Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-25
Learn n Trade.

coded to Alabama.
Alas Poor Florida
Learn a Trade.
of 1896 prisoners in the peDitentiaries 0
thirty States in 1867, according to the report
The Prison Association inst issued, 81 per cent.
more than thIae-quarters had not learned
tTadP.
The above paragraph furnishes text
lays the Macon J0Wn0i, from which
most wholesome fermon can be preached
It is not to be concluded, Of course, that
the per cent. alluded to was drawn IRON
the ranks of the Learned professions, as
they are called.
The real point in the statement is that
york keeps a mans brain and hands from
mischief, and that if lie has learned a
rade he is not only safe, so far as tempta-
Ion IS concerned, but always has at his
Command a refuge against want and idle
aess-those fruitful sources of crime
With a good trade, in this growing coun'
ny where skilled labor Of all kinds com
}nands such fair wages, bread and clothing
Tor himself and family are secure for me-
chanics of every description. II his taste
and enterprise lead him into some other
calling where success is not Won, he has
the supreme satisfaction OF knowing that
IN such an event, lie still has capital to
.lraw npon OF which nothing but Provi-
lonce can deprive him.
It has always been n mystery to us why
there are not moro yoRng men learning
trades in oar country, especially since the
VAR. Broken down, pecuniacily, as orr
poOple found themselves at the ci0sr Of
1hc terrible struggle, it would seem an
abandonment of the silly policy # making
doctors and lawyers Of their sous, was
,pecially indicated, not only by past ex
Derience, but necessity. Never was an oc-
casion more suspicious for the change.
But what was seen Parents rushing
heir children of to college, without the
least reference to their fitness TO appreciate
and benefit by its training, And this was,
ana still IS often done at great pecuniary
inconvenience. Peteriamllias stlnts and
starycs at home, and the rest of the family
arc put on short rations, IL order that
young hopeful may idle way his time at
college and come home an A. u. We have
isnown and know many boys OF college
who have no more business there than so
many idiots They can't or won't learn,
,tnd after being literally dragged through
tho course, are turned out with diplomas,
10 be manufactured into so called lawyers
and doctors. They have health and
strength, though, and the test might have
developed some aptitude for certain me-
chanical pursuits. They would not have
made master builders. smiths or ma
chinists, but might have earned a living,
and made themselves useful members of
society as subordinates in these pursuits.
We don't propose, of course. to shut up
schools and colleges, but we do think it
would be best for all concerned to inquire
first before trying to give boy learned
or can receive it, There will be lawyers,
ana doctors, and ministers while the world
rndures, we suppose, but there is no rea-
son Why they should be recruited indis-
criminately from the graduating classes of
our colleges, without the slightest refer
ence TO their fitness. II q boy goes to col
iege and wont or can't get on with his
a'udies, clearly college is not the place for
him. He ought to be somewhere else. If
he has any mechanical aptitude at all, find
q trade fog him aud bid him stick to it, In
the various branches of mechanical indus
try there is always room for recruits. The
recruit may not be above respectable me-
,!i0crity, hnt still lie has his place. and his
nse to himself and the country, under the
control OF others. It is not necessary for
every mechanic to be q "boss," by any
means, in order that he should be useful
aud earn respectable living. Mediocre
lawyers aud doctors, though, are worse
Than useless.
We have witnessed many changes since
She war, but this, one of the most needed,
seems long in coming. That it is particu-
!arly demanded now, none will dispute
There is wisdom in it; there is wealth in
it, There is the germ of industrial indie
least, there is, in its success, the destruc-
tion Of the false and pernicious ideas that
labor degrades instead of ennobling.-
Away with it, then Let Southern colleges
lnd the learned professions flourish, but
let Southern workshops be filed with
Southern youths, and Southern progress
illustrated by the sturdy toll of the best
blood Of the land
The RV,ilding Association.
We arc glad TO hear that the Building
Association now IL process of organization
IS likely to amount to something more than
Il documentary zeal in the matter, and that
It Is more than probable that shares
enough will be taken to place it upon sure
and firm foundation. Too little stability
has been shown IN former attempts looking
20 the formation Of such an organization,
ana we sincerely trust i renewed damper
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