Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-06-01
Educate for Usefulness.
Western wis Farmer.

Western CWis.) Farmer.
Many of the most eminent men our
country has produced look back with
pleasure to their early life on the farm,
the homestead where the foundation
OF their success was laid Their expe.
rience in industry and frugality, often
the result of necessity. became the
great lever of their lives, and to it may
be attributed the grand secret eff their
success.
From the farm our cities are recruit.
ed with the successful business men in
all branches of enterprise; and none
more ready to improve the advantages
as those possessing the early training
of an industrious farm life. And yet
so many who would launch into the
world, seriously mistake their calling
and seek to find positions in the over
crowded ranks Of clerkships, Office du.
ties and other subordinate places, where
apparently attractive but clerical labors
seem to present easy and profitable
employment. They do not realize that
in the great struggle, 95 per cent. of al
who venture upon mercantile life il
our cities are either wrecked upon the
shoals of bankruptcy or prematurely
broken down in health and vigor in the
struggles for success.
Agriculture and the mechanic arts
being the great levers upon which rests
the life and prosperity of our individu.
al and national existence, and to which
all other industries are subordinate, the
advantages to be derived from the con,
troll OF them are overlooked by toe
many who are blindly pressing to posi-.
tons seductive only from their out.
ward attractions. OF the old English
aristocracy, it is said those who found
IN their sprigs of nobility no talent for
anything else, turned them over to the
church, as good enough for priests pen
stoned as genteel paupers upon the
church livings.
How many of our young men, en-
tering college without any aim except
to acquire an education, after passing
through the various degrees of schol'
arship, awake to the idea that they
must soon commence the world for
themselves. Finding no particular field
for their talents and education they
fall into line and keep step with the
crowd to the Blackstone March, rs il
to attain the title of "a climb of the law
conferred upon them all the wealth
distinction and hopors of manhood
Would it not be we'll for them to note
the fact that the profession is crowding
the settlement of civilization, with APP
petite like the locusts of Egypt, and
of as little profit as their prototypes
Could many of them be isolated, and
like Kilkenny cats, with none but
their own order to prey upon succeed
in devouripg each other, the wisdom Of
the world would suffer but little from
their self-extinction, and it's industries
be relieved from their maintenance.
Why we ask our agricultural friends
to give their sons the advantages OF
our educational institutions, is for the
building up of our most useful and
profitable industries. The agricultural
and mechanical branches, so wisely
provided for, are overlooked in the
first ambition of youth; and it behooves
parents and guardians to give such di-
rection to their lives that will bring
wealth, honor and power as q fitting
reward for their lahors.
In our last, attention was called to
the advantages of Agricultural Science,
and the opportunities afforded
by our State University for acquir-
ing efficiency of this department.
Its twin brother, Mechanics, presents
such advantages for the rising genera
ton, that much more than can be said
in this article must be reserved for the
future. We are happy, however, to
note an improvement in the interest in
this department as compared with the
past.
Who are to be our future mechanics?
is question now being agitsted in the
presses of the country. The present,
composed largely of foreigners, through
their rings and classes, control the dis
cipline and labor of our shops and
manufactures; debating rules and reg
ulations that shut out the apprentice
from companionship of employees in
the workshops; thus depriving the free
born American youth Of the benefits Of
learning trade. They necessitate the
Inauguration of some system by which
the rising generation can learn useful
employment without committing a
states prison crime TO enable them t.
get in where they can be free to learn
the trades taught there and in oul
highest schools Of industry.
Inviting and most favorable oppor-
tunities are provided through the sci.
entific and Mechanical department OF
colleges, Of which our state university
is 8 model, useful and beneticent
What can be accomplished through its
advantages will be noticed in our next.