The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-03
Learning a Business.

A gentleman who had induced large
publishing house to take his son, as boy
into its employ at a moderate rate of pay
not long since, was especially anxious in
his request that the young man should be
made to work and learn the business.
The instruction was needless, as although
modern fashion has done away with much
of the janitor and porterage work Of old
times, yet the young man found the selec,
ton of stock for orders, packing the same
entering, charging ditto, and occasional
errands kept him actively employed fol
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 in
formation that John would not return 10
the position.
"Why not ?" asked the publisher.
'Well, John has to have his breakfast
at half-past seven every morning to get
here, and then he is not used to carry
ing bundles, and sometimes he's been sent
with books right up to the houses of peo-
pie we know socially. My son hasn't
been brought up that way, and guess
won't have him learn this business"
He did not; and what's more, has never
learned any other business.
Now let us look at another actual
picture, that of the son of wealthy mill
owner desiring to become manager of the
mills.
"But that is impossible, said the father,
sunless you practically learn the business. :"
'That is what would like to do, said
the son.
"But to become superintendent or
manager We prefer man who has risen
from the ranks and understands the me-
ehanical department and the ways of en-
plOyes,"
'iLet me begin in the ranks then, -
replied the young man.
To this the father assented, stipulating
that no favor should be shown the son, but
he should actually begin and work at
regular labor in the mechanical depart
ment
Not only was this done, but the young
man went and boarded in the manufactur-
ing town at a workman's boarding house,
and went in and out of the factory at bell
call. In three years he was foreman in
one of the departments, and a former-class
mate and well known society man, calling
there upon him, was surprised at meeting
stalwart fellow in blue overalls, with
hands so soiled with machinery oil as to
prevent the conventional hand shake.
But this young man persevered, pade
and paid his own way himself, and his
father concluded it would not injure his
future prospects. Judging from the fact
that he is now manager of mills (not his
father's), at salary of ten thousand a
year and with ability to command even
better compensation apd partnership, is
evidence that learning business" even
by man with a good education and a
rich father, pays a coed return, both in
money and manly independence.
james Glaisher, the well known Scotch
meteorologist, asserts, after long investiga-
ton, that the ninth day of the moon is the
most rainy of the whole twenty-eight, and
that 10 the first and the last weeks of
the moons age the rainfall Is less than the
average. The records kept by Mr. Glaisher
also indicate 4 o'clock in the afternoon as
the rainiest hour in the day.
The corn crop is the most important be-
cause it gives not only large proportion
of grain but also supplies an abundance of
fodder. The value of the fodder should
never be overlooked in estimating the corn
crop, but unless some provision is made for
properly saving ~ utilizing the fodder a
a great portion Of - saline Of the crop