The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-30
VALUE OF A TRADE.

Every Boy VIII Make q Mistake II He
Does't Adapt Himself to Some Business.
"Do you think boy ought to lean a
trade?'
This was the query that came to us
the other day. Judging from the re-
mainder of the letter it came from a
bright boy. and that made the question
more surprising.
Is it not astonishing that anyone
should doubt for moment the advisa-
bility of learning trade? It is almost
as if one should ask if two hands were
better than one.
In some counties the learning of
trade is considered so important that
the law steps in and requires the par
ents to teach their boys, if sound in
mind and body, a trade or profession,
as some sort of guarantee that they
will not become burden to the state.
Governmental supervision over private
affairs is not popular in this country,
but in this case it should not be needed.
Parents themselves ought to realize its
Importance, and, indeed. there are
very few who do not
In no other country are fortunes so
evanescent as in America. Here we
have no landed estates. no families"
in the English sense, and the spirit of
ambition and unrest is so great that
few boys are content to remain in the
home where they were born, or follow
in their fathers footsteps.
There are many rapid rises from pen
ury to wealth, but as many and perhaps
more fall from riches to poverty. A
great fire. the failure of banking firm
Or the defalcation of trusted clerk
may undo in day the labor of years.
When these changes come the boy
who has been reared in luxury may be
compelled to earn his living. How can
he do it? If he is fair penman and ac-
curate at figures, he may get minor
at salary which formerly
would not have kept him in clothes. He
is dependent on the whims of his en-
ployers, and the chances are that he
1rags out a miserable existence.
Take time by the forelock, and learn
a trade. 1t need not be in blacksmith
shop or rolling mill: it may easily be
which combines with muscle
md brains in the highest degree
There are many such occupations,
md the time to choose is before stern
aecessity compels choice. which may
be hasty and ill-advised.
Perhaps it is not strange that fathers
30 not always realize the vicissitudes of
fortune and its attendant response
bilities, but there are signs of an awak-
,ning.
Even the boys are getting ambitious
10 be something more than money
spenders, needing only proper encour-
agement from their parents to realize
the dangers in their path which may be
avoided by care and forethought-
A gentleman who had induced large
house to take his son into
It's employ at moderate rate of pay,
not very long since, was especially
anxious in his request that the young
nan should be m ade to work and learn
the business
This instruction was needless, as. al
though modern fashion has done away
with much of the janitor and porterage
work of old times, yet the young man
found the selection of stock for orders,
packing the same, entering, charging
ditto and occasional errands kept him
actively employed for about ten hours
a day. with an hour out for dinner.
At the end of three weeks time he
failed TO put in an appearance, but the
father walked in one morning with the
that John would not re-
turn to the position.
''Why not?" asked the publisher.
well, John has to have his break
tas. at half-past seven every morning
TO get here. and then ne is not used to
carrying handles, and sometimes he's
been sent with books right up to the
houses of people we know socially
Ny son hasn't been brought up that
way. and l think I won't have him
earn this business"
He did not. and, what's more. has
never learned any other business.
That is one side of the picture. and
he wrong side. Now let US look at
mother case. The son OF wealthy
just from college. came
@ his father one day and stated that
lie would like TO be manager OF the
aulA