The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-23
LEARN A TRADE.

Every BOY VIII Make Mistake IT He
Does't Adapt Himself to Some business.
"Do you think a boy ought to Learn
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 a trade? 1t is almost
as if one should ask if two hands were
better than one.
In some counties the learning of a
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
NY to wealth, but as many and perhaps
nurre fall from riches to poverty. A
great fire, the failure of a banking firm
OF 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 a minor
clerkship at a 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
drags out miserable existence.
Take time by the forelocl, and learn
trade. 1t need not be in a blacksmith
shop or rolling mill; it may easily be
something which combines with muscle
and brains in the highest degree
There ore many such occupations,
and the time to choose is before stern
necessity compels II choice, which may
be hasty and ill-advised.
Perhaps it is not strange that fathers
do not always realize the vicissitudes OF
fortune and its attendant response
bilities, but there are signs of an awall.
cning.
Even the boys are getting ambition:
20 be something more than money
spenders, needing only proper encour
agement from their parents to realize
the dangers in their path which may bt
avoided by care and forethourht
A gentleman who had induced larg,
publishing house to take his son int,
it's employ at q moderate rate Of pay
not very long since, was especial,
anxious in his request that the youn,
man should be m sde to work and learl
the business.
This instruction was needless, as, al
though modern fashion has done ava,
with much of the jauitor and porterag
work of old times, yet the young mai
found the selection of stock for orders
packing the same, entering, charging
ditto and occasional errands kept hin
actively employed for about ten hour
a day, with an hour out for dinner.
AT the end of three weeks time h
. failed to put in an appearance, but tn
father walked in one morcing with tn
, ! information that John would not n
turn to the position.
why not?" asked the publisher.
"Well, John has to have his brGas
, fast at half-past seven every mornin
|, 10 get here, and then he is not used {
carrying bundles. add sometimes he