The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-02-06
Choice of Occupation.
The Leather Manufacturer.

whenever the choice OF occupation mas Deen
made without full consideration, it is too
often found that the selection has been
made without reference to the physical and
mental fitness of the boy for the chosen
field The wish of the boy is very seldom
consulted, and though young yet and with
out mature experience, it seems but fair
that his preferences should be taken into
respectful consideration Parents frequently
make the mistake at this important juno
ture Of choosing occupations for their boys
for which the boys physical system is ill
adapted Weakly boys with narrow chests
should never be put at indoor occupations.
Some trade that will keep them in the open
air is better suited for such. Then, again,
too many parents look upon all trades as
something beneath them, and enormously
teach their boys that it is more respectable
to enter one of the professions or even to
go into clerking for livelihood. All
mechanical trades need to be recruited from
the intelligent classes, and the condition of
mechanics can only be elevated when ac-
cessi0ns to their ranks come from well ed
ucated, respectable, honest, self-respecting
people Too many boys are annually con-
signed to other occupations, for which they
are not fitted, to the great damage Of them
selves and of society, and in which, after
long and one-sided struggle for mere eX-
istence, which is getting year by year more
and more precarious and difficult, they are
finally left stranded wreck, with the con-
sciousness that the mistake, in choosing
their occupation has been the main cause
of their misery and distress.
Most of this is due to the false pride
and prejudice against mechanical trade,
which would have offered good field for
the wrecked boy by intelligence, industry,
and perseverance to have become man
able to support himself and family and use
full to society. Who can doubt the truth
of this? If we look about us, we cannot
fail to see that in all occupations the
standards of requirements have been rails
ed, and particularly in those employments
which are not included in the mechanical
branches much more is now expected from
applicants for positions than formerly.
Look at the increasing numbers of those
who are studying for the law, the ministry,
or the medical profession, Count the num-
bers of doctors, lawyers, and ministers who
can barely exc out an existence. Scrutinize
the advertising columns of any of our
newspapers and see the overwhelming
numbers of those who seek employment,
having nothing to offer but willing hands
and feet, ordinary intelligence, and very
little education. Just look at the army of
clerks and so-called bookeepers constantly
offering their services indeed, it would be
more truthful to say begging for employ
ment at anything that offers. These are
the direct consequences of an oyercrowding
in those employments which do not re-
quire knowledge of any mechanical trade,
1t is not so bad where these boys have
parents with means who can he p them
but when they have nothing but what they
can earn, it would be well if our cry of
alarm were needed and false pride and
prejudice were made to give way to the
true interests of the boy
On the other hand see how intelligent
well trained mechanics progress, 1t is not
necessary here to cite examples of living
men, who, after having thoroughly learned
a mechanical trade, have by industry, econ
omy, brains, and force of character lifted
themselves into enviable positions of bust
ness success, honor, trust, and wealth
There are plenty who, from small beginn-
ings, have attained success. All work is
honorable and ennobling, and those who
probably being idlers themselves, profess to
look upon the mechanic with disdain, and
would, if they could, deny him equal rights,
should remember that idlers are always
superhuous in this world 5 economy but that
the good mechanic is constantly in demand,
as he is the one who lays the real founda-
industry is an absolute necessity to the
capitalists If these people who turn up
their noses at the mechanic allege as a
reason for their exclusiveness that the
| mechanic is lacking in refinement, they
should be told that it is partly due to the
fact that those who deem themselves more
refined have scrupulously withdrawn their
refng influences from the mechanic by
not associating with him. But the mech
mic is not excluded from true culture, and
one can find as many true gentlemen OF
culture and refinement among mechanics
as among the so-called professional classes
indeed often one searches in vain for refine
ment among the latter.
Much depends upon the quality of the
material which enters the mechanical
trades, and if many of those who now
make the mistake of studying an unprof,
table profession should learn trade in-
stead and determine to lead a refined life,
it will not be long before even this some
what imaginary reproach is taken away.
1t is not necessary either to go from one
extreme to the other, and that all should
rush into the trades, nor that the other
great mistake be made of thinking that one
mechanical trade is more honorable than
another and that every boy must pick out
what seems to him to be a little more elevat-
ed trade. We plead for the proper train
ing of boys in the mechanical trades; for
their thoroughly mastering the whole trade
and not one branch of it. All mechanical
trades offer good livelihood, steady en-
ployment, and fortune for those who have
the patience, perseverance, and industry
to find it. Learn a trade In this CON
nection we may say that the question why
boys do not properly and thoroughly learn
trade in these days has been partly
answered by an old employer, who gives
what, in his opinion, are the reasons. He
says that boys nowadays are different from
what they were when he was boy. In
those good old times they came to learn as
much as possible, now to earn all the
money they can. Then apprentices were
the children OF comparatively well-to-do
people, who took pains 10 bring their chill
dren up properly and were more solicitous,
by having their sons properly instructed
and by making good mechanics of them, to
make them independent of the world.
Now apprentices come mostly from the