The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-07-11
Apprenticeship as an Educator.

NC WhlIIllS VI kuC Olu 8ySUClA Ct OP'
prendceship Is a Seriops. evil. The 1mi'
tation fxedby lie sTrdRs Unions on
the number OF Apprentices allowed 70
each shop, 81 master mecl nicStS Wfrk.
ing mischief. 1t depEivg many boys NOl
the thorough training in the several
trades that Is essential 10 the attainment
ofthe highest skill and success. The sys.
tenn OF apprenticeship lies at the founda-
tiJn Of skilled industry, and should be en-.
couraged 70 the utmost as an indispensa-
bic part Of the practical education Of our
future artisans Otherwise, our youth
must be forever declared from the most
lucrative positionSS or surrender them 70
skilled mechanics imported from abroad.
This plan i short.sig6ted and suicidal Il
Crippls our future mechanics. Il seeks q
temporary gain at the sacrifice Of their
permanent prosperity. "a
The ambition for easier lives and more
genteel empIoymenS, md the silly but
common notion that labor Is meu4al, that
the tools Of the trades or Of the farm are
badges OF seryfGty, have greatly lessenetl
apprenticeship. Meeting some thirty
thirty thousand youth annually, have
tried to refute these pcrnicious notions,
and show the necessity and dignity Of Ia
Dor, and It's vital relations, 70 all human
excellence and progress, the evils OF indo-
lenCe, the obsurtlitY Of the prevalent pas
sion for city life, and widespread aversion
10 manual labor. The theory that labor
is degrading drudgery Will consciously
demean any artisan, and bar improve
nent In his art. On the other hand,
Drille and pleasure in his work lead TO
higher excellence, both In his craft and
character, He who always does his best
today can do better still tomorrow. It
was wise provision Of the Hebrews that
all parents should teach their children
some handicrah, This was with them, as
It should be with us, an essential part Of
the education Of every child. Among the
Hebrews, labor was always honorable
No man was ashamed Of his trade "The
chief Of the apostles" did not degrade his
high Office when he resumed his early
trade Of. tentmaker. His associates
seemed never to suspect that their old
business Of fishermen was disreputable.
The Great Teacher hOnored manual Ia
Dor. and, as carpenter's son, worked pa
tiently al his tathers trade. On the
other hand, the Chinese mandarins, who
let their nails grow as long as their fin
gers, 70 show that they never work, are
the illustrious predecessors Of our preten-
tious mobs who affect 70 dispise the in
dustrial arts.
Many of our youth are afflicted with
the infatuation that city cIerkshipS are the
most eligible positions, while the trades
are not " respectable" Let them learn
that Intelligent mechanics have better.
chance Of securing wealth, eminenee and
influence than the oVercrowded clerkships
can afford. Tie present and last Govern
or Of Connecticut, each, in his boyhood,
learned trade, and tins became a thor
Ough master Of the business in all its de-
tails, in which each has achieved brilliant
success. The most extensive manuthc-
tlrer Of silveware in the world, John
GOrham, of Providence, declined the po-
sition Of clerk in the counting room, that
he might mHster the trade in Ills fathers
shop as a regular apprentice, where he
learned thoroughly how to do with his
own hands all that he has since had to d.
rect others in doing. Amultitude Of sim
liar facts might be cited to show that the
mastery Of trade Is one Of tile best pre-
partitions for practical Life and prosperity
in business Clerks are often paid less
than skilful mechanics, and are less indie
pendent In their pFecariouS positions,
they are liable TO disappOintments and
humiliAting struggles with the thousands
Of others looking for a place. Every ad-
vertiseinent for clerk brings whole
swarm Of applicants. How pitiable the
condition Of this superabundanee Of
bOok.keepers and exChangerS wasting
their lives in waiting for place" while
our factories, railroads, and trades are
claInoring for educated superintendent,
foremen, engineers, skiltul managers, and
a cunning workmen." The position Of the
educated and well.trained mechanics Is
far preferable 70 that Of average city
clerks. The latter may dress better, talk
more glibly, bow more gracefully, not to
say 0hseqliously, but they compare unia-
vorably with our best mechanics in manly
Independence, Vigor Of thought, and
strength Of character.
Too many Of our young men leave the
homestead on adventures less safe and re-
liable than the arts of industry. A good
trade is more honorable and remunera-
tive than peddling maps, books, pictures,
patent.rights, and clothes.wringers, or in
a city store, TO be cash or GRAND boy,
stOrG.sweeper, tlre.kindlcr, and counter,
jumper generally. Without in any way
disparaging the useful position Of the
clerk, our young men may properly be
cautioned against further croWding this
already "plethoric profession" To. the
boys in the country, We say, instead Of as,
piring TO IN uncertain and precarious
Clerkship, stick 10 the farm, or learn
trade, and you will lay the broadest foun-
datiOn Tor prosperity. Those who have
well improved tho opportunities now offer
cd in our free schools can afford TO APP
prentice themselves at sixteen years Of
age, experimenting their education by
evening schools, OF by Scll.training in their
evenings and leisure hours, In the com
Ing struggles for material prosperity, he
will win who can best WELD physical
forces. Bacon well says The empire Of
man over material t1ingsnhaa for lis only
foundation the sciences and the arts; Tor
VIC triumph over Nature only as We learn
10 obey her laws Promotion and sue.
cess are open to all in proportion as they,
master this lesson.
The superintendent first selected for
tho large manufacturing corporations in
this country, as at Lowell, were frequent
" professional men, often practfcfng law
yerR. But experience long since led TO q
regular system Of promotion. "Encour.
age merit, ""promotc from the ranks, !" are
now the notices. The best superintcnd.
ents Of these large concerns are now those
who have worked their way up from the
humbleSt positions, who are thoroughly
and practically familiar with all the pro.
cesses and details, In our factories, every
room has It's foreman and assistant fore.