The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-06-25

CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS,
Daily I'm more convinced that Washington
Is NO place in which to bring mp a boy. To
anxious f,thers here who ask me what is the
best thing t. do for their sons, ] urge, with
what seems balbarous cold-heartednoss to the
doting mothers Of the said sons TO buy them
tickets 20 so,ae remote part OF the country and
ship them thither with $40 in their pockets,
aud iniunelious not 10 return until they have
established themselves In something The
reason Is that the atmosphere here has too
strong a uliastna Of Influence" IN it 20 be
suitable for The breathing Of any boy who
should learn The great lesson Of selfreliance.
Elsewhere ID the country it is constantly held
up before THE bows that they are the sole arclll-
tects OF their fortunes, aud that they viii sue
coed in Il jos, rs they are industrious, sober
reliable, aud diigent la acquiring knowledge.
Here day Ia aud day out, they hear OF moth
ing but influence" They are made to feel
that d mans merits and deservings are Of little
consequence; he is given a place. or secures
promotion simply because he has attached him
self as a ba.facle TO some bigger man. or has
friends or rrlutiycs who know some Official
who cam help iim. ] am getting to fairly de-
test the word influence" il throws its bale
ful shadow over the mechanical trades even,
aud all foruts Of labor A man who wants TO
lay some britl, for You or paint your house. or
sod your 'front.' yard docs not come mp in the
square, manly fashion that lie does elsewhere,
aud ask You IL you want the job done, and
offer 10 do e. in lirst-class shape Tor definite
sum. No; he hunts mp some prominent man,
Nt,.., xrff WI
sends him % you TO lobby in his beaalE
r@
But g is about boys that I'm more particu-
larly concerned now, and as to whom started
out TO speak There seems to be woful lack
among them OF that determined, ambitious
spirit common among boys elsewhere and
which BIAS filed our country with great men,
In the little towns aud villages, aud on The
farms OF abe country. whore real men are bred,
q boy usually decides before he is fairly in has
teens that Be w.ll be farmer, or a mechanic
or a profess oual man, or a merchant; all the
currents OF bis thought flow in that particular
direction, he is willing 10 work in that line
Tor any comp saIion whatever, so as to get an
opportunity 10 learn the calling upon which be
has set bis heart and the result is that he
makes sucrcss OF IT, and money and roputa-
ton are his But here a boy, when he works
at all, dawd'es around at any light employ
mont that VIII give him a little spending
money, aud hopes that somewhere or how he
will strike some influence which will put
him into d place where the pay will be big, and
the duties more or less nominal.
-
This has been suggested by the visit Of a fno
looking, wei dressed, and apparently we'll
educated woman to TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
10 solicit the appointment Of her son 10 run the
elevator.
"pm the widow Of -" she said, mention.
ing man oi.re quite prominent IN the affairs
of tho city. Ny husband was Ill for long
time before bis death, aud all our property
went ID j. very necessary that ] get some
ihing 10 support as. My son has been in the
dry-goo5s business, and in several other places,
and the pgoTIe seemed 70 like him, but some
how be- aidut ike the employment, and gave
ID mp Now he says that II ] will get him
something 10 Do be viii Try 10 stick 10 IT,"
Imagine anything moro Illuminating 10 the
mother, aud more disgaceful TO the son, than
thesc fcw words implied. In spite OF his
l0afer viii not cxort himself Ia any manly,
honorable way will not look Tor work himself,
or keep a situation when he gets il. lie sends
bis mother oui 20 hunt up work for his Young
Mortllesancsz, which he viii accept or not as
suits has Whitn.
suggested 10 her that running an elevator
was very poor business loESR young man who
Hoped 10 make his way in the world. Why
didn't hc learn q trader
90. he's GOT almost too ola to learn a trade"
Bne answered.
remar lad that he was not getting any
younger.
Yes, tlat is go" she assented. after mo-
meuts reflection. as ii that had not occurred TO
her before aHd went away despaiTing.
OF course. that young fellow would be lazy
aud noaccaHut in any community where he
might bc thrown but ] think that many 9th
cIs, not 80 pf.dc-tined 10 wortAicssnoss as he
is become l.aers la Washington. where they
would have Sumo measure Of push aud yigor in
o more iuFisoraiing atmosphere than that Of
thc Capital.