The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-12
Trades Versus Clerk ships.

A friend tells us of young man, we'll
dressed and of prepossessing appearance,
who called at his office recently and inquired
in great earnestness If he had employment
ofany kind to give him for but few days, if
no longer, as he was stranger in the city,
out of money, and unable to pay for few
days board and lodging. He further sta
ted that he was book-keeper, but after
diligent search he found no one who
wanted any help in that line, nor could he
find employment at anything he felt COM
petent to perform in satisfactory manner.
The positions of clerk and book-keeper, he
remarked, were all filled and applicants
for them far in excess of the demand. 81
am sorry,' said he, THAT did not learn
trade.'
The appeal of the young man excited
our friends sympathy. bat, requiring no
further assistance in the Office, he was
compelled to reply to his eager questions
that he could not employ him.
The door closed after him and he again
went out to continue what, in all proba-
bilty, proved to be a fruitless search for
employment. But his words fingered be.
hind, and recalled to mind the oft.repeated
expressions of the mechanic, in VIII Oh he
reproyes himself for want Of foresight in
selecting an occupation. "Here | am
doomed" he says, "to toll in shop, at
work which is hard, afording but poor
pay. Like dog must come at the call
Of whistle, or, like servant, obey the
summons of bell. Had | studied book
keeping, or entered store as clerk, /
might have been leading much easier and
more pleasurable life,D
In the cases cited, each one is dissatis.
fed with his selection and wishes to ex-
change places. And the difficulty at once
presents itself, as how to decide for them
and the classes theyrepresent, SO that the
seeming mistakes in selection may be
remedied.
Food, clothing, tools, machinery, houses
ships and an almost endless variety of
other things are continually in demand,
which require the labor of famers and me-
chanics; while that class which makes
exchanges (merchants) is of necessity COM
parativelY few in number, and, therefore,
needs but small force of assistants. The
necessities of the millions of earth require
by far the largest number of persons to be
employed in agriculture and manufactures.
Whenever, then, through pride or any
other motive, parents disregards the law.
and encourage their sons in seeking after
situations as clerks, book-keepers, etc.,
rather than engaging in those pursuits for
which there is always natural demand,
there must be corresponding amount Of
suffering as penalty.
Hence we find the so.called respectable
occupations are glutted, while the me.
chanical branches are suffering through the
lack of skilled aborers. An advertise
ment for clerk will quickly bring to the
Office door small army of applicants of
ell sizes and ages, while the swami"
column may plead for several days for
good mechanic, and fail to meet with re-
Spouse.
"Sorry lie did not learn trade" Let
apprentices and journeymen, who are be-
wailing their lot, at once resolve to thus
repine no longer, but by hard study and
close application master their trades, and,
having done SO, demand fair compensa-
tion. Then, by adding to skill, honesty,
punctuality, and economy lie expenditures,
there need be no fear that they shall be
compelled at any time to beg for sufficient
employment to pay for days board and
lodging. Commercial Bulletin.