Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-26
NOBLE EXAMPLE.

The youth of America would profit by
making themselves familiar with the life OF
Peter Cooper, of New York. A few days
since this wealthy philanthropist reached his
ninety second year, with unimpaired facul-
ties. He has given to the public at least
100000. The cost of the Cooper Institute
was 100000, the grandest deed of charity
of the age. The life of Peter Cooper has
been characterized by strange vicissitudes.
He has been halter, a wagonmaker, a
grocer and a cabiuetmaker, trying in each
way to make living, and failing in each.
He had a stern determination to keep on
trying, and after awhile tried the glue bust
ness on a small scale. He found that he
could in this way make a living, and
eventually it made him rich, but he never
forgot early poverty, and has, therefore,
always sympathized with the workiDgman.
The Cooper Union is a gift to this very
class, which is improving it to its full ex-
tent. Peter Cooper is the Oldest native-born
New Yorker, and his life has embraced
the most wonderful march of progress in the
worlds history. He can remember the first
steamboat, and was, indeed, boy of fifteen
when Fulton launched the Clermont, the
first vessel of the kind the world ever saw.
He can also RENE mber the death of Wash
ington and the funeral procession which was
held in New York in honor of the illustrious
dead. Peter COoper's "Reminiscences, how
ever, would fill volume. His father was
poor and he learned to work early in life.
Reader, Just think Of this; Peter Cooper has
been a worker for fOurscore years. What
an exam pie of industry! he means to work
as long as possible. He is also an econo-
mist. While he gives away fortune every
year. he wastes nothing. He lives in plain
style, for he believes that wealth is given
him for usefulness rather than display, and
this is therefore the way it is used. The
young men of the present day are too proud
TO learn even one trade; but it seems Peter
Cooper learned several. He stated to din
ner party a few days since, on the an
niversary OF his ninety-second year,
that all the money he ever
made was in mechanical business,
and not in speculation. A stronger testi-
mony in favor of teaching a trade could not
be advanced. Very few men have the ca
pacity or opportunity to learn three or four
trades before they attain their majority, bat
every man, if so disposed, can learn one, and
if that is a good one and thoroughly ac-
quired, he has the best possible start in the
world. The lawyer has to wait for clients
the doctor for patients, the preacher for
pulpit, and money inherited is apt to slip
through the fingers. But the master Of
trade seldom, very seldom, lacks employ
ment. He can find it in every center OF
population, for society revolves upon the
trade pivot. The master of trade is his
own master as we'll. for he is independent;
not tied down to this or that location, this
or that employer, but free to come
and go-free by right of the skill
his hands have gained. The lawyer,
doctor and preacher are often starved
OUT" the merchant frequently fails, and the
Spectator still more frequently. But the
mechanic, if health and habits are right, has
little to fear from starvation or failure. II
work is scarce in one place he can go to an
other; if wages are low he can wait for them
to be higher, meanwhile, cutting his coat
according 20 his CLOTH" OF course We do not
mean to say that a trade Is an absolutely
sure thing, but we do mean to say that it
comes nearer being a sure thing than any
other bread-winning tool. Moreover it is an
excellent stepping-stone. Peter Cooper did
not always remain brewer, coach-maker or
machinist. One or the other, or all of them,
started him, and he went on and up. A very
large proportion of successful business men
have had similar experience, and not few
of our millionaires have in early days swung
a sledge-hammer or pushed plane-and
could do so again if occasion required. Lst
us not be understood as recommending a
trade for everybody, for there are some boys
who have no taste whatever in that direction,
and consequently could not learn il they
tried. But wherever there is a mechanical
taste encourage and cultivate il. Above ALI
rid the boy of the foolish idea-if he has it
that a trade ia degrading. Make him feel
that the master of trade is the peer OF the
highest in the broad domain OF labor, and
an object of envy rather than Of pity or con-
tempt. Popular opinion in regard to learn
ing trade is rapidly changing for the bet
ter. The annual labor schools prove this,
and there are many other indications in the
same direction. Meanwhile We commend
Peter Cooper's example to all whom 1t may
concern, and in a republic like ours 1t con-
Germs, directly or indirectly, the whole COM
uaunity