Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-12-24
What shall we do with our Bows 4!

1t is as impossible to make chemist, or
an engineer, or naturalist, of boy, if he
has no special taste or aptness for these
studies, as to make poet out of a Digger
Ipdian. 1t 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 a chemical abo-
ratory, that they " may learn the trade, as,
to their eyes, the business appears remu-
nerative. They have no special genius, no
training in preparatory studies, no decided
leaning toward chemical manipulation or
research, but the desire is to have them
made " into chemists. There is a mis-
taken idea, common to many parents, that
their children are as we'll adapted to one
employment as another, and that they on
ly need opportunities to learn regarding
this pursuit or that, to become pro6cients
and rise to eminence. More than half the
sad failures SO commonly observed are due
to being forced iDto pulpits, when they
should be following the plough forced in
to courts Of law, when they should be driv-
ing the plane in carpenters shop; fore
ed into sick-rooms, as physicians, when
they should be guiding locomotive or
heading an exploring party into the Rocky
Mountains; forced into industrial labora-
tories, when they should be in the count
ing-rooom 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 pnr-
suit ; and if he is driven into channels con-
trary 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
ings of their children, and if they find that
their boy, who they earnestly desire shall
adorn the bar or the pulpit, is persistent
ly engaged in constructing toy ships, and
wadlng In every puddle of water to test
their sailing qualities; if he reads books
of voyages, and when in seaport steals
away to the wharves to visit ships and
talk with sailors, it is certain he is born
for the sea. Fit him out with a sailors
rig, put him in the best possible position
for rising to 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 to
a good carpenter, to learu the trade. IF
he begins early to spend his pennies for
sulphur, nitre, oil Of vitriol, aqua fortis,
etc. if he is such persistent experiment
ter that you fear he will kill himself, or
set your buildings on fire; if his pockets
are full ofabominable drugs, and his cloth
ing 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 it will be
safe to start him off to some technical
school for instruction.
The question is, not what we will make
Of our boys, but what positions they are
maDifestly designed to fill in what direc
tion does nature point, as respects avoca
: tions or pursuits in life, which will be in
J harmony with their capabilities and in.
stincts? 1t is no use for US to repine and
find fault with the supposed vulgar tastes
of our boys. We must remember that no
industrial calling is vulgar, every kind of
labor is honorable; and it is far better to
be distinguished as irst-class cobbler or
peddler than to live the contemplate life
; of a fifth-rate lawyer or clergyman.
There are thousands Of boys born into