Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-07-12
From the Peoples Monthly.
Chats with WOrkiugmen.

You may set it down as q rule that
skilled labor never begs. Cook work
men always command q premium,
simply because the demand is greater
than the supply. I have heard Of To-
ealities that were overstocked with
mechanics, but there is not town or
city in the country that will not will
ingly make room for more first-elass
wOrkmen.
There is q class Of mechanics
i'Saturday-night men" I call them
who are perpetual obstruction in the
way Of earnest, well disposed people.
Their thoughts, instead OF being di-
rected to the work In hand, are de-
voted to pay day. A man who thinks
more OF his pay than his work will
never make a flrst-clRss workman.
Show me q "Saturday-night man"
and I'll show you q StOuch."
1t is one thing to make, and anOth-
| er and entirely different thing to save.
NV own observation has convinced
me that atimpFOvidenee, sooner or later,
leads to want, PrivatiOn, misery and
/ frequently crime. 1t would be easier
/ to turn a somersault over the capitol
than for an imprOvident workingman
/ to elevate himself in his calling.
Show me a man that deposits trihe
regularly in a savings bank, or in a
building association, and I'll show
/ you q man that is in 8 fair way TO en-
Joy life.
There is scarcely one in ten in any
vocation that will rise above the level.
| Decent clothes, good habits, q respee-
table boarding house, or q quiet, clean
/ home, and no debts, are always in g
mans favor in the battle Of life.
You must have noticed the differ
enee in the belongings and comforts
Of men living on the same wages.
Here a cosy, attractive house; ther1,
one that is cOmfortless, chilling. No
warmth; no geniality, no eOrdiality,
no life in or about them. In the very
next house perhaps you will ind a
[ brisk cheerfulness a Hldke-yOurself'
St-home-aetiveness that attracts you.
/ If you have observed closely, you will
agree with me that your attractive
houses always claim stay-at-home'
husbands. If a mans heart is al
home, (or q wOmanis, either, he viii
/ eontrive to make home not only com
Portable, but inviting.
/ Aman says to himself, 'I'l mastel
my business" becomes q skillful
workman, clerk, or salesman, makes
q pleasure instead Of toll Of his work
and directly he is on the road to {
competence.
A man can't well get ahead IL b,
lives 10 to his income. AS for thos'
who live beyond 1t, they deliberately
weave a net to snare themselves
Management, planning, economy
build up more than all the skillin thu
world. And a man can't manage vel
unless he is duly sober, and he can
practice economy If he guzzle tentl
Of his earnings, or permits any fancy
to fritter them away.
Certainly a man has q right Il
smoke, II observe you avail your
selves Of the privilege), and he has
right to drink beer or whisky-prO
vided he does not rob his wife OF |
gown, or his ehildred Of good, whole
some food. And he has = right to ge
discharged for drunkenness, and .
right to fight and brawl, and knoc1
down his bosom friend and shOpmate
and run down hill, and fetch up a
the poor house or Jail. I tell you
sobriety is a strong card to plsy in tht
game Of life. I don't mean stupid
stingy sobriety-there are men who's
sobriety is the result Of stinginess-
but sObriety indicating self-restraint
firmness, will and determination.
Now, I'll venture to say that somt
Of the finest looking men to be found
in the country are mechanics. MeI
with fresh skins, clear level gaze, anC
/ resOlute bearing. They are not over
dressed. They offend none Of the
senses. They attend to their Owl
business, and permit no outside inter
ference. They are polite, civil, oblig
ing and industriOus-the class OF mel
who build up new industries, which
in their turn Lift up every branch o
trade common to a prosperous com
munity.
Now contrast men OF that staml
with the brainless fools who are snOb
bish people. Understand me, I've N
objection to neat, clean attire made il
the latest style; what I object to is tn
imitation which loses a mad's identi
ty. A man ought to be himself.