The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-27
COSTLY NEGLIGENCE.
How Tramps and Convicts Are Made Out
of Many Promising Boys.

How Tramps and COnvicts Are Made Out
of Many Promising Boys.
If an observer will take stroll about
Boston and the other cities and large
towns of the State, he may find at street
corners, railroad stations, and other
places, many idle men.
If he should mingle with these men
he would find that they may be divided
into two classes-laborers who expect
employment later in the spring, when
work of one kind or another usually be-
gins: and young men, mostly graduates
of grammar or high schools, who feel
little too nice to work at common la
Dor, yet have not acquired the skill to
10 any thing else. And, though there
is demand for skilled labor, the max
lngs of many skilled mechanics stand
aimlessly about because they have not
had the opportunity to learn some trade
for which they are adapted.
1t is this latter class of idlers that
would arouse the concern of the thought
full observer: for among them he would
see many youths whose future seems
any thing but hopeful. AS far as teach
ing its youth book learning is concerned,
society does much of its duty; but in the
equally important matter of teaching
them how to make an honest living So
cietv does little or nothing.
Twenty per cent. Of the men engaged
in mechanical industries,'' said prom
ipent builder, ''are really skilled me-
chanics; the other eighty per cent are
fair or Indifferent wOrkmen." At first
thought it seems strange that only one
in five of these men is really skilled,
but when we consider the mere matter
of chance by which boys are drawn into
mechanical industries it would seem
strange if this were not the case.
A green boy, seeking a chance to learn
trade. but ignorant of what he is
adapted for, is more likely to drift into
the wrong trade than into the right one
II may make poor carpenter when he
might make good mason, or a poor
nachinist when he might make good
architect. Or, if he does know what he
Is adapted for, the chances are that un-
less he is of unusual perseverance he
can never obtain the chance to learn it
we'll; for master mechanics and their
lOremen 40 not WANT 10 bother them
selves with teaching green boys.
1t is for this class of boys that pub
lie industrial school system is much
needed. little practical instruction
would develop boys taste to such an
extent that if he desires to learn trade
he will know which one he is best
adapted for, and be taught accordingly.
The tendency of such system would be
toward placing youths where they can
do the most good for themselves and
society. And the people would be re-
paid for the extra burden of maintaining
the system; for who can estimate the
present loss to society in the waste Of
the genius and powers of so many Of its
members?
For people not to provide their youth
with the means of obtaining an indus
trial education is indeed costly negli-
gence-a negligence that leaves eighty
per cent. Of our mechanics fair or indif-
ferent workmen; negligence that
leaves great numbers of boys and young
men wasting in idleness the best part of
their lives; negligence that tends to
make tramps or convicts out of many
once promising boys.-Boston Globe.