Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-06-28
Save the Boys.
New York Times

Do American boys learn trades auv
more! One would suppose not, if the
muititude OF fporpnseless, aimless young
men out oil employment is any indica-
ton. There was time when the mas
Ter mechanic had his house filed with
hearty young apprentices, and when
MS journey went from under his
roof to set up in lite for themselves-
TO men in middle life the recolIections
OF those far of times when the master.
ms men and boys, formed strong pro.
uuctive Industrial group, seem like the
memory OF primitive age. Sons of
rich and educated men did not think
1t beneath them to swing. the broad
axe In the ship yard, or the sledee
hammer at the anvil. Or thew went
TO sea before the mast, and climbed to
the quarter deck from the forecastle.
In large family of boys one would
oe sent 10 college, one might possibly
go into mercantile pursuits, and the
others would choose their trades after
many anxious but CHEEKY family coun-
ellis. Nowadays the young lads shrink
from the lrksome confinement of the
mechanics shop. If they cannot 90 to
college and so while away their youth.
they must go into astore"-anythine
but WORK. Wedo not beiittie the yo-
cation of clerk or salesman when wa
say that to be in either one or the other
OF these cailiDgs appears to most young
men the most comfortable thing. OF
all the pursuits which men follow. this
seems To require the lesst preparation.
AT any rate the men who are willing
TO MAKE Themselves generally useful
more naturally turn to the shop of the
retail dealer than to any other source I
OF employment. They have never
learned trade. They like to wear
good clothes and keep their stand be-
hind the counter or desk. or secure no
litical influence sufficient to push them
into an Office of some sort, they drift
aimlessly about, looking for employ-
ment which never comes.
False ideas of living and extravaeaut
notions are responsible for great deal
OF this hopeless misery. Young lads
are brought up to consider manual
labor degrading, and fond, foolish pa
rents sometimes seem to prefer that
their children should go into the world
helpless rather than they should learn
trade. But the selfishness of me-
,hanics and the outrageous tyranny
,f their unions, have had a hand Ia
bringing to pass the presen. state of
.hings. About twenty-five years ago
here began . series OF experiments In
which has resulted disas-
The times were good, work
plenty and wages fair. To maintain =
OF these. associations of me-
.hanici began to limit the number of
apprentices which might be EMPLOYED
a each shop. factory, or company Of
vorkmen.
Men who had sons to equip for life
lctually voted to shut the trade against
heir offspring. The consequence vss
hat, the supply of skilled workmen
lid not keep up with the expansion OF
he country. and with the legitimate
lemand. Employers were obliged to
end abroad for workmen, and It came
o pass that grown men from foreign
,arts took the places in American
yorkshops Tor which American bows
hould have been educated. Where
low are those neglected, cheated boysy
some Of them are In jails and aims
Houses. Some will be found lounging
IN the benches In the public parks.
'ainly waiting for something to tura
lp. Others, willing enough, are adver-
ising for situations where they can
make themselves generally useful.