The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-06-15

s'Sorry He Did Not Learn a Trade:
's A young man, well dressed and
ofprepossessing appearance, called
at our office recently and inquired
in great earnestness if we had EN-.
ployment Of any kind to givc him
for hut few days, If no longer, as
he was stranger. in the city out
Of money, and unable 70 pay. for a
few days board and lodging He
further stated that he was q book
keeper, but after q dilligent search.
he had found no one who wanted
any help in that line, nor could he
obtain employment at any thing
that he felt competent to perform
in satisfactory manner. The
positions Of clerk and book-keep-
er, he remarked, we're all filled, and
applicants for them far in excess
of the demand.
4 am sorry,' said he. that l did
not learn q trade.
The appeals of the young man
excited our sympathy. Dut, requir-
ing no farther assistance In the
Office we we're compelled to reply
to his eager questioning that We
could not employ him.
The door closed after him, and
he again wentout to continue what,
to all probability. proved TO be q
fruitless serch for employment.
But his words fingered behind and.
as we sat musing on them, recalled
| to mind the Oft repeated expires :
sions Of the mechanic. in which he
reproves himself for want of fore
sight in selecting an occupation.
Here I am doomed, he says, to toll
in q shop. at work which is hard,
affording but poor pay. Like a
dog, I must come at the call of q
whistle. or like servant, obey the
summons of . bell; had I studied
bookkeeping or entered a store
as clerk, might have been lead.
ing much easier and more pleas
urable life.
| In the cases cited, we find each
one dissatisfied with his selection
and wishing to exchange places
And the difficulty atonce presents
itself, as to how we shall decide
for them and the classes they rep.
resent, 60 that tie seeming mis-
takes in selection may be remediet
We acknowledge we are unequa
to the task. - a
s Food. clothing, machinery, bous.
es, ships. and an almost cndles
variety of other things. are con.
tinually in demand, which requir'
the labor OF farmers and mechan
les; while that class which makes
exchanges (mcrchantsl is of nc
cessity comparatively few in mum
ber, and therefore needs but
small force of assistanta. Th
necessities of the millions Of eartI
, require by far the largest ndhbe
+ Of persons to be employed in ag
riculture and manufactures. When
ever then through pride or an
: other motive, parents disregar'
, the law and encourage their son
in seeking after situations. a
clerks, book-keepers. DC. rathe
than engage in those pursuits 70
. which there is always a naturs
: demand. there will be . CORES
!, ponding amount of suffering "a
|, penalty. Hence We find the 9
, called respectable occupations ar
! glutted, while the mechanic.
+ branches are suffering hrcugh th
/ lack Of skilled laborers. An ad
vertisement for clerk vii! quick
. ~ bring to the Office door sma
, army Of applicants Of all sizes an
! ages, while the want column ma
plead several days for good me
chanic. and fail 70 meet With
response.
Sorry he did not learn . trade.
!, Let apprentices and journeymen
q who may be bewsiling their lot, /,
4 once resolve to thus pine no long
er, but by hard study and clos
appl ication master their trade
. and having done so, demand IA
{ compensation. Then by addin
d to skill. honesty, punctuality an
q economy in expenditures, thel
need be no fear that they shall
q compelled at any time TO beg K
sufficient employment to pay for
. days board and lodging