The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-05-24
BOY WANTS ADVICE.
IPeck's Sum-

A young fellow writes to the .Sxa for advice, and his case being similar to that of many boys, he is ans swered in this pub lie manner, as 1t will do others good if 1t does not benefit him. He says:
 .s.y father $ .::.s....s.ssiy wealthy, he- ing rated as a millionaire, and yet he wants me to learn trade. and work like an ordinary mechanic. He could set me | up in wholesale business, if he wanted to, where could rank with first-class business men, and that is what l want, but he insists on my going to work and earning my own living, as though he was poor, and every time l get a little money of mother, and go out and have a time with other sons of rich parents, and break few bottles of champagne, father kicks and makes fuss, just as though if was going to ruin him financially. You seem to be kind to boys, and always have something good to say 10 them. so l ask you to advise me, and will you also iend me ten dollars till can get some money of mother''
 Boy, you go to work at the trade your father wants you to, and wait until you receive that len dollars, enclosed in a postal card. You are certainly a smart Aleck, and think you know more than your father does. You idiot. he is the best friend you have got; better than your mother, who silly gives you money 10 blow ia on champagne. He knows to an ail'p'ce what you amount to, and he knows tha, pia cing you on your own re sources IS the only thing that will save you from shame. He knows that if he were to set you up n a wholesale busi- ness, you would get the big head in four days, and spend the whole receipts of the concern Tn having big time with the boys. If you are weak enough to spend the money your mother gives you ou: of her pin money, 10 make an ass of yourself. to place you in charge of a business would be to ruin you. He knows tha; you do not amount to any more than Grants sons, who were set up Tn business, owned the earth for a year or two, busted and ruined their father and many of his friends, and are now looking for a job, with no trade to fall back on. Had Grant compelled his boys to learn the tannery business, they could now go 10 work in tannery. Your a he loses his wealth you will not have to go to the poor house. Probably he does not intend that you shall work at a trade always, but he wants you to le 1rn trade, and Ii you learn 1t well so you can man. age business, and show that you have sense, instead cf being cypher, he will set you up in the business that you un- derstand rom having learned 1t from the ground up. Here, wake up, and take that cigarette out of your mouth and listen. Do you know that the richest and most successful managers of foundries, machine shops, manufacturing ins,itu- iions, and so forth, are men who com nenced in the blacksmith shop, and leaned the business so well that they can now manage ii, and superintend ev- cry detail. We remember a young man. sen Of a great reaper manufacturer, who, twenty-five years ago, surprised all his friends by coming out of school and go- ing into his fathers shop, with leather apron on. Some of the dude boys, such as you are, thought he didn't have sense bs cause he worked in the foundry, when his father was nch, and they saw him 20 from the foundry to the wood work shop. and from there to the paint shop of the reaper factory, and they thought he didn't know his business. But he did. He knew II better than all of us. He finally went into the office of the reaper works, took on his leather apron, and his pants col ored with nineteen colors of paint, and to-day his father has practically retired from hard work, and the son that the boys used to think didn't know when he was well of, IS the manager of business that turns out several million dollars worth of reapers every year, and he can go into any department of the vas, busi- ness and tell al glance whether the workmen are doing their duty, and the boys who laughed at him twenty-.ive years ago, say he IS one of the best business men in Wisconsin. His father is proud of him. and the young man is happy and thorough bred. lie could have kicked on going into a foundry. and could have got money of hls mother to go on a toot, and he could have been just about such a mon- umental ass as you seem to want to be, if he hadn't had good head, and sensi- bic father. Now, your father Is very likely q good deal such a man as the father Of the young man alluded 10. and he wants you to go to work and find out Il there is any vinegar in you. or if i, is all skim milk li he finds that you take hold of trade as handily as you now lake hold of bottle of champagne. and wisi learn it from one end to the other as easily as you now learn to be fool. and snow that you are worthy of being SC, up Tn business, you need not be alarmed. That father of yours will see what you amount 10 sooner than you will, and be- fore you know i, he will buy your em- ployer out, and surprise you by coming Tn the shop some day when you are bending over piece of work. and tell you that you can change your clothes and go into the office and take charge of the business Then you will be prouder then if he had SC, you up in business be fore you knew anything but to spend money. The men you have worked by the side of will be proud of you. if you have been gentleman while learning your trade, and they will stick by you.