The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-30
SHORT TALKS WITH THE BOY:

IN. Quad, in Detroit Free Press.l
 "C. B." of Detroit writes that he i: l6 years old, and asks:
 I. Is the printers trade unhealthy?
 2 Can one become an editor by start. ing as printer!
 As to your first question, the printers trade may be made unhealthy by close confinement and reckless habits. A printer, whether he works at job work or composition, can, by taking proper care of himself, live as long as he would a, any other trade.
 As to your second, relatively few re- porters or editors of the present day in large cines are practical printers, al- though in the aggregate there are many. h the country majority are. l. will not follow that. because you are good X printer, you will become an editor but perhaps you can make it result that way. It is help 10 any journalist to have # graduated as printer. He makes far better copy for the compositors, is able to correct his own proofs, and is bene- fited in many othes ways. Begin your trade of printer and keep your eyes open for place in journalism. If you have the right stuff in you the place will come sooner or later.
 "G. L. R." of Jefferson, Michigan, writes:
 "l am 2 years of age, have always lived on a iarm, ana have desire to be an engineer or machinist. All my friends are opposed to the idea. What do you advise p
 Your friends are right in opposing your idea. If you have been brought up on a farm to the age of 22 you ought to un- ders,and all about farming by this time, while you probably know nothing of the vacations you mention. You have passed the apprentice age, and if you start in now to learn trsce the chances are that you will quit it in disgust within a few months. Better get married and settle down on the farm.
 "B. H." of Olmstead Falls, O., wants to know how boy without influential friends can secure an appointment at the Naval Academy.
 It largely depends upon the congress man from your district. If, as many of the representatives do, he gives public notice when he has the nomination Of a candidate for cadetship, and invites a competitive examination, you can enter into the competition on an equal footing with any other lad in the district lfyou are acceptable on the score of character and physical requirements, pass the highest and are received, you will have to pass further examir ation at Annapo- lis. lfyour congressman prefers to make personal choice, you will need strong recommendations to him from good citi- zens as regards your general character and attainments. Cadets, upon entering, cannot be less than I4 nor more than IS years of age.
 The following letter, from Michigan railroad agent, will be of interes, to the boys who have read what has been writ ten regarding telegraph operators and station agents:
 In last weeks issue you published a letter from Household" giving in de- tail statements of a railroad agent and operators work. have had eight years experience in this line of business and will say that most every railroad com pany treats their agents and opefators as stated by Household" l have known a great many instances where important f6(ah(lCo AoNG VtS0LICQ1 WuCICs l6~ stead of promoting some cid and trust worthy employe, stranger has been em- ployed to fill the vacancy. It is true, as Household" states, there are very few officials who give their faithful employees any consideration. have never seen or heard of one yet.
 "P. w." of Perth, New Brunswick, writes:
 Fl am about % years of age, and sugar-boiler and candy-maker by trade l am anxious to earn more than my present salary, and l want to ask if there is demand in a town like Detroit for sugar sweets. If so, at what price per pound are they sold ?''
 If" P. w." could only step into De- troit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Chicago or any other city in the states, he'd soon sa;iS.sy himself as to the demand. It is prooaoie that the United States consumes more candy in day than New Brunswick does in a year. We have become candy eating nation, and ho village of 800 in- habltants can be found without l,s con- fectioner. In some instances the bakery and confectionery business is combined, but in the large towns and cities the con- fectioner goes if alone, adding soda water and ice cream to his stock. A city like Detroit supports from twenty to thirty places where homemade candies are manufactured and sold. As jour- neyman candy-maker P. w." would re- ceive from g to sI4 per week in the states. If he wants to set up for himself he will find the raw material as cheap here as in England, and with little looking around he will find an opening for retail business.
 A. A. F." writes thus curiously from Long Beach, Cal:
 have a brother in Holland who is strdying for civil engineer, and hopes to