The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-03-27
Why is Mechanical Labor Objectionable
We copy the following from the Phil
adelphia LEDGER:

aueiphla LEDGER:
A few days ago, gentleman adver-
tised for clerk By the close of the
first day on which the advertisement
appeared there were four hundred and
eighteen applicants for the one clerk
ship. This afforded very forcible
Illustration Of the extent to which the
occupation Of clerk!ng and housekeeping
is oversize ked. But a few months
since the head Of business establish
ment, who wished some help in the way
Of writing, but in which some literary
| ability was required, advertised for an
assistant at Il moderate salary, and hav-
ing incidentally mentioned that the
position might suit lawyer or physi-
clan not in good practice, got more than
hundred applications, Of which fifty
three were from young lawyers and
doctors.
Here was another illustration of an
over-supplv of the professional or gen
| tccl occupations" Another advertiser
who wanted person to take charge of
the editorial work of weekly paper
got fifty-seven applications, not more
than half a dozen of the applicants
being recognized newspaper writers,
but nearl y all of them being clerks,
bookkeepers, and professional men,
Still another advertised for two appren-
tees in a wheelwrght and smith shop,
in one of the scmi-rural wards of the
city, requesting applicants to give their
address and age. He got three appl-
cations, but in every case the applicant
was too old, two of them being over
eighteen, and one nearly twenty Still
another advertised for an Office boy,
about fourteen years old, and had so
many applicants that his place was
crowded for more than five hours, and
the applicants were Of all ages, from
mere children not more than twelve
years old to full-grown men of twenty
one
These are not very cheerful or ell
couraging signs. The present genera
ton of young men seem to have strong
aversion to every kind of trade, bust
ness, calling, or occupation that requires
manual labor, and an equally strong
tendency toward some so-called gen
tee " employment or profession. T.e
result is seen in such lamentable facts
as those above stated-a surplus of
bookkeepers and clerks Of every kind
who can get no 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 pas
sion on the part Of boys and young men
to be clerks, Office attendants, messen-
gers, anything, so that it is not work of
the kind that will make them mechanics
or tradesmcn, is deplorabe sight to
those who have full opportunities to see
the distressing effects of it in the strug-
gle for such employments 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 turned to account.
The applications for clerkships and SIM
liar positions in large establishments, are
numerous beyond anything that would be
thought of by those who have no chance
to witness it. Parents and relatives, as
well as the boys and young men themselves,
seem to be afflicted with the same infatua-
ton. To all such we say, that the worst
advice you can give to your boy is to en-
courage him to be clerk or a bookkeeper
At the best it is not a well-paid occupation.
Very frequently it is among the poorest
This is the case when clerk is fortunate
enough to be employed, but if he should
happen to be out of place, then comes a
weary scarcity, the fearful struggle with
thousands of others looking for places; the
never-ending disappointments, the hope
deferred that makes the heart sick, the hui
Mutations that take all the manhood out
of poor souls, the privations of those who
depend upon his earnings, and who have
no resource 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 gem
teel positions that bring such trials and
privations upon them in after life.