Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-12-20
The American Boy.
An INTERESTING STUDY oF AZ EVER
PRESENT TOPIC.

PRESENT TOPIC.
What shall be done with the boys? is
one of the most important questions
that now conironts the American
father is censured by every census re-
port for not raising more children, and
invidious comparisons are made be
tween his own and the family Of the
foreign born citizens across the street,
while for his own part be il at his wits
end to know what he shall do with the
two or three rollicking young fellows
already on his hands. II he IS wealthy
and would be glad to see the boys 30
through college aud adopt some one Of
the "learned profess ions for liyeli
hood, the youngsters are either opposed
TO it themselves on general principle,
or those polite callings are all so full
already that there is not room even in
the upper stories, where Daniel Webster
ia quoted as saying there are always
plenty of vacancies.
Ii he thinks of teaching them trades
he is met with still greater orpo.ition.
lie can find plenty OF colleges aud uni.
Versities in the land which will gladly
undetake the pleasing task of gradual.
ing his boys for reasonable considers.
tion in ready cash. but If ne wishes to
apprentice then TO some useful employ.
ment he finds opposition where he cx.
pected il. His plan is objected to first,
by the family, who do not wish to have
them engsgc in a service that is clas.ed
manual labor, and, while the boys do
not care to become lawyers. doctors or
ministers they would like something
light and respectable-the last term
meaning. the kind OF employment that
involves n good living. the wearing Of
good clothes and the admission into
good society on An equal footing with
best Of people. But the American
parent finds upon investigation that
all these pursuits are quite as full ~ the
learned professions and unless he
can get situations for his boys through
izvoritsm, or 10y rrasos oi hi. own
social position, he Is thown back upon
the trades, or the young gentlemaE
grown up in idleuess and are wastiur
the formative and most important
period OF their existence.
And If he settles down upon trade
that requires two or three years Of ap.
premiership before the learner is pro.
fcient in it and hss mastered all its
details, the boy is destitute Of the re.
qnired tenacity of purpose requisite to
accomplish the work. or perhaps the
trades union will interpose its objection,
and ts oppo.ition often settles tho
matter. Men who understand only one
kind Of business and expect to DO their
work in il have n natural repugnance to
seeing it oyerdone, and are naturally
Jealous Of sll sorts of competition in it,
and 10 keep others from learning it is one
Of the ways in which they butter their
own bread. The consequence is tina,
two results follow, namely, first, that
their is large number OF Americans
father who are still pnzzled with the
conundrum, what is to be done with
our boys - aud secondly, the American
manufacturer is compelled to go to Eu
rope Tor skilled workman.
A gentleman who il engaged in elk
manufacturing in this country writes to a
New York paper in explanation of the
employment Of so many foreign artisans
In the silk business, and says it is one
ofthe necessities OF the situation. II,
fiods out young men and women oh
iectipg TO spending two or three year
in becoming expert in the business. O
course every ono with common sens'
seea that we are making great mistak,
in not preparing ourselves TO Gil tn
ranks of skilled labor in every depart
sment where IL is needed from the rank