The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-06-20
SOBER THOUGHTS.


try, promising In due time TO bccom,
densely populated and teeming with
production. IL Is the mission of the
press to note the progress of "a country,
study its interest, warn the people oi
danger, and, In so far as II can, Ia
point out the road of safety. In Our
humble but conscientious way we de-
sire to fulfill this mission.
Looking abroad In our land one evil
Is everywhere patent. That Is, the
proncncss of parents to start their sous
in professional life. Wherever we go,
in town or country, we find commune
ties over-supplied with lawyers, doc
tors and men of other more vicarious
callings. Hundreds of worthy young
men fall into the one or the other of
these vocations and fail, simply be-
cause the field is already occupied, and
there Is no room for them. Every OBJ
serving man Is aware of this general
fact.
1t is pain lul to see gifted and wor-
thy young man, standing forth as
lawyer or physician without practice,
and virtually wasting the better years
of his life. Often have we experienced
this feeling, while entertaining the
highest respect for the parties. But il,
as we believe, it is an evil and II grow
ing one, it ought to be corrected. The
question then comes up, how it is to be
corrected? The answer is simple.
Instead of putting their sons in the
line of professional life, let parents
teach them to be good farmers, or have
them taught to be mechanics, machin-
lists or artisans. What life more noble
or honorable than that of an intell-
gent, frugal farmer, ever profiting by
the improvements in agriculture made
from year to year? Who is more GER
tain TO prosper and be respected in life
than the educated mechanic or ma
Go where they may, on
small capital, they can start business
and build up to positions of wealth
and influence. Compare the frugal
and prosperous mechanic with the law
yer or doctor without practice, and
who would hesitate to choose?
The spirit of the age is that the man
who CREATES supplies for the wants of
man, is the object of respect and popu-
lar esteem. Whether farmer, Great
ing breadstufis or cotton for raimen.,
q mechanic fabricating shoes,
Or hats, or clothing, or implements of
or of the household, he is n
pillarof progress anda public benefac-
tor; and iftO his occupation he brings in
,elligence, moral rectitude and gentle |
he is entitled to occupy the |
front rank in good society, not among
shoddyites, but among the
good and virtuous. Men of mechanic |
ii origin now WELD the greatest influ-
ence in the United States; for instance
such men as Eblin Barrett, Vanderbilt,
Stewart, Morgan, Asa Packer, Henry
Wilson and Andrew Johnson. Look
It Galveston, Houston, and other
owns in Texas, and you will see al
ready mechanical men and machinists
IN the front ranks, and steadily rising.
Our only object is to combat popu-
lar fallacy-we might say weakness
and to urge parents to stop the suicidal
mania for professional life in an over
stocked market, and look more to
heir sons as educated farmers, me-
machinists and artisans, of
whom the country is in need. Do not
,ast the suggestion aside as waif
among newspapers, but, we beseech |
you, consider it well as affecting those
TO come after yOu--the children Of
your own loins.