The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-11-12
The Education Young Men Need.

In times like the present, when able and
skilltul mechanics are carefully sought
for and offered good wages, it is, to many
philanthro. ic people. a matter OF wonder
that so many educated( p individuals are
seeking employment at anything that
will afford them bare living. The ranks
OF bookkeepers, statesmen, clerks, collec-
tors and agents remain overcrowded: yet
there is an actual scarcity of steady, ca
pable mechanics. This scarcity is likely
to continue, as according to observation,
the number entering the rank OF real me-
chanics Is very limited. Unless our pop
uIar systems of business education are
reformed In the interest of productive
energy, we may expect serious decline
not of inventive abilities, but of con-
structive skill. Manual labor (the source
OF all material wealthy is held, by many
people, to be disrespectable. Youths are
taught to consider the trade Of a machin-
list. carpenter, mason, printer, etc., as
tneiean and far from genteel. They are
constantly pointed to examples OF enter
prising and far-seeing young men, who
enter mercantile pursuits and become
prominent and wealthy citizens, get elect
ed to the Legislature, or to Congress- and
stand forth as shining lights In social cir
cles. But how rarely do we see the
ynuth encouraged by pointing out exam
pies OF mechanical success The model
hero OF moral Sunday school library
tale Is boy who, beginning life on a
farm, studies the sciences, ancient and
modern languages, by the light OF a tai
low candle, when his days work Is done !;
gets appointed confidential clerk in dry
goods store, rises to be junior partner,
and, after the decease of the head of the
house, steps into his place, and controls
the business. A young man reads these
highly moral yarns, studies for years up
on dead languages and other Liberal :"
branches OF an education, finally drifts
into cheap clerkship (as he is not fitted
for anything better), and ekes out pre-
carious existence upon the scanty pay he
is able to secure while waiting, Micaw-
ber-like, for something to turn up"
that will "give him start in the world"
All our great cities are surfeited with So
called I" educated men, who, out of en-
ployment large part of the time, are
ready to seize upon the position of waiter
in restaurant, night Waterman in a no.
tel. or some other equally valuable situa-
ton, as soon as offered.
These men, as rule, were In youth
thoroughly impressed with the belief
that manual labor is beneath the dignity
OF educated men. Hard experience
after while convinces them that they
were sorely mistaken. How fares it
with men who. unawed by the respecta-
bility of clerical work, devoted their
years Of study to learning live mechan-
ical trade 1t they spent their time well
I'm acquiring it, desirable positions seek
them rather than make it necessary to
spend much time in searching for the po-
sitions. They command good wages, and
are enabled to save something to start
business on their own account. AS to the
responsibility of working mechanics, a
little thought, well directed, will force a
conclusion at variance with the notions
often implanted in the minds Of ambi-
tious boys. To carry forward the great
est works OF national and social progress,
the need is felt of-what? OF more ex-
nofe EXPERT m6vnaslsfv9.nn2 No: but of
that we must look for leaders in material
advancement, AID for skill to carry out
tho noblest achievements for the benefit
of mankind. They are respected because
they command respect, and no falsely
founded sentiments as to the inferiority
OF manual labor can prevent it.