to account.
The' applications for clerkships and simi-
lar positions in large establishments are
nu.nerous beyond anything that would be
oAAOoeSos VA oy tbooo wiz bdSC nv CtiHuCO
to witness it. Parents and relatives, as
well ns the boys and young men them
selves. seem to be afflicted with the same
infatuation. To all such we say that the
most onwise advice yen can give to yonr
boy liz to encourage him to be n clerk or
book'keeper. At the best, it is not IL
we'll paid occupation. Very frequently
it Ia among the very poorest This is
the case when the clerk is fortunate
enough to be employed; but if ho should
happen to be out Of place. then comes
the weary search, the fenrfnl struggle
with the thousands of others looking for
places. the never-ending disapp"lnt-
ments, the hope deferred that makes
the heart sick, the strife with poverty,
the humilistions that take all tho mau-
hood ont OF the poor souls, the priva-
tions and sufferings of those who depend
upon his earnings. and who have no re-
source when he is earning nothing. No
father, no mother, no relative should
wish to see their boys or kindred wasting
their young lives in striving after the
genteel positions that bring such trials
and privations upon them iu after life.
How do these deplorably false notions
as to clIoice OF occupation get into the
heads of boysp Why do they or their
PoAeutS CouSlueT III mOr9 SenLeel or
desirable to run errands. sweep out Of
foes, make fires. copy letters, etc. than
to make hats or shoes, or lay bricks, or
WELD the saw or jack k-plane, or handle
the machinist's file, or the blacksmith s
hammer? We have heard tllut some of
them get these notions ut school. If
this be true, it is a sad perversion Of the
means of education provided for our
yonth, which are intended to make them
useful as we'll as intelligent members of
society, and not useless drugs and
drones. Should it be 80. that tho pre-
sent generation Of boys get it into their
heads that, because they have moro
school learning and book accomplish
ments than their fathers hua, they must
therefore look down upon the trades that
require skill and haudicraft, and whose
productions make mp the vast mass of
the wealth Of every country, then it is
time for the controllers aud the directors
to have the interior walls ef our school
houses covered with maxims and notices
warning them against the fatal error.
philadelphia Ledger.