The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-17
Boys, Learn q Trade.

So far as we have been able to learn,
very few of the 45 600 homeless tramps
of the land are masters of good trade.
In ancient time every boy, rich or poor,
had to learn trade, and there was
wisdom in such requirement. Your
editor never looks at his Old steel COM
posing rule that he does not bless God
that while his strength lasts he is not at
the mercy of the world. II bis pen is
not wanted he can 90 back to the type
case and be sure to find work; for he
has learned the printers trade thor
oughly-newspaper work, book wo.k,
and press work. He is glad he has
good trade. 1t is as rock upon which
the possessor can stand firmly. There
is hath and vigor for both body and
mind in an honest trade. 1t is the
strongest and surest part of the self
made man. Go from the academy to
the printing Office or to the artisans
bench, or, if you please, to the farm
for to be sure, true farming is trade,
and grand one at that. Lay thus
foundation, and after that branch off
into whatever profession you like.
You have heard, perhaps, of the
clerk who had faithfully served Stephen
Girard from boyhood to manhood. On
the twenty-first anniversary of his birth
day he went to his master and told him
his time was up and he certainly ex
pected important promotion in the
merchants service. But Stephen Cir
ard said to him. Every well. Now
90 on and learn trade" "What
trade, sir?" Good barrels and butts
must be in demand while you live. Go
and learn the cooper's trade; and when
you have made perfect barrel, bring
it to me-" The young man went away
and learned the trade, and in time
brought to his old master splendid
barrel of his own make. Girard eX-
amined it and gave the maker two
thousand dollars for it, and then said to
him: "Now, sir, l want you in my
counting-room; but henceforth you
will not be dependent upon the whim
of Stephen Girard. Let what will
come, you have good trade always in
reserve" The young man saw the
wisdom and understood.
In an article on "Idleness and
Crime" we are told that the number
of white male prisoners in all the pris-
ons, penitentiaries, and reformatory
institutions in the United States in 1890
was SO 1874. OF these 80, 1876 were ma
tive born, only 1860 were foreign
born; nearly three-fourths of the con-
victed criminals are born in this coun-
try, and more than half of them OF
American parents; little more thar
one-fourth are foreign-born. These
figures are traced out into many de-
tails. What they show" says the
writer of the article, is that American
boys are becoming criminals and filling
our prisons because of lack of occupa
ton. 1t is to the cities that the swarmi
of foreign laborers come, finding ready
admission to all trade-unions, and fill
ing the places which Americans boy
would have were they permitted t.
learn the trades"
Years ago, when the middle-age'
men of to-day were boys, Horace Gree
ley wrote: {" 1t is great source OF con
ISOLATION to us that when the publ
shall be tired of us AS an editor we ca
make satisfactory livelihood at settin
type or farming; so that while GU
strength lasts ten thousand blockheads
taking offense at some article they d
not understand, could not drive us int
the poorhouse." And so may ma
become truly Observation-Disclosures
Register