Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1891-01-17
+" A BUSINESS EDUCATION"
And Its Importance--Prize Essay BY Miss
Annie Mooney, in Spirited Contest,
Which Took the Blue Ribbon,


The education of the boy or girl of the present
day for business is an important and momentous
matter, and a duty which parents, l am sorry to
say, often neglect. A business education is of
the utmost Importance to young man, and the
time has gone by when girls only ambition was
to marry well. With the wonderful upward steps
of progress the young girl of the age has adapted
herself to business methods, and the requirement
of business education, until to-day she stands
forth an ornament to the business world, and no
less one to society.
If left alone in the world, and thrown upon her
own resources, she no longer has to become fac
tory girl or kitchen slave, but accepts business
position which she fills satisfactorily to all con-
cerned Why is this? Because she has had the
advantage Of business education and proves to
the world that the ''weakness" attributed to her
sex is not mental one. A business education is
advantageous in many ways. 1t is an intellectual
development. Though, if we are unable to I'M
derstand the daily movement of the commercial
world it gives us a chance to become independent
and gain for ourselves place of confidence, re-
spect and esteem among our fellow-men.
1t is the duty of American parents to see thei1
children, boys and girls, secure business educa-
ton, as there can be nothing important to their
future welfare Commerce is a klng-we are all
his subjects, and must not be ignorant Of the
movements of his army, and as a soldier is prop
erly drilled to fight his way in war; so must we be
drilled in the art of business to assist us in making
our way through the commercial world. A bust
ness education prepares young man or woman
for the practical affairs of daily life. Scholastic
learning is not essentially necessary, but the ac-
qurement of thorough and practical business
education is strictly so, and every one, especially
the American youth, should, if possible, attain
that education! A practical education is one for
use, therefore it alone is important, and we need
no other This is progressive age and it requires
an education consisting of active and practical
things. Every young man or woman who has
limited knowledge of commercial affairs should
attend Business School and acquire thorough
and practical education. 1t will be no heavy bur-
den on the brain and is just what will be needed
all through life. Years ago ignorant but able men
succeeded in life perhaps, but time has changed,
and now a man must start in life equipped with
thorough business education. If life was of long
er duration, men and women might defer gaining
a knowledge of commercial affairs until they might
obtain it by actual experience. We admit that
experience is a wise teacher, but it is as often q
sad one. How often we hear some old mar say:
"If | had known as much or one-half as much Of
business points twenty-five years ago as now
know might be worth as much again" You see
these old gentlemen realize the Importance OF q
business education too late
cart is long, and time is feetlng,
And our hearts though stout and brave,
Still like drums are beating
Funeral marches to the grave"
So if we attempt to learn business in business,
the chances are that we will be left like some of
our hoary-headed friends in the "aeetng march of
life" Business men demand the services OF active,
clear minded, willing assistants, and these quail
ties are the results of the all-impertant business
education. Industry and enterprise are some OF
the results of such education. A knowledge of
business arithmetic, commercial law, business