Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-21
The American BOY.

From the Chicago Journal
What shall be done with the boys? Is one of
the most important questions that now con-
fronts the American parent. The American
father is censured by every census report for
not raising more children, and invidous COM
PARSONS are made between his own and the
family Of the foreign-boru citizen across the
street, while for his own part he is 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 90 through college and ADOPT some
one Of the Learned professions" for uveli-
hood, the youngsters are either opposed to 1t
themselves on general principles. or those polite
calings are all so full already that there is not
room even in the upper stories. where Daniel
Webster is quoted as saying there are always
plenty OF vacancies.
If he thinks OF teaching them trades he is
met with still greater opposition. He can find
plenty OF colleges and universities in the land
which Will gladly undertake the pleasing task
of graduating his boys for reasonable consid-
Grafton in ready cash, but IL he wishes to ap-
prentice them to some useful employment he
finds opposition where he least expected it. His
plan is objected to, first. by the family. who do
not wish to have them engage in a service that
is classed as manual labor. and. while the boys
do not care to become lawyers. doctors, or min
listers, they would like something light and re-
employment that involves q good living, the
wearing Of good clothes, and the admission
into good society on an equal footing with the
best OF people. But the American parent finds
upon investigation that all these pursuits are
quite as full as the Learned professions" and
unless he can get situations for his boys through
favOritSm, or by reason Of his own social posi-
ton, he is thrown back upon the trades. or the
young gentlemen grow up in ideness and are
wasting the formative and most important
period Of their existence.
And if he settles down upon trade that re-
quires two or three years Of apprenticeship
before the learner is proficient In it and has
mastered all its details, the boy is destitute Of
the REQUIRED tenacity Of purpose requisite to
accomplish the work. or perhaps the trades
union will interpOse its objection and1ts oppo-
sitiOn often settles the matter. Men who under
stand only one kind Of business and expect to
do their life work in it have natural repug-
nance to seeing 1t Overdone, and are naturally
jealous Of all sorts of competition in it. and to
keep others from learning 1t is one of the ways
in which they butter their own bread. The
consequence Is that two results follow. namely,
first, that there is large number Of American
fathers who are still puzzled with the conun-
drum. ''what is to be done with our bOys2" and
secondly, the American manufacturer Is COM
PEELED to go to Europe for skilled worknen.
A gentleman who Is engaged in silk manu-
facture in this country writes to New York
paper in explanation of the employment Of SO
many foreign artisans in the Silk business, and
says that 1t is of the necessities of the situa
ton He finds our young men and women OBJ
jecting to spending two or three years in be-
coming expert in the business or course every
one with common sense sees that we are making
great mistake In not preparing ourselves to
ill the ranks Of skilled labor in every depart
ment where it is needed from the ranks of our
own people, rather than to be obliged to depend
on our too willing neighb0rs across the sea-
And herein is another strong argument for the
tariff protection of our home industries because
by such q policy the list Of employments is
largely increased, the opportunities for young
men are greatly multiplied, and the prob
lem in measure s0lved-''What shall be done
with our boysi"