Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-26

Several years $50 We rod an incident
Ike this: The proprietor or manager OF
large business wished 70 obtain an IS.
sistant, and sought for . suitable person
among his business acquaintancee. Al
length hs met one who told him that ne
knew OF a young man who Wonid just
suit him. 49,
.'where IL he?" asked the merchant.
ain nv Office" was the reply; "out
Won can have him because you can not
ale Is iust the man want" insisted
the merchant; because he cant %
spared"
In recalling this story We are natural
" led 10 contemplate the world OF buzz.
ness. and TO divide the vast number Oh
men and women employed In It's
muItifarious pursuits into two Glasses
those who can bespared, and those VINO
can not The great preponderance OF
the former forces itself upon the atten-
ton.
Let q man advertise for Q bookkeeper
or a salesman or q porter, and the next
day his store will be thronged with ap'
plicants for the place. On our way TO
his Office in the morning, We have OF.
ten passed Q large crowd OF men and
bows stationed at the doorway oil store,
all waiting for their turn to iuttrview
the proprietor with respect TO the vacan-
CIV which had been announced to toe
public. We have stopped and glanced
al their faces, clothing and demeanor,
and found that nearly every one had the
characteristics Of him who can be spar
ed.
Here and there was one smoking;
here and there was one unmistakably
chewing q auid of tobacco /; some dwad-
ling laxily about, with hands In their
pockets; some exchanging weak Jokes or
views on the hard times and the search
~ OF good situations We have seen q
throng Of over q hundred applicants Tor
a clerkship, not one OF whom seemed to
possess the qualities Of intelligence, in
dustry and activity which were requisite
to perform its duties well.
Now, We claim that this should not
be the case, in spite OF what may be said
about the tendency OF the age, the effects
OF our peculiar civilization, and, accord
ing to Mr.. r. G. White, the training OF
our public schools. II our young men
were instructed about themselves, their
mental and physical organizations, they
would be enabled to measure their cspa
bilities with a degree OF exactness, and
thus obtain some light upon their adapt
alton as workers in the great vineyard OF
life. 1t is lack Of self knowledge which
lies at the bottom of the existence Of the
vast multitude OF incapables, shirks,
barnacles, and good for-nothings encum-
bering society.
We say that this should not be, be-
cause il is the right OF every one to have
that most important part OF instruction
self knowledge-early in life, and so
ciety is bot reaping the sad results oil not
affording il. Sacrifices are made that
our boys and girls shall be taught phys.
ical science-botany, chemistry, geolo'
ogy, etc.-and music, art and languages,
ali very we'll in their way. bat found at
ter all TO be of small moment when the
youth goes out into the world to make
his way for himself. Being in the dark
himself, snd knowing little
or nothing about the needs oil personal
character, the relations OF temperament
and faculty to vocation, what else can he
60 bat founder around, as it Were; and
his chances are few that ne will founder
INTO a place which will be congenial, and
suited to his natural powers, and from
which he can not be spared.