The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-12-03
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1879
APPRENTICES.

The apprentice system i. virtually a
thing OF the past. In the United
States it is dead and buried beyond
the hope of resurrection, and in Eng.
land j: is much the same. Under the
circumstances it codld no. be other
wise. The apprentice system was all
outgrowth of tho shop. The cooper,
the printer, the blacksmith, &c, took
. boy into the trade because be couldn't
afford to hire a man; usually getting
the services Of the boy for no
thing. and occasionally receiving COM
pensstion in addition. Seventy years
ago Napoleon truly denominated the
English . nation Of shopkeepers. and
America was another. Among such
people apprentices were indispensable.
That day, however. hes gone past, and
in its place has como the reign Of steam
and electricity. Boys can no longer be
utilized. and men are absolutely re-
quired. On the locomotive and train,
in the mammoth factory. in the coun-
ting room, every person must know his
place and DO able to gil it. We no
longer. ~ in the SLOW days Of half q
century ago. have time to stop and
teach as We work, and the hand who
requires such teaching is certain to be
the ono frst discharged. The DOLLY
way on this coast for boy nowadays
to learn trade 10 to pick it up. He
can hang around. use the keenest oh =
servation of which lie is capable. and
make himself useful a. his inclination,
ability and limited opportunities will
permit. In the lapse of years, and
after Oft repeated rebuffs and discour-
agements. he finds place he can fill.
and il there is good stuff in him he
quickly fit, himself for any place in the
business or any branch OF the trade.
On the Atlantic. it il not very diff
ferent or much better. and in England
likewise. In Franco. where the same
trouble has been encountered. q step in
tho right dir ction has been takep.
Schools there have been instituted to
the number Of two hundred and forty.
for the scientific and mechanical educa-
ton Of the youth, and in this has been
found the desired remedy. Book keep
ers. druggists, engineers. printers. glass
and iron workers, engravers. jewelers.,
wood workers. cotton spiuners. silk
spinnsrs and wesvcrs. and a great
many others learn their trades, and
learn them we'll, in these schools. The
whole time Of the youth 10 not taken
up in work. but several hours each day
arc devoted to study. particularly that
line of study that will tend to increase
their knowledge Of the trade they are
engaged in learning. For tho gradu.
Wt00 Va tu0oo oSuOOtS SuSAo 10 y uOAA0uO
ct once. the best wages arc offered. and
the moat desirable positions are open.
They arc young aud intelligent. are
accustomed to work, have had their
ambitions stimulated, and they have in
the past acquitted themselves most
satisfactorily. In Paris alone $4,000
minors are now employed. notsone-hali
Of whom have completed their school
course. owing to the demand for the
services OF just such persons. and bali
time schools ere being established to
enable them to complete their educa.
ton after working hours. In the United
Statss we have the same problem e
grapplc with. and we will have to sesl
ito solution in the same way. There j,
no other course to pursue. aud our AZ
ricultural colleges. our training ships
our business schools. Sc. indicate thai
that solution 10 gradually and certainly
finding adoption among Us.