Daily Republican., 1883-06-27
AMERICAN MECHANICS.
.ruINE OF SKILLED WORK.
MEN THIS COUNTRY
ANDITS CAUSES.

ANDITs CAUSES.
~
is q fact no less lamentable than
that the number of boys in this
,ntrv who learn trades is each year
coming smaller, and, as a conse-
ence. the day is not far distant unless
sre is a great change when America
i he compelled to look to Europe for
lied mechanics.
There are several causes that tend to
oIuce this result, one OF the most
eminent of which is the abolition of
old time indentured apprentice sys-
m, The boys of the present day are
far advanced, and too dignified, to
limit to be bound to master. and yet
nineteen cases out Of twenty, that is
only way in which boy will ever
rn a trade thoroughly, and become a
ster workman.
-nder the system by which our fore
hers acquired their knowledge of the
s and mysteries of the various trades,
parent or nearest friend of the boy
med an indenture, binding him until
was twenty-one years OF age, and
rendering all the care and charge OF
IN TO the master, who became, as it
IRE, the father, and took his place in
training, culture and care of the APP
entice
rhe boy was pledged to be obedient
the master, he was obligated to keep
kular hours, and study his interest in
prythins. He was forbidden to dis
,se to any one the secrets of his mas
$ business, or waste or squander his
pperty in any manner whatsoever.
bn the other band the master was as
his bound to the boy he was bound
teach and instruct him in all the arts
d mysteries OF the br siness ; he was
see that he had proper food and suit
le clothing, and during specified
mber of months in each year he was
attend school. The indenture always
divided for a freedom suit of clothes
at was presented when he attained
majority, and it was frequently
reed that he should also be paid a
IN Of money. Theindenture also pro-
lied that in the event of the master
ling to teach him the trade, the APP
entice could compel him by law to
par to him the knowledge he had
theld during his minority after he
Is twenty-one years of age, and pay
n journeyman $ wages while he was
bning.
nder such provisions it will readily
seen that it was to the masters in
est to learn the boy in the most care
manner, and as fast as he possibly
hid, and the consequence was that
ben he arrived at twenty -one y ears of
Y he was a skilled workman.
But under the present system of learn
trade, the boy has little incentive
acquire the necessary knowledge, and
E employer has still less to teach him.
cannot compel the boy to remain with
m until he is twenty-one years of age,
ID if he pushes him ahead and in
|ucts him 50 that he will be useful to
IN in one branch of the business, ten
ances to one, but just at the time his
bor is becoming SO that it will repay
employer for the trouble and loss he
had in instrncting him, some one
Y will come along, offer him few
lars more a week, and take him
Eay.
fhe new em ioyer will keep him on
work in which he has acquired a
gree of proficiency, and he will never
anything more than a second rate
brkman, doomed to work for low
hges, and remain unemployed except
the busiest seasons.
A nntb ;., Ln ;un nrI
ANY young men to study for pro-
esional life, forgetting that there are
bw more preachers than there are pull
is to fill, more physicians than can
ptain patients, and more lawyers than
II support themselves with their legi-
mate business, and have to do odd
lbs of collecting, reporting court pro-
fedihgs for the newspapers, or in fact
most anything they can do except
annual labor, to keep up appearances
hd make both ends meet.
This class are apt to look down on the
Rrd-tisted SONS of toll as being beneath
penn, and if they should condcscend to
peak to II black, begrimmed black
|nlth, or painter smeared with his
pint, they do it with "A patronizing air,
pat conveys the impression that they |
Pnsldcr themselves far above the me-
}laniC.
Such notions, that might be tolerated
i lnonarchial countries where blood |
Rld not worth is recognized, are all out
place in Republican America, and |
y tend to show still further where
e are drifting. This class, that are too
fond to learn trades, or soil their hands
nth honest toll, forget that Peter the
reat of Russia worked at ship build
pg; that Charles II of England learned
trade, and was an expert turner of
gory; that Louis XIV of France was
ne If the best watchmakers of his
|lhe; that William ~ of England was
sailor, and rose from a forecastle to
be throne
Ph"y fail to remember that our philos-
Q'iIer statesman Benjamin Franklin
FrV"d an apprentiship and became an
El"rt printer that our revered Wash
PS'on, he famous warriors jackson
Ra Harrison, each of whom became
|rcsld"nts, were til'ers Of the soil
|iat the immortal Lincoln was rail
l'Ilt'er, and Grant, the man who led the
mon armies to victory, rose from a
Fllher's vat that James A. Garfield
|ept on from the canal boat boy on the
7" path until he filed the presidential
hIair, and is now immortalized. These
'I0Strlous examples, and the great
'eed OF skilled mechanics in all BRAN
heS, should be an incentive to every
oy. IN the land to acquire trade, mas
IT II IN all its details, and follow it
hIll he makes fortune or finds some.
llng better.
SPARTA, TENN.-Dr. w. B. Cum
llllnlgs says: /" am strongly con vinced
tle efficacy of Brown 5 Iron Bite rs
nj recommend them"
EmOry's Little Cathartic
10 Iy,..2 4 Il I III