The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-02-04
The Army OF the Helpless.

There are few objects more pitiable
than the men and women who do not
know how to make their way in the
world, and who, for the want of know
ing how, are always half sinking in seas
of trouble, which is the result of long
pie mean well and would like to do
well. Whenever they turn their hand
to anything, that TO which they turn
either drops from their grasp or else flies
back and hits them stunning blow 10
the face. This carries disappointment
with it, and SO these people are kept in
a constant state of encouragement and
defeat Th y get into the habit of think.
ing that society brands them as know
nothings, and so after long experience
they conclude that society must be right.
Then they acquiesce in the decision Of
society by taking the same view of them
selves. This presently leads TO the loss
of energy and ambition. The helpless
person goes about in hopeless manner,
asking for aid and work in such a man
ner as to indicate that he does not ex-
pect to receive either, but that he is ask
ing only by reason of such force as hab-
it carries with it.
The question was asked concerning a
very unfortunate person mentioned in
Scripture. "Who did sin, this man OF
his PARENTS" In the case of that blind
man there was no evident sin, but rather
a misfortune; probably one of those
things against which no human wisdom
can guard. In that of the helpless per-
son who is helpless simply because he
never learned how to be helpful, there is
sin somewhere. Sometimes the fault il
that of the helpless person himself, who
in youth refused to study and neglected
to apply himself to his studies Some
times, aud especially in the case of veal
thy and thoughtless persons, it is not the
child's fault, but that of the father and
mother, who were pecunarily above the
necessity of working and had vague
idea that their childr would always be
as wealthy rs themselves. When the
wcal', took wings and scared oat of
sight the value oi - practical education
for the young people was apparent, even
| though too late. There are children of
| wealthy people who have never been
| taught even to wait on themselves Ser
wants have ministered to their necessi-
ties, cieii 10 the putting on of their
| clothes aud the arranging of their hair.
Thes Young persons have not been COM
PEELED to do any thinking for themselves.
| The nearest they have come to having
any practical ideas of life has been to
know that it cost something to live and
| 81, l,.l Il. l.. VI. 4
after fashion, as long as the father
lives and is good pay. But when the
father dies or goes into bankruptcy the
state OF the poor children is one of sub
lime wretchedn"ss. If they happen to
be quite young the mischief may be rem
edied If they have reached maturity
with habits of helplessness it is very hard
to learn anything that will be helpful in
the earning of n living.
| Now perhaps it is sordid view to
take of education to regard it only as
in the world. Education is to furnish
the mind; to stimulate the ambition TO
lead to noble and lofty thoughts. All
this is true of education, and it is also
true that there are many of what. the
world calls educated people who are as
helpless in the way of earning living
as the most neglected children of pride
and wealth. The education which is
worth having is not only that which
stuffs the mind with book material. A
man may have all of this that his father
was able to pay for, and may yet be al
imprac'icable and impercunious Ounce.
If he has nothing that the world is will.
ing to pay him for,and cannot learn any.
thing, he may ma. e up his mind to plod
on in poverty until ready for his funeral
He may prate as proudly as he pleases
of the blood of his ancestors and of the
eminent station they occupied in society
People laugh in their sleeves at him and
intimate that the ancestral blood will
not sell.
Some people think it exceedingly vul
gar to learn a trade Others think it the
supreme exhibition of good sense These
) will get along while others are forced to
beg OF borrow, or are perhaps eventually
driven to stealing for living. Mos,
,, of the princes and princesses of some Of
the European nations are taught trades
while they are young in view of the pos
sible reverses of after years, A well
known New York gentleman, who year.
ago was wealthy, gave his three children
,, , a complete outfit in this respect when i
! seemed almost ridiculous for such
wealthy man to do 30. The wealth flew
away, but the young persons knew
enough to acquire and maintain pro6ts
: BILE and honorable stations in life. Amonj
the Jews of old it was the duty of every
father to teach his son some honorabl
trade The custom made its mark Of
" the whole race in thriftiness which i
: one of their marked features whereve
Jews are found. The man who bes
cares for his sons and daughters an
E who love them with the most solid affet
;. tion is he who gives them the best out6
y which will prevent them from joinin
e the ranks of the great army of the hell
4 m