New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-08
(ROOkING A PROFESSION
Letter from MIR. Plaipb8dys
EDIroR REPUBLICAN:

Letter Ifon, MIR. Plainbsdy.
| ED1foR REPUBLICAN,:
Seeing by the pesusai Of the daily papers
that it is customary for private individuals
! to apply to them occasionally for assistance
and advice. which seems to me natural
enough since an editor must know great
deal, and the advice be gives TO one person
(like well made, ready made coat may fit
many others, am going 20 take you into
my confidence and ask your advice. As
the giving i. vii! only cos. on your part
thought, time, labor and space in your
paper, and as buy the REPUSLICAs every
morning from the newsboys, you can not
regard my questions as presumiDg.
lam an only son and an only child. Ny
parents both dose On the, and think me tit
to be the President Of the United States, or,
a: :he very least, Governor Of Louisiana,
only my mother thinks the latter position
SO uncertain :hs: she would prefer me to
wait until am old enough for the former.
The question ;s, what am ! to do in the
meanwhile. The old folks never could
agree about me: Oh which account am
very cory :ha: nature. Of Providence, or
.he science Of probabilities. or whatever
power it :s that regulates the distrisu-
.ion Of offspring, did not give them
another boy. The FIRST dispute was atou.
NY name. Ny mother, who is practical
and p;ous, wanted me 70 be christeHed
Milton Wesley; my father who is simply
political would have had ,ne named Daniel
Webster. Through the Intervention Of
Providence. in the shape ofa strong minded.
elderly, wealthy, unmarried aun,, a COM
promise was effected. and was accordingly
called by the name you vii! see subscribed
to this letter. Perhaps, however, as you
object to "Jong communications" and this
may run out longer than at present IN
tend. it may be as we'll to say at once that
my name il Million Webster Plainbody. TO
this change my mother consented, saying
there would be w at all events for the
second initial. tell you all this, not that
it ia ct any consequence in itself. but to
show you the difficulties under which have
labored from my birth upward, owing to
the fact Of my being an only child. TO return
TO the main point, the choice Of a profession,
my mother, who with the advance Of years
has grown less poetioal and more pious. has
selected the pulpit. She says ! have all
the essentials for success in that VOCATION
q fine presence, deep voica fueney OF
speech. and no bad habits. Zeal fos the
spread Of the gospel and unction, she
prophecies will come in time. Ny father.
on che contrary, would have me . lawyer
and a eta:es1nan, and sees no reason why
should not sucoeed as well a. Tom Jones.
Tom Jeues. by she by. has been adu,4ted to
the bar this I've years. and has not yet
made enough By fees to keep him in boots.
gloyee and bouquets for his sweetheayts.
Now. to tel! the plain truth. ! have no
ambition either for the pulpi: os tho bar.
AS seen in the largo mirror which hasgs
oyes the manteipicce in the sitting 70 ON, I
appear different from what ( do in my
mothers eyes. am rather short. stubby.
they called me at school: with small. gray
eyes. coarse. reddish hair, and ears which
are more prominent shau my abilities. 10
be sure. ! have been through Latin--Or
rather, Latin has been through me, Tor
these has 10: much remained with me-~and
though lam Auent enough, if that means
always ready 60 talk, am very slow with
my pen. Somebody always had to help me
with my exercises and conposition-some.
bcdy helped inc with this. Now. what
I'm coming 70 10 just This: Why couldn't you
write an article on the foolishhess Of parents
wishing to make professional men out Of
their boys, when the boys themselves HeulJ
prefer anything else, and are seally not fit
for itl For my part. I'd like some active
business. with plenty Of lite in it and
chance 20 make money, 60 fellow could
get married when he felt like it, and had
nice giri in his eye that was "williD"without
waiting till he has lost all his enthusiasm,
ana the girl he'd rather have is the m o. her
Of grown daughters. and the whole world
is fiat and Glow. think could do well in
the dry goods business, or the cotton or
commission business--that's most az respect
able as the iaw--isn't it: But ia actually
rather be carpenter or hotel clerk than
pound away any longer at ~ classical
education"
Now. Mr.. Editor. II SOU are anything ike
as smart a. take you 70 be. you'll write
just such an article as will hit the old gen.
tleman in the right place; for he always
reads your paper right straight through.
do not believe be will suspect me Of having
written this, but if he does I don't much
care, provided you back-.that's the point.
NJ. W. PLAINBODY.
F. S.-As this is too long for your "Peo
pies Column" hope you will kindly find
place for it somewhere else. M. w. r.
P. S. No. 2.-These postscripts are o: in.
tended for publication. NJ. W. p.
I'VE think the subject treated Of in NJ. w.
P's communication one of general interest.
and publish it accordingly.-ED.I