Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-07
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
4 Good Example.

our young men 10 tiie eAdupic aIloiueu III '''e
conduct Of one of their own number; a young
gentleman, a native of this city, had by his
mental activity and industrious application
ranidly achieved honors in nearly every branch
If learning taught in the University Of Viz
yinia, and graduated with distinction. Upon
Returning home with his honors fresh upon
him, like sensible and practical gentleman,
fully appreciating his obligations to society as
we'll "a his own personal welfare, he considered
what was best for him to do. In view of the
.reat social revolution brought about by. the
war and the great necessity it occasloned tor
the practical application of the physical
sciences in the regulation Of industry and the
development of the resources of his State, he
determined to enter the school OF skilled indus,
trv in the mechanic arts rs the very. ground and
pillar Of success in the future OF Virginia.
The process Of reasoning by which ne reach
ed his conclusion was very plain, and may bc
readily comprehended 10y most young men
But the rub was in bravcly acting upon his
conclusions 1t Is easy to argue and to talk
industry; but all young men know that talking
!. one thing and acting is another, the more cs-
nar;ally when the odd man is pretty strong
in the back, the family is comfortable, and the
necessity for throwing off the coat and wadlng
into Jordan is not positive, and pride Is decl-
dedly against it. ~
But our young hero is not made OF that self
indulcent stuff which is so common, and which
keeps the son so long idle, hanging upon the
father, consuming the results ofhis labors and
wasting the dearest hours of life. No sooner
had he reached the logical deduction of his re-
Elections than he rushed off to take position in
the smiths shop of one of the most complete
iron manufactures in the country. There he
has swung the sledge hammer like any laeorer,
with spirit and perseverance that 90 HIM m
finite honor He proposes to graduate with
the sledge: He has already acquired consldera.
ble ingenuity in tashioning the most important
of all metals -iron-and has made by his own
labor a hammer which for practical use and
beauty is model, and which mayyet be con-
sidered m heir loom to his successors more pre-
cious than gold and jewels.
Our young friend proposes after graduating
in the class of the anvil, to enter the school OF
moulding; and after graduating there, ne Will,
pass through the paternroom, and thence to
the drawing room, where he will take his final
degree.
After such course Of education our hero
may enter the field OF practical life fortified,
aud will in fact be master of the new situation.
N1editating upon the course OF this noble
young man, we may consider how useless and
idle are lessons in the schools without practical
application What are the teachings OF the
lecturer in medical science without the clinical
practice /? What the lore of the geologist
without the hammer, the blow-pipe, and the
magnifying glass ? What the theories Of the
chemist without the practical illustrations
Our young friend gave the answer, and de-
termined to acquire the full knowledge that
experiment, manipulation with his own hands,
would give and that acquaintance with metals
and the business of fashioning and utilizing
them for the good of society that would be &C
quired by orking in them.
Now, the advantage he will have over others
who have not passed through the school he
has entered will be that he will understand
thoroughly the whole process in iron manutac-
ture. From his social position he will have
means to ambark in business. lie will be ena-
bed to conduct it with energy and economy,
protecting his interests against lnhdelty anu
ncapacity Of employees, and ensu1ng safe
and thrifty enterprise In short, business con-
Quoted by man so accomplished will be char
acterized by activity skill, prudence and order,
and will command the confidence OF the pub,
lie. Therefore it WILL as 4 part OF the general
enterprise of the locality where 1t exists be
Justly regarded rs q great public benefit.
Now, then, under the social revolution that
is upon us; under the manufacturing advan-
tagcs of this city and the undoubted success
that awaits her in manufacturing enterprise, 1t
becomes matter of general interest that our
young men should follow the noble example
we have recited. We need above all things
experience and skill in manufacturing. The
minds of our young men should be imbued
with tie laudable ambition OF winning fame
and success in that line of enterprise which is
best calculated to swell the prosperity and
power of their native State and its metropolis.
Their own personal comfort and welfare will he
best promoted in that way, They will not only
acquire personal Independence by SC. directing
their energies, but they will acquire, more
than in any other way, that worldly happlnesS;
which all men seek and few find-viz personal
independence, health, strength, good digestion,
good Sleep clear conscience and the sselt-ap-
proval of having contributed liberal share to
the promotion Of the general welfare and dignity
of the State, and the comfort and order of So
cety Such consolation-such earthly happi,,
ness-is unknown to the heart Of the idler and
lounger who is impressed with the idea that
he is a gentleman, and work is degrade
tion !-Rachmond Dispatch.
WAsHINGToN CITY SAVINGS BANK