Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-12-09
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUR
BOYS!

II is impossible to make chemist, or
On engineer, or a naturalist, of boy, if
ha has no special aptness or taste for
these studies, as to make poet out of
Digger Indian. 1t is no unusual circum-
stance for parents who have boys just
entering upon manhood to come to us
desiring counsel in regard to placing
them in o chemical laboratory, that they
may learn the trade. as to their eyes,
the business appears remunerative. They
have no special genius; no training in
preparatory studies, no decided leaning
towards chemical manipulation or re-
search. but the desire is to have them
made into chemists. There is mis-
taken idea, common to many parents,
that their children are as well adapted to
one employment as another, and that
they only need opportunities to learn
regarding this pursuit or that, to become
profceuts and rise to eminence. More
Than half the sad failures SO commonly
observed are due to being forced into the
wrong road in early life. Young men
are forced into pulpits, when they should
be following the plow; forced into courts
of law, when they should be driving the
plane in a carpenters shop; forced into
sick rooms, as physicians, when they
should be guiding o locomotive, or head
ing an exploring party into the Rocky
Mountains; forced into industrial labor
atoriss, when they should be in the
counting room or shop.
1t is wise provision Of Providence
that nearly every boy born into the world
has some peculiar distinctive capability,
some aptness for peculiar calling or
pursuit; and il he is driven into channels
contrary to his instincts and tastes, he is
in antagonism with nature, and the odds
are against him. One of the earliest and
most anxious inquiries Of parents should
be directed to the discovery of the lean
iugs Of their children, and if they find
that their boy, who they earnestly desire
shall adorn the bar or the pulpit, is per-
sistently engaged in constructing toy
ships, and wading in every puddle Of
water to test their sailing qualities; if he
reads books OF voyages, and when in q
seaport steals away to the wharves, TO
visit ships and talk with sailors, it is cer-
tain he is born for the sea. Fit him out
with sailors rig, put him in the best
possible position for rising to the honor
able post OF ship-master, and you have
discharged your duty. If, on the other
hand, he is logical, discriminating, keen,
fond of argument, let him enter the law; if
he is fond Of planning, whiting, saving,
constructing, and neglects his studies,
turn him over to a good carpenter, to
learn the trade. II he begins early to
spend his pennies for sulphur, inter, oil
OF ytrol, aqua fortis, etc.. if he is
such persistent eyperimenter that you
fear he will kill himself, or set your
buildings on FIRE; if his pockets are full
OF abominable drugs, and his clothing so
charged with odor of stale eggs that you
refuse to admit him to the table at meal
times, why, the chances are that he is
born chemist, and it will be safe to start
him of to some technical school for in
struction.
The question is, not what we will
make of our boys, bat what position are
they manifestly designed to ill; in what
direction does nature point, as respects
avocations or pursuits in life which will
be in harmony with their capabilities and
instincts? 1t is no use for us to repine
and find fault with the supposed vulgar
tastes of our boys. We must remem-
Der that no industrial calling is
vulgar; every kind OF labor is honorable;
and it is far better to be distinguished as
a hrst-class cobbler or peddler than live
the contemplate life of a fifth rate law
yer or clergyman.
There are thousands Of boys born into
the world possessing scarcely trace of
ambition. Such do not care for distinc-
ton, or even for wealth; if they can pro-
cure the humblest fare, by constant toll,
the aspirations Of their boyhood, and sub
sequently oftheir manhood, ARE fully met.
They are negative characters, happy with
nothing, and suffer no elation or depres-
sion whether in sunshine or under
cloud. These boys, who often afford much
modification to ambitious parents, fill an
important niche in the world; in fact, the
world could not do without them. They
constitute the great army of men who
ouiid our railroads, tunnel our mountains,
load and unload our ships, cut down our
FORESTS and manipulate the red hot iron
masses which come from our blast fur
naces. We cannot alter the tempera-
ments OF such boys. Nature is stronger
than we are, and well is it that this is SO,
We may hold them by the power of
wealth or controlling influences, but
when these fail they fall at once to their
place, in obedience to law as irresisti-
Die as that which Newton discovered in
lhe fall OF the apple. Study to learn
wnat they are capable of doing for them
serves; encourage them to do well what
ever work is suited to their natures. Re-
gard every calling as honorable, tho la
Dor OF which is honorably performed,
ana thus insure happiness and prosperi-
y ~ 10 our otfspring.- Boston Journal of