The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-07-13
pratioal Rdueatisn.

Tho Cabinet Maker, a Boston journal de-
voted to the furniture trade, apeWeIs
young correspondent who inquiries "Whet-
her there are any schools where they can
teach person mechanical trade In con
nection with his education" that no such
schools exists within its knowledge. "a.
This is an inquiry which hhPald have at
tention. A young man wishes to learn Q
trade. He ia poor. If he was rich he would
not want trade. II he, or his parents,
had the means to. educate him preparatory
to learning mechanical trade" he would
not have asked the, question. He ID poor,
ambitious, and honest. To be apprentice
ed, means that he must aacridee education
and be bound to serve . master for time
satisfactory to tho master. That means
that he must pay back, for his support
while learning, an amount OF apprentice
work measured by the ability and aptnsss
Of tho poorest grade Of apprentices. The
apprentice system is not even regulated
by the masters regulations. Tho sdnca-
ted laborers arc united in trades unions,
and dictate to tho masters in regard to the
apprentice system. The number OF appren-
tees to be admitted to every trade IL
carefully acauned, SO as to not interfere
with prices of labor sought to be establish
ed by tho labor associations. The inter
est Of the pprentice il not fairly consider
ed.
If the education of the young is the
duty ofthe State, as it ia practically assum-
ed to be, what education 10 more necessary
beneficial to the State-more. conducive to
the morals, stability, and happiness OF So
ciety, than good trade
The restrictions pat upon the apprentice
system by the masters and the labor asso.
Citations, are narrow minded. They wounds
restrict the number OF apprentices, and DE-
press the ambition Of the best young mon,
on an assumption that the competition for
work must DO limited. They look too nal
rowly on their own particular localities.
They assume that the fresh journeyman
will remain in the city and DO their com
petitor. They do not look out upon
the broad expanae of our yet new World,
which o century of competition viii not
fill mp or exhaust. -
There is large philanthropic, beneyo-
lent side to this apprentice qHestlon. we
have known young men TO seek In valn ZOE
for weeks and months for place in which
to learn Q trade. The one answer was,
that the trade at that time was depressed,
and that there was noroom fot apprentices.
The young men could not wait, and sought
other uncongeniaf employment. Some be-
came bar-tenders, AID others went into
adventurous expeditions. In two years
tho trades which rejected them were in
unusual activity, and the laborers were
few. -tF
We need exactly what. this young man
seeks-schools. for practical edueatisa. The
State could NOS endow better Institution.
A. place where young man might be- edu.
Gated, and at the came time learn a trade,
and when learned have the benefit of his
work while he remained in the institution,
and, if industrious, graduate with money in
his pocket.
Such a man would net be competitor to
indiferently taught mechanics in old cities.
He would either lead the less educated
workmen of the cities to q higher and IA ore
independent sphere, furnish them with la
bor-saving machinery, establish on firmer
basis the dignity Of labor, break down by
the force of superior intelligence the petty
miserable lines of caste /; or he would go,
with his superior knowledge, his good ha-
bits, his we'll balanced mind, acquired in
school far superior to that Of u city appren-
ticeship, as pioneer into our own undeve-
loped territory, or as an Instructor to
Russia, or China, or other lands, which
are now struggling to take part in the pro-
gressve spirit of the age.
AWoRD OF ADvICE.-Having kept house for
oevera years we, like other mortals who live at HONS
have experimental considerably in the art providing
for the material wants Of We have consequently