Richland beacon., 1873-04-19
Food for Philosophical Reflection.

On no ROCK in the narrow and dan.
gerous channel Of parental navigation.
have fathers and mothers made more
frequent and dangerous shipwreck for
their offspring. than the indicating to
them q choice Of profession; it seems
to have been impressed upon the minds
Of very large proportion Of fathers
and mothers. that in providing q way
by which their children should attain
t. the means Of procuring the necessa-
ries Of life. they should eschew every
mode or form Of manual labor. as if it
involved dishOnor-this is an evil of a
crying nature. and we feel called up
Oh in our desire to do good, to point
out some Of the consequences thereof
to The community at large, as well az
to the individuals who are thus mis-.
directed in their choice.
One evil attending this mode Of &C.
tion. this apparent horror Of Mecbanic
labor. is . frequent want Of employ.
meut to the objret-this being . CIR.
cun,stancs readily observed, and ob-
viOus in its operation. We refer TO The
columns Of the daily papers. where
throughout the year. may in this busy
time. b ssen continual notices Of me.
chanies wanted. while . silgls call for
. clerk or sttsodant in . shop, will b
me, With two or three hunlre siren-
u"us apniican 8, al e ting firth their
qualifications aud Willingness to he
useful. Now will any one say thai
The clerk would have to do less labor
than the mechanic? we think not. he
would have to spply himself longer
TO an employment entirely unfriendly
to general health. and at the end of
the season find himself little better
in pecuniary point Of view than
when be commenced his employment
while the mechanic laboring fewer
hours. closes a years account with
health strengthened. reputation in his
trade improved, and funds sensibly
inrressed-we speak of the two. sup
posing both virluou: ly and econo,ni-
cslly inclined.
fiat any time the pursuit Of a me-
cbanical employment was unfriendly
10 the chance of high consideration
10 society. that season bas passed. aud
the world begins TO look ON men for
their usefulness. their excellence in
any calling, and not for the calling
itself; this is in q great measure ow-
ing to the progress in the useful arts,
and the certain sciences, which has
been made within the last ten or ff.
teen years.
We acknowledge that more large
fortunes have btsu Il ade by the mer.
chants in this and Other c 'untries, than
by the mechanics; and hence, a. rich
es have been in this country . great
means Of distinction, mercantile pros
poets have been the favorite among
all classes.
But "times have changed, and to
be wise I'VE must change with them :"
but against such state Of things
three circumstances have particularly
and efectually Embellishments
is not now 80 certain Q means of
wealth as formerly-the state of Eu-
rope, Of the world, indeed has changed
there is less demand for our pro-
ducts, and little or no call for our
ships-men have become wise, aud
refuse to waste treasure, blood and
life, in protrscted wars, to suit the
folly or cupidity Of rulers; and conse-
quently the arena of commerce is
crowded with new and eager compel
itors. and chances of success material
ly narrowed down and lessened in
numbers, and We believe We do no in-
justice to that pursuit when We say
that its profits have been overrsted-
we hear much of those who succe ed,
who acquire princely fortuues--but
the thousands who utterly fail are not
remembered, and the latter we believe
will out number. not to saw the for
mer, but those who succeed even tol-
erably.
Yet it is difficult to find single in
stance in which . mechanic of good
capacity aud steady habits has not
succeeded in obtaining a competence.
The argument grows yet stronger
when we consider the imminent dan
ger incurred by those who have at.
tanned to manhood, without q regular
employment; and TO understand this
danger. examine the list of those who I
are daily srraigned for niisdsmeanors, !
and zee Of that number how small q
portion are mechanics; and even SET !
ting aside the host Of qualid offenders,
whose vagrsncy has rendered them !
obnoxious to the laws, compare the !
we'll dressed violators of statutes. !
hose who have shared in csnspiracies.
,cen concerned in the crying sins of