The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-01-03
Apprentices.

Ohe OF The improvements most needed in
our State legislation at present is good
apprentice law. An enlightened policy
which aims at the development of social
resources, and humanity which interests
itself in the welfare Of every class of the
community, alike demand reform of our
statute book on this subject.
The skilled artisans of the world have
in cutlery and jewelry, in gold and silver.
in carving and moulding, in all those arts
and products which give celebrity to Geneva
and Damascus, to Paris and Brussels, have
| all been taught in the school of apprentice
ship and received from masters the tradi-
tional mysteries of their craft.
| 1t is almost impossible to form thorough
workmen otherwise. No master will take
| the trouble to instruct boy in the rudi-
ments of an art, unless he has guarantee
of profting by his trouble when that in
struction shall haye borne the fruit of skill.
There are, too, about many of the arts GER
tain jealousy guarded secrets, which adopts
do not care to impart except where their
own interest requires that subordinates
should be able to apply them.
If New Orleans is ever to pass from
the status of a frontier trading post, and
become the home of skill and industry-the
radiating focus of refined civilization-it
must dOmesticate the arts and sciences. It.
must provide for a generation of competent
mechanics and artisans, formed at home by
wise system of apprenticeship.
AS a question of humanity, how much
better to have homeless or unruly boys
bound to good masters, who will rear them
to respectability and industry, than to hud-
die them together in municipal house of
refuge. 1t is evident that one man could
control and tame one or two restless
Migrants, domesticated with his family and
constantly under his eye, better than he
could one or two hundred of them kept on
the footing of criminals and prisoners.
This system recommends itself equally
on the score of economy. 1t would cost the
city nothing for its youthful deinquents
and Migrants, while the Boys House of Re-
fuge requires an annual appropriation of
about $4,000. 4
1t may be said that few persons would be
found to accept the charge of such boys,
even with the authority given by thestrict-
est system of apprenticeship. Dhis could
hardly be the case if such coptracts could
be made as to confer on the1naster vested
rights which it would be beyond the power
of subsequent legislatiopto tamper with.
We scarcely doubt that arrangements
could be made by the city with some of it's
charitable associations-suc as that of st.
Vincent of Pgdl-by which all these boys
could be comfortably and honorably pro-
yided for at an expense far less than that
now inc1frred. With proper stability and
protection, such institutions might soon be-
coDe self-supporting.
Ave have all witnessed with surprise and
pleasure the gratifying success of the
"Boys' Home" instituted by the Society of
st. Vincent of Paul. If the city would
furnish the necessary buildings and appli-
ances, with temporary subsidy for abso-
lutte necessities, very probably that society
would, with a proper law of apprentice
ship, be willing to expand its operations,
so as to give real GO Home" to all those
youthful unfortunates who have nowbu It
barred and bolted " Refuge"
Let all such boys be apprenticed to the
President of the society and his successors,
and the necessary authority would be guar
anteed. They could then not only be edu-
Gated to an appropriate extent, but be
made to learn great variety of useful
trades and occupations, with the assured
prospect of controlling their labor after
its being made skiltul, as to render it o
source of large and certain profit
Any such profit could be made fund for
distribution among the graduating class of
each year, according to grade of merit.
BY such a system all the nobler motives of
energy and morality would receive happy
impulse, and the institution would send
forth its children the recipients of honors
and distinctions. 1t is easy to believe,
] .,lroa1lIr Of the