The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1897-07-16
Choice of 9 Profession.

A couple of yours men called on me
the other day and asked me to give
them my opinion as to the choice of a
profession. They were bright, intel
Hgent, well educated young fellows
with some means, not very much, to
he sure. and were exceedingly anxious
to start in a career that might bring
them a comfortable subsistence and
possibly fame and fortune. They had
but little choice of pr s:.essions outside
of the law, medicine, chemistry OF
mining.
After an hours talk with them sim
ply had to give it up and tell them
that / really could not advise, and the
doctor. an eminent one in his specit!ty,
laid down his visiting list with sigh
and an expression of encouragement.
There are already he continued,
more doctors in the communities with
which 1 am familiar than can find
a Young mar without influence or
backing to succeed either in the law
or medicine, is to have sufficient means
to sit down and wait until business
comes to him. In the cities he must
focate himself in the slums and work
for nothing and board himself Indeed
he must furnish certain amount of
medicine for his patients. Some day
he may by some fortunate accident
perform a successful operation or
strike some phenomenal case that will
bring him before the public, but it is
slow work and discouraging."
As to the law, one of the best ways
for beginner is to take cases either on
contingent or for the bare fees, or bet
ter still, if he has money enough to
float himself while he is doing it, to
take up cases for the deserving poor
Say what one will, there is nothing
that pays as we'll as philanthropy, and
the man who can afford, even at good
deal OF cost to himself, to take some of
these cases. has every chance of sue
cess before him. The professions are
all over-crowded, and while there is
as the old saying goes, always plenty
of room at the top, it is such strug
gle To get there, that men wear out
break up and go to pieces long before
they reach anywhere near the upper
rounds OF the ladder If I had my ca
feer to begin over again with busi-
ness matters at their present status,
would with my profession, if I chose
TO take one up. familiarize myself with
something in the line of producing.
4 would become an expert gardener,
Horist, bee keeper, farmer. poultry rails
or. almost anything where I could use
my odd hours and moments. A young
friend Of mine who has been practicing
medicine for Eve years, has more than
made a living for himself and family in
poultry raising
The advantage of some of these
minor Industries is that they take I'D
comparatively little additional room
ON ones place. the returns are quick
and the labor is light It is by no
means inconvenient to have few dol
fzgs coming in here and there at inter-
walls, and the advantages of having
something to fall back on in case of
emergency, need not be discussed. A
beginner in law has taken up branch
of engraving, and when clients do not
ecme, cash does, for his work is care
full and painstaking, and therefore
commands good price. AS for ad-
vIsIng any young man to devote him
self exclusively to one thing 1 must
frankly say that do not see how he
can get along through the years when
his business is coming to him unless
he has means for his running expenses.
He must live well and make a reason
ably good appearance.
IL has been said that no man could
do two things well. That may be. but
ii. depends altogether on what the two
things are. He could not handle two
learned professions probably, but he
certainly might take up simple busi-
ness and carry it on while pursuing his
studies or establishing himself in the
work OF his life.
1t lis of the utmost value to any per-
.s,n who pursues business that re-
quires mental effort to be free from
the handicap of extremely limited
.rnennS One does much better work