The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-02-13
Choice of Occupation.

Choice of Occupation.
Every year in thousands of fam
lilies, as the boys attain the age wher
they are supposed to have finished
their school education, the import
ant question arises. What shall bt
the future occupation of the boy
The question is not easily answered
and whenever the choice of occu
patton has been made without ful
consideration, it is too often 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 without mature experience, il
seems but tair that his preferences
should be taken into respectful con.
sideration. Parents frequently make
the mistake At this important juno.
ture of choosing occupations TO,
their boys for which the boys phys.
ical system is i'll adapted. Weakly
boys with narrow chests should
never be put at indoor occupations.
Some trade that win keep them in
the open air is better suited for such.
Then, again, too many parents look
upon all trades 40 something be-
meath them, and erroneously teach
their boys that it is more respecta-
BILE to enter one of the professions
or even 60 into clerking for q live
lihood. All mechanical trades need
to be recruited. from the intelligent
classes, and the condition of me-
chanics can only be elevated when
accessions to their ranks come from
we'll educated, respectable, honest,
self-respecting people. Too many
boys are annually consigned to
other occupations, for which they
are not fitted, to the great damage
of themselves and of society, and
in which, after a long and one-sided
struggle for mere existence. which is
getting year by year more and more
precarious and difficult, they are
finally left stranded wreck, with
the consciousness 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 me-
chanical 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 useful 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 raised, and
particularly in those employments
which are not included in the me-
chanical 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 numbers of doctors, law
yers, and ministers who can barely
exc out an existence. Scrutinize
the advertising columns of any OF
our newspapers and see the over
whelming numbers of those who
seek employment, having nothing
to offer but willing hands and feet,
ordinary intelligence, and very lit
tie education. Just look at the army
of clerks and so-called bookkeepers
constantly offering their services J;
indeed, it would be more truthful
to say begging for employment at
anything that offers. These are the
direct consequences of an over
crowding in those employments
which do not require knowledge of
any mechanical trade. It is not SO
bad where these boys have parents
with means who can help them, but
when they have nothing but what
they can earn, it would be we'll il
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 intel
ligent, we'll trained mechanics pro-
eress. It is not necessary here to
cite examples of living men, who,
after having thoroughly learned a
mechanical trade, have by industry,
economy, brains, and force Of char
acter lifted themselves into enviable
positions of business success, hon-
or, trust, and wealth. There are
plenty who, from small beginnings,
have attained success. All work
is honorable and ennobling, and
those who, probably being idlers
themselves, profess to look upon
tha mechanic with disdain, and