Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-06-28

SkvE rHE Boys.-Do American boys
learn trades any more: One would
suppose not, If the multitude of purpose
less, aimless young men out OF employ
ment is any Indication. There was
time when the master mechanic had
his house filled with heavy young ap-
prentices, and when his journey-men
went from under his root to set up in
life for themselves. To men in mid
die lie the recollection OF tho. c far of
times when the master. his men- and
boys, fosmet astrene produciive-indas-
trial group, seem like she memory ~cfa,
primitive age. Sons OF rich, aud educa-,
ted men did not think II beneath them
10 swing the broad-axe in the ship yard
" the sledge hammer at The anvil. HOrs
thev went to sea before-the mast, and
Climbed ~ the quarter deck from the
forecastle.
In large family Of boys cue would
be sent to college, one might possibly
90 into mercantile pursuits, and the 9th
ers would choose their trades after many
anxious but CHEEKY family councils
Now -a-days the young lads shrink from
the irk>ome confinement of the mcchan-
ic's shop. Ifthey cannot 60 TO college
and so while away their youth, they
must "go into store anything but
work. We do not be.i;tle the vocation
of clerk or salesman when We say
that 10 be IN ei;hc: one or the other OF
these calliugs appears TO most young
men the most comfortable thing. OF
all the pursuits which men follow, this.
seems to require the last preparation.
At any rate the men who are willing 70
make themselves generally useful more
naturally turn TO The shop Of the retail
dealer than TO any other source Of EN-.
ploymcnt. They have never learned 4
trade. They like TO wear good clothes
and keep their hands soft and white
II thev cannot stand behind the coun.
ter or desk, or secure political influence
sufficient to push them into ali Office oi
some sort, they drill, aimlessly about.
looking for employment which never
comes.
False ideas of living and cxtraragart
notions are responsible for great dci
OF this hopeless misery. Young lads
are brought up to consider manual labor
degrading, and fond. ioo.ish parents
sometimes seem TO prefer that their
children should 60 out into the world
helpless rather than they should learn
trade. But the selfishness Of mechan-
les and the outrageous tyranny OF their
unions, have had hand in bringing to
pass the present state Of things. About
twenty five years ago there began a se-
ries Of experiments in trades-unions
which has resulted disastrously. The
times were good, work plenty and
wages fair. To maintain a moncaoiv
of these, associations OF mechanics be-
gan 10 limit the number Of apprentices
which might be employed in each shop,
factory: or company Of workmen.
Men who had sons 10 equip for life
actually voted to shut the trade against
their own offspring. The con-equenee
was that the supply Of skilled work
men did not keep up with the expsn-
sion OF the country. aud with the iegi-
tir2ate demand. Employers werS Obliged
to send abroad for workmen. and II came
to pass that grown men from foreign
parts took the places in American work
shops for which American boys should
have been educated. Where now are
these neglected. cheated boys: Some
Of them are in jails and aims houses.-
Some will be found lounging ON the
benches in the public parks, vaialy
waiting for something to turn up. 9th,
err. wiling enough; are advertising for
situations where they ran make the IN.
selves senerelly useiI..