New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-07

altar tbo conundrun,s have been answered, they
furnish no guarantee for industry, fidelity or hon
cstv. Your p-witted fellow often lacks the
better clements of character. Under mono oil 'ne
connective examinations held ut the OuSV"m
House OF Post OiliCe during the last TWO OF tnioo
years would Commodore Vanderbilt Dean hlch-
mond or George Law have been found qualified to
discharge the duties OF custom house night
Waterman or post Office lotter-carrler Ana YET
those three gentlemen were confessedly among our
most intelligent enterprisng and successful OuSi-
ness men.
Let it be kept in mind that those who profess TO
be governed by these rules are constantly violating
them During several months Immediately proceed
ing the last Republican National Convention a iargo
number of custom house appointments were hltuo III
utter disregard of competitive examination
have not yet seen, in all that has been written
on this subject any reference to the real dh'cut''S
which occasion serious embarrassment III the ~
pontment of subordinate public s"rVants' ha'
difficulty simple and apparent AZ IT 49, mas o''n
entirely overlooked 1t has its origin IN our uu-
versally demOrazed domestic education. fil'
wears ago AZ n rule almost without exception our
youth learned from their parents or guardla,9 1ao
their future welfare and happiness deDen9eu IhlEoA
upon themselves; that II they grew up Tnsnerted
and honest, they would become ustluI' EcspoOtS
and in dependent. Parents prepared thtH SOUS 10
occupations to which their tastes habits aha ihci
| I'll.
country furnished occupations for all lie largest
number became either mechanics or FARMERS ~
our commercial cities thousands became sdIo,o,
some were educated for clerks; while otheiS eNius
prOmise OF usefulness II not enncnce, were Sent 10
college to become lawyers, physicians OF cIe ~ ncH
Now anne 1tioeshps things OF the past;
Who now knows or hears anything abont lnucn'cu
apprentices7 Whose sons now learn trades, "ofk
first as jOurneymen become wealthy as hAslci
mechanics, and then rise to representative anu
executive honors and responsi6ilites7 SNty,e t
wears ago the then village of Utica was distnI
gulshed for the number, intelligence, Industry SoTia
and moral worth OF its lndusttlal clasSes' ~
tailor the shoemaker the caDlnet-lnakeT' lhc
halter, the builder, etc. etc. were rccoRnlHeu 40
canals of the merchants and professional men, W
body was ashamed to wOl X. and consequently
everybody prOspcred. To such Influences 1 lca was
indebted for an impulse the effects OF when proven
equally auspicious and enduring. very recently
there died venerable and eminent citileh Oh C tca.
distinguished not more for ms industry, enterprise
and integrity, by means oil wnlcn ne acq'' nd
wealth, than for the discriminating judgment an
the beneN ulenCe OF heart with winch thht NeaItn
was devoted to educational. charitable ana rtIg::
ions objects Theodore =. Paxton. me subJect ol
fins tribute commenced life in Utica seventy years
ago a. a stage driver. Though the president Oh a
bank, director IN many important bhslhesS COM
panIes pioneer in express. railway ana gas enter
prses and Mayor of the lty OF tlca. he would IL
subjected to compel tive examination nave
failed TO obtain appointment rs letter-carrler.
INDUSTRY CURE FOR OFFICr-sEEKING.
Civil Service Reform will prove wholly inefcc-
tua until salutary reforms shall have been effected
in the domestic education of rising general ions.
Until Young men grow up with the knowledge that
their success in life depends upon their becoming
identified with some OF the various industries OF the
country Government departments Will be beSieged
by unfortunate oslice-sccdcrs In n country deYci-
opng rs rapidly as ours there is employment for all
who are willing TO work. In the beginning how
ever il need be- must work hard for small pay.
Those who are dihgcnt and trustworthy. commenc-
inc ot the lowest rise TO the topmost round of the
I'M. Il al FIN
pulshcd. BENJAMIN Franklin journcyman
printer working at his trade first in Boston, then in
philadelphia and finally in London. Roger Sher
man. sgnrr OF the Declaration Of Independence,
WAS a shoemaker. Henry Wilson, United States
Senator and Yice-President, served his time as a
sboemakers apprentice, and worked several years
az a journeymau shoemaker Abraham Lincoln
worked on ] farm and was deck-haud on Mis-
sissippi hat-boat. . Joseph Horny, the distin-
ouished scicntst and head Of the Smithsonian In
stItution was a silyersmiths apprentice ut Albany.
Andrew Johnson, q member Of both Houses Of Con-
crcss Vice-P President and President Of the United
states was tailor Willard Fillmore member Of the
LEGISLATURE ControllerO OF the State member OF Con-
cress Vice. President and President of the United
States was an apprentice Cayuga County fulllng
mill ObeAiah German. Speaker OF the House Oi AS
semhly and United States Senator, was Chenango
County farmer George W. Patterson, Speaker OF
The House Of Assembly, Men her of Congress and
Lieutenant Governor of the State. was farmer
and fanning-mill maker. John Taylor Lieutenant
Governor of the State, president OF the State Bank,
and for many years wealthy and influential Gill
zen. commenced life as n day-laboring sreet-payer
in Albany. Azariah c. tlagg. an influential mom'
her of our Legislature State Controller ana Con
trolcr of the CITY of New YORK, was printer.
Among tho best Mayors of our city were stephen
Allen, sal maker; Gideon Lee tanner; James
1 inf a
reinar Jacob Westervolt was snip carpenter.
George Peabody, who gave half million ot dollars
to the poor OF London, and million Tor euucaInna
Purposes in his own country was aNe"-Ehgiand
WOrkiUgNan. go,
An equally illustrous example will be found in
the business history and Enlightened pL'auIhrgpy
of tle venerable Peter Cooper whose remarkable
Intelligence thrOugt long life was rewarded with
n fortune with which he is now fitting thousands OF
both sexes tor occupations that VIII render Their
lives gr0sp rous, useful and happy. Leland Stan
ford the son of n Watcrvlct farmer, and some
! twcntc-fve years ago one 81 my Wing Boys, IN
stead of seeking office at Albany took Mr.. Greclrys
advice and went Vest where lie embarked III
useful enterprises, acquired great wealth, and was
elected Governor Of California no IS now prcsi-
dent Of the Central Pacific railroad, and one Of
the best known and most highly esteemed ana
bospitable citizens of that State. farmers son,
while digging potatoes in the town of Putney Yer
mont concluding that there must he something
better i'll IOr hun, made up MS lhhd To Try MS
fortune in Montreal, where AT the age OF sixteen he
! obtained employment as porter IN Il WHOLESALE
| warehouse. Two years atterward, finding hm IN
dustrIous, capable and trustworthy his employer
| sent him to the Far West - an emPlove III iul
| company soon aiterward Mr. John Jacob AstOr,
| upon the recommendation Of Ramsey Crookcs,
awaited himself of young LampSons services, hrSt
| among the Indians then IN New YORK, and unally
! as his AGENT in London. That Vermont farmer n0y
! is now Sir Curtis lampson, among the weathioot
| and best esteemed London bankers. For ms aCtve
| c0Operatiom with our Indomitable fellOw-citlzcn
! CYRUS " Field IN linking England to America b
! means Of a submarine cable. Queen victoria con
| ferred the honor OF knighthood upon Mr. Lampson
| Thus muniicenty, in the earlier and better days
of our history were industry perseverance, capacity
/ and integrity rewarded. hindied rewards await
| tnn-r who imilnte these eEamples. And WHOM our