St. Landry democrat., 1879-11-29
Learning "a Trade.

The Semitic American tells lis that
large shoe manufacturer in New Iorl,
advertised in Boston and New York
for twenty five shoe filters. There was
one application in answer to the adver
tisement. At the same tine a Boston
firm advertised for book keeper and
received three hundred applications for
the same. An advertisement fol IL clerk
in Il Detroit paper brought one hundred
and thirty applications the first day.
and they were doubled the next. All
advertisement for good carpenter in
the same paper brought only three
replies.
The American comments folcihIy on
this state Of affairs, pointing out ut the
same time that the average earnings O!
clerks are no where near as large as the
earnings OF Workmen OF average skill
in different trades. With equal capacity,
industry, and thought the mechanic will
achieve competence snouer than the
clerk, and his opportunities for advance
ment in life are greater than behind
the counter.
In view Of these facts, the American
asks the pertinent questions; Why
do boys wish to be clerks? Why do
intelligent parents do their best to get
on mechanics, as if there was anything
in the world more wretcledly mechani
cal than average clerking? Why do
teachers train their pupils to look
above mechanical pursuits'o"
The Scientific American seems to find
some difficulty in dealing with this,
problem but yet the answer is simple
enough In the early eras of industrial
and mechanical employments in the
world those who filled them were drawn
from a lower rank of life-haru handed
sons of toll. untitled both by education
ana habit to move out of their OWL
sphere nor even wishing it. The world
mcved on and the mechanic moved
with it, From a common workman he
became an inventor. He shared all tia
advantages OF education, and we see
him everywhere, not only rising above
his original level, but often Il head and
shoulders above those who pretend to
look down upon his pursuits. But whilst
the mecl,alic moved step by step with
pl ugFe<s, society with IFS artificial OF
s.rvances, aud foolish distinctions re-
mains 1T stand still in most things
TIE honest Intelligent mechanic Whose.
face il hronzed, and whose banG il
hardened by toll does not find ii place
the white handed. soft voiced clerk
often has the entree, if he makes him
self agreeable to his lady customers.
Foolish boys think this entree the most
desirable thing in the world. Foolish
parents and teachers foster this belief
often at the cost of the youth'S health
and true manliness. Fashions ipsc Dirt
condemns the plane and saw, but tol-
crates the yard measure-prohabls
because it neither darkens nor llars.eus
the hands. Intellect, culture and hon
esty may be all on the side of the me
chanic, but intellect and culture doesn't
always make the most graceful bow,
and honesty and good sense has not
taken a degree in the small talk and
idle compliments of society. Thence
comes the answer to the American S
query:
What the country wants now is work
men. clerks aud book keepers are at a
discount. The professions too are over
crowded with starving professionals.
We want men OF intelligence and energy
to develope the crude resources of the
land. But above ali We want good
sense in parents, teachers and young
men themselves. Let them open their
eyes aud see that there is to-day a
greater chance for distinction in the me-
chanical arts, than in sampling ribbons
and measuring off calicoes. Clerks there
will always be in the world, but their
ranks can bear thinning IA t present if they
wish to secure an independence. We
want six mechanics to-day in cities and
the country where we have one. s*