Ellsworth American., 1873-08-21
What shall we do with our Boys.

Ii is impossible to make" chemist, or
an engineer, or an naturalist, OF boy, II
he has no special taste or aptness for these
studies a to make poet out OF a Digger
Indian. Ii is no unusual circumstance for
parents who have boys just entering upon
manhood to come to US, desiring counsel
in regard to placing them In = chemical
laboratory, that they may ''learn the
trade" as TO their eyes the business ap-
pears remunerative. They have no special
genius. no training In preparatory studies,
no decided leaning towards chemical man
ipulstion or research. but the desire is to
have them made into chemists. There
is a mistaken idea. common TO many par
ents, that their children are as well adapt
ed to one employment as another. and that
they only need opportunities to learn re-
garding this pursuit or that, TO become
profcients, 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 pulpts, when they should
be following the plough forced into courts
| OF law, wheI they should be driving the
/ plane In a carpenters shop; forced into
| sick room, as physicians, when they should
| be guiding q locomotive, or heading au eN
| ploring party in the Rocky Mountains;
! forced into Industrial laboratories, when
| they should be in the counting-room or
| shop.
1t is 4 wise provision of Providence that
| nearly every boy born into the world has
some peculiar distinctive capability. some
| aptness for a particular calling or pursuit;
and if he Is given into channels contrary
TO his instincts and tastes, he is In antago-
! nism with nature, and the odds are against
| him. One of the earliest and most anX-
/ ious inquiries OF parents should be directed
10 the discovery of the leanings OF their
| children, and If they find that their boy,
who they earnestly desire shall adorn the
/ bar or the pulpit, is presistcntly engaged
/ In making toy ships, and wading In every
! puddle OF water, to test their sailing quail
/ ties; il he reads books OF voyages, and
when In seaport steals away 10 the
/ wharyes, to visit ships and talk with sail
ors, ii is certain he is born Tor the sea.
1 Fit him out with a sailors rig. put him in
the best possible position for rising 10 the
honorable 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 whiting, planning.
saving. constructing, and neglects his
/ studies. turn him over 10 some good car
/ penter, to learn the trade. II he begins
/ early TO spend his pennies for suipher.
nitre, oil vitriol, aquafortis, etc; if he Is
such persistent exper!menter that YOU
fear he will Kill himself or set your build
ings on fire; II his pockets are full of
/ sbominable drugs, and his clothing so
charged with the 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 il will be safe To
start him of 10 3 technical school for in
! struction.
The question Is, not what we will maks
of our boys, but what position they are
manifestly designed TO tll in what dircc-
ton does nature point, as respects ayoca-
tions or pursuits in life which will be in
harmony with their capabilities and in
stincts, Ii is no use for us to repine and
find fault with tho supposed vulgar
tastes Of our boys. We must remember
that no industrial calling is vulgar; every
kind OF labor is honorable; and il is far
better TO be distinguished as irst-slass
cobbler or peddler, than 70 live the con-
temptible life Of 4 iiith-rate lawyer 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 wealth; If they can procure
the humblest fare, by constant toll, the as
pirations of their boyhood, and subse-
Quentiy OF their manhood. are fulIy met
They are negative characters, happy with
nothing. and suffer no elation or depres>-
ion, whether in sunshine or under = cloud.
These boys, who often afford much NOR
tification TO ambitious parents, ill most
important niche in the world in fact the
world could not do without them. They
constitute the great army OF men who
build 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. Scold aIid fret as we may, we can
not alter the temperament or procliyities
of such boys. Nature is stronger than We
are, and well ii is for us that this is so. IL
our boys are born to live in subordinate
or humble positions, we can hardly help
it, we may hold them in false position
by the power of wealth, or strong control-
ing influences, but when these fail they
fall at once TO their place, in obedience 10
law as irresistible as that which Newton
discovered in the fall of the apple.
What shall We do with our boys Study
TO learn what they are capable of deing
for themselves; aid them, encourage them
to do well whatever work Is suited to
their natures. Regard every calling as
honorable. the labor of which is honora-
bly, performed, and thus insures happiness
and prosperity 20 our offspring Il Jour
nal Of Chemistry.