Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-03-21
Trades FIR Am eric ;Ds;


A careful inquiry was short time
ago instituted in Philadelphia. as to the
relative number OF foreigners and Da-
tive Americans engaged in the trades
and as skilled handicraftsmcn OF every
kind. The result was startling. For
eigners. especially Germans and Scotch
lrishmen, had shouldercd our OWE peo-
pie altogether out Of almost every such
occupation. The American boys could
be counted on the fingers who were
learning the trade Of weaving in the
great wooden and carpet manufactures
The same story was told In the cotton
mills. at the stocking looms. Yet the
wages paid To these skilled wOrkmon
are high and steady. The Scotciman
or North Irishman earns from S13 10
$50 per week in Philadelphia, owns
his comfortable dwelling. and brings
up his son 10 the same trade which his
own father most probably followed in
Glasgow or Londonderry. The Ameri-
can boy has not learned this sure, slow
road to comfort from his father.
There was the same report from the
manufacturers Of paper. soap, shoes,
clothes, furniture. shipbnlders, cutters
every industry, in short; but two. The
American boy OF the class which does
not enter the professions, is not 20 be
found in the trades, partly because be
Is barred ont by the trades unions. but
more because he does not choose to &c
into them. To this general rlle there
are. however, two notable exceptions
printing and machine shops. Each Of /
these trades is crowded With native
American apprentices. I'VE turn
away" said the superintendent Of q
great engine works, '.hundreds Of APP
plicants in 4 year. for whom we can
find no place
Now here is significant hint Of ma.
tional character We are perpetually
told that the American lad of the par.
TALLY educated class refuses to learn .
trade, and becomes salesman or clerk
on miserable salary. from the snob-
Dish. vulgar desire to be considered q
gentleman. Yet the same young fellow
in printing office or machine foundry
works harder and comes out Of his daily
trudgery more grimy and shabby than
any other mechanic. 1t is no ambition
for gentility that moves him in these
pursuits. But they open to him pos
slble short roads to success; they give
MS inventive faculties some play. !: is
only one man in a hundred, who, ont
Of the composing room or press room,
becomes editor or publisher, or who
.urns out to be Il lucky Harrison or
'Finans in the machine shop. But each
10Y is confident that he will be that
aan. When he goes into business" !
IS salesman at 50 per week. he knows !
&c will some day be an Astor or
stewart When he goes out to Colo
ado as u nowboy. he in vision |
lis own cattle grazing on 4 thousand |
ills.
Hence he turns his back on the trades |
n which there is no chance for sudden s
uccess, and by which the plodding
ierman or Irishman, generation
4fter generation, secures steady limit
ID competency. Our lad must put on I
even league boots to 90 to his fortune, c
II he will not 90 ut all. In 4 certain $
ense, therefore, there appears to be no Z
emedy for this present condition of af- \
airs. The leopard cannot change III. I
pots nor the Ethiopian his skin. and the t
ivid inventive, sharp eyed American, {
ond of earning and squandering money
Il bulk, will never be brought to plod
nd save and enjoy life pennyworth
t 4 time, like his European neighbor :
Fho WAS not born prospective heir to a !
reat estate. A certain grade of our
killed trades will always remain, it is :
in the hands of foreigners. :
;ut one lesson our American lad must .
earn before he succeeds, and, as he is |
exceptionally sharp, he generally does |
earn it when he finds he does not sue |
eed without it. That is, steadiness OF I
m.-.Haautactmrer and Builder. '
Faust L