The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-02-25
WHY DON'T Boys Learn TraAsg

why Don't Boys Learn TPaAsgS
The Philadelphia Ledger justly ~
marks that the present generation Of
Young men seems to have Q strong
aversion to every kind Of trade ,businesA
calling, or occupation that requiresmaA-
uel labor, and an equally strong tepr
dency towards some so-called ''genteaR
employment or profession. The result
is seen in A superabundancs of elegant
penmeuI book keepers, and clerks Of
every kind who can get no employ
ment, and are wasting their lives N the
vain pursuit of what is not To- be had;
and a terrible Overstock Of lawyers
without practice and doctors without
practice.
The passion on the part Of the boys
and young men to be clerks, Office a.
tendants, messengers, anything,s so that
it is not work of the kind that will makS
them mechanics or tradesmen, is de.
plorable sight to those who, have full
opportunities to see the distressing ef-
fects of it in the struggle for such EN-
ploymsnts by those unfortunateS who
have put it out of their power TO do
anything else by neglecting TO learn
some permanent trade or business IN
which trained skill can always be tnr1ed
to account. The application for clerk
shipssand similar positions in large ess
adjustments are numerous beyond any.
thing that would be thought ofby these
who have no chance to witness it. Pa!
rents and relatives, as well as the boys
and young men themselves, seem to BE-
afflicted with the same infatuation. To
all such we say, that the most uhMiss
advice you can give to your boy Is 70
encourage him to be clerk or bock1
keeper. At the best, it is not we'll
paid occupation. Very frequently il
among the very poorest. This is the
case when the clerk is fortunate enough
TO be employed; but if he should hap
pen to be out Of place, then comes the
weary search, the fearful struggle With
the thousands of others looking tor
places, the never-snding disappoint-
ments, the hope deferred that makes
the heart sick, the strife with poVert6
the humiiations that take all the msHs
hood out of the poor souls, the priva1
tions and sufferings Of those who depend
upon their earnings, and who have no
resource when he is. earning nothing
No father, no mother, no relative shoHld
wish to see their boys or kindred vast
ing their young lives in striving after
the genteel positions that bring such
trials and privatiOns upon them 10 afGsr
life. e lt,a 0 uadrz si
How do these deplOrably false notions
as to choice of occupation get into the
heads Of boysl Why do they or their
parents consider it more "genteel" or
desirable to run errands, sweep 6ylt
offices, make fires, copy letters, etc.,
than to make hats or shoes, or liAy
bricks, or WELD the saw or jackplapss
or handle the machinists file, or the
blacksmith's h ammeri We have heard
that some of them get these iHOtionsst
school. If this be true it ia sad paTs
version Of the means of education PEa1
vided for our youth, which are intended
to make them useful, as well as intellis
gent members Of society, and not useless
drags and drones. Should 1t 1bsasSS
that the present generation Of boys gst
it into their heads that, because they
have more school learning and book
accomplishment than their fathers had,
they must therefore look down upoE
the trades that require skin and handi-
craft, and whose productions maksaup
the vast mass of the wealth Of every
country, then it Is time for the CO.'S
trollers and directors to have the M
terror walls of our school houses OVV-
cred with maxims and mottoes warning
them against the fatal 7ScisHfifs
American. .s .a .te e,...a
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