Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-08-10

Paper read before the Belmont County
Normal Institute, at St. Clairsville, Thursday
evening, July 81, 1882, by Peof. j. c. Orr,
Sup't Bridgeport (O.) Public Schools.
Perhaps no question SO vexes the av-
erage Young American, as what he
shall do in life. From childhood, through
youth, up to, and even into manhood,
the question too often remains an unset
tied one. Over and over again the list
is conned perhaps just as it was learned
from the buttons of the youthful jacket:
Soldier, sailor, gentleman. tailor,
Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief, etc.;
finally, by comparison, he may be able
to eliminate two or three from the list
as undesirable, but as many other possl-
BILE pursuits are sure to be substituted.
Glorify as you may our free America,
where every boy is eligible to the high
est social or political position; 1t stimu-
lates ambition, and is certainly to be
preferred to the customs of some for
eign countries, where the son must fol-
low in the exact footsteps of the father
the very law preventing from doing
otherwise; but I venture the assertion.
that no necessary evil, If We may so
term il, wastes so much time, dissipates
so much vital energy as choosing pro-
fession. Too often, alas the young man
or young woman is the mere creature OF
circumstances, and becomes. after yarl-
Gus experiments, whatever he or she Is
able to be easiest.
The intelligent parent can be OF great
service to his child in selecting life
work, if he will place before him the
various vocations in life, showing their
several advantages, financially, socially,
personally, not withholding the means
of knowing the obstacles to be overcome
in attaining eminence in any, nor the
temptations with which even he who
succeeds must battle. Especially will he
do well if he spare no effort in his pow
er to have his child prepared, by means
of liberal education, to enter any OF
the ordinary walks of life; but the judi
cious parent will ever refrain from in
fluencing the mind of his child in favor
of one, or against another particular pur-
suit. If he prefer for him some special
profession, he will more likely succeed
inducing his child to enter it, by allow
ing choice, than by continually and
persistently urging it upon him. ! have
known young men deferred from enter
ing the Christian ministry, by the inju-
dicious urging of that profession upon
them, by their well-meaning but over
Jealous parents.
The teacher, too, may have good in
fuence over his pupils, during the crit
ical period tney spend under his care, by
placing before them the lives of eminent
men in the various pursuits, mechanical,
commercial and professional, and by de-
veloping latent talent that he may dis
cover; but the strongest point that both
parent and teacher should aim to make
is this: whatever you become, whether
mechanic or farmer, artist or lawyer,
strive to excel.
Just here allow me to digress mo
ment, to speak of something l have no
ticed in comparing the young people OF
our older Eastern towns. especially In
West Virginia and Kentucky, with those
of similar sized towns in our Western
States and Territories. l am glad to
say there are numerous and bright ex-
eeptions, but too many of our Eastern
boys and girls lead an Simiess, ohisats
less life, failing to realize the great sat
isfaction, the immense advantage of be-
ing able to depend on their own exer-
tions. Too many of them drag listlessly
through our High School courses, failing
to complete them, if they ever do so in.
deed, until twenty or twenty-One years
old, while their western brothers and
sisters will complete as difficult courses
and in more satisfactory manner, at
least two years sooner. The boys, in
stead of contentedly spending their
fathers money, very frequently begin
business for themselves before reaching
their majority, and the girls-why q
western girl considers herself doomed
to be an old maid, if at eighteen she il
not through her school course. Family
pride is good thing, but F. +. V. and
F. F. K. pride are at discount in the
latter part of the nineteenth century
That personal pride is more commenda-
BILE, which makes a young man or
Young woman independent of the sup.
port of parents or relatives. Young men
NAV not be compelled to earn their
bread by the sweat of their brows
Young women may not be forced to dc
house work, or make their own dresses,
but it is we'll for both, in youth and in
after life, if they know just how such
work should be done, better still, If they
can do it themselves. Merchants fail
offices are lost, banks break, and riches
take to themselves wings when they are
supposed to be most substantial; hence
it is best for all young persons to pre-.
pare themselves for earning their own
living, independent Of the assistance OF
others. Have something to do. Do it.
If YOU have not chosen life-work, lose
no time in doing so. The most eminent
lawyers in the history of this country
have been those who began their prac-
tice before reaching their majority
While it may be impossible for you to
do this, be not deferred from beginning
at once to prepare yourself for some
definite business.
Now this evening while we consider
especially the profession of the teacher
we can best do so, by comparing it, from
time to time, with other pursuits, and In
many essential features they do not diff
fer.
We shall first consider the question
Who Shall Teach, negatively. and viii
place at the head of the list of those
who should not engage in that profes
sion, those persons who desire to have
an easy time. A young man once wrote
to a prominent gentleman in New
York City, asking that he would assist
lin securing him employment, and was
particularly desirous that the position
should be an easy one. The young mar
did not obtain what he sought, but in
stead received some wholesome advice
the cream of which was, that the worlt
had enough openings for young men ant
women Of pluck, determination, ant
energy, but tnat the only opening 1t hac
for young man who desired an cas-!
position, was an opening six feet long
| two feet wide and FIVE feet deep. Blu
some one says "it must certainly be cas-!
to keep school. We are not speaking o
school -"keepers." An old man and hi
son once found rats nest, with al