The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-17
Choice of Occupation.
The Leather Manufacturer.

posed to have finished their school educa-
ton, the important question arises What
shall be the future occupation OF the boy =!
The question is not so easily answered, and
whenever the choice of occupation has been
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 youngy yet and with
out mature experience, it seems but far
that his preferences should be taken into
respectful consideration. Parents frequently
make the mistake at this important Junct-
ure 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
90 into clerking for livelihood. All me
chanical trades need to be recruited from
the intelligent classes, and the condition OF
mechanics can only be elevated when aces
sions to their ranks come from well edu-
Gated, 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 exist
ence, 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 a 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 aud 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 par
ticularly in those employments which are
not included in the mechanical branches
much more is now expected from appL-
cants 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 plumbers
of doctors, lawyers, and ministers who can
barely exc out an existence. Scrutinlze
the advertising columns of any of our
newspapers and see the overwhelming num-
bers of those who seek employment, having
nothing to offer but willing hands and feet,
ordinary intelligence, and very little edu-
cation. Just look at the army OF clerks
and so-called bookkeepers constantly offer
ing their services; indeed, it would be more
truthful TO say begging for employment at
ANYTHING that offers. These are the direct
consequences of an overcrowding in those
employments which do not require knowl-
edge of any mechanical trade. 1t 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, 1t
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
mechanical trade, have by industry,
economy, brains, and force Of character
lifted themselves into enviable positions Of
business success, honor, trust, and wealth.
There are plenty who, from small beglnn-
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 worlds economy,
but that the good mechanic is constantly
in demand, as he is the one who lays the
real foundation of all business success, and
that bis 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
refining influences from the mechanic by
not associating with him. But the me-
chanic is not excluded from true culture,
and one can find as many true gentlemen
of culture and refinement among mechan-
les as among the so-called professional
classes, indeed often one searches IN vain
for refinement 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 Improbable
profession should learn trade instead and
determine to lead refined life, it will moi
be long before even this somewhat imagl
nary reproaeh is taken away. 1t is moi
necessary either to go from one extreme tc
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
10 him to be a little more elevated trade
We plead for the proper training Of boys
in the mechanical trades, for their thor.
oughly mastering the whole trade and not
one branch Of it. All mechanical trades
offer good livelihood, steady employment
and fortune for those who have the pa
thence, perseverance, and industry to find
it. Learn trade In this connection We
may say that the question why boys do NOT
properly and thoroughly learn trade in
these days hes been partly answered by an
old employer, who gives what, in his opin-
ion. 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 welEto-do people, who
took pains TO bring their children up prop
erlv ana we're more soIicitous, by having
their sons properly Instructed and BY max
II. H.