The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-06-17

lUUk ~ tuk 1twSS-
The Contrast oS The Pass aaA Psss~nf-
women In Gem pssstsss VITA Nee
Whist Effect VIII IL Have On Marriage
Csa Our LegfAi..ors solve rhs Pro bismg
The ChausaKusn.l
II Was the fashion forty years ago
for boy to be engaged rs al ap-
prentice to learn = trade as q wheel
wright, q shoemaker. blacksmith,
or . chairmaker. The term OF serv-
ice was from three to four years. He
would receive three dollars per
month and board. he would work
ten hours every day and from the first
of December till St. Patrick's Day
he would work from seven to nine
o'clock every week evening except
Saturday. He would perform vari-
Gus duties such as sweeping out the
shop, making fire in the morning in
cold weather, doing chores of the es-
tablishment, and sometimes the
chores for his employers family.
From year to year as he increased
in knowledge, his services grew more
valuable and very often sn sppren-
fiee would finish his trade with
better knowledge of the business and
be more proficient in the trade than
the proprietor himself.
The advantage gained by the ap-
prentice was that he acquired an
industrious habit of life by contiu-
uous service. By working eacn day
for series of years industry was
ground into him. This habit became
his chief stock in trade. 1t has
made the foundation of many a
mans character in the business and
professional world, for it was held
in the early times that if boy learn
ed trade he could in the future
fellow it or not as opportunity and
inclination would suggest. But the
knowledge of a trade was considered
50 valuable that it was held by pa
rents, guardians, and business men
as a fundamental principle OF life
that a trade was fortune.
In these days the trades have been
broken up by large manufacturing
establishments where ten men make
a shoe, and the old idea Of learning
a trade is exploded. Trades unions
have come in and advocated a rule
that only one boy can serve as an
apprentice for every ten journey.
men. New employ ments have taken
the place of the old trades. On
railroads an army of men Is employed
IN this country now where none
were employed in former times. Ma.
chinary introduced into manufact
uring establishments has taken the
place of mechanics. A revolution
has been worked in the industries oi
the country. quietly but steadily
until labor organizations say how
many shall learn trades, and ma
chinery says that we do not need al
many tradesmen as we used to have
IN proportion to our population, and
thus the question is lifted into legis
: lation and becomes political prob
!. lem for statesmen to solve.
| Women have entered manufact
uring establishments in large mum
bers: they are found in all kinds o
, business houses; they are enterin,
8 professions, and this complicate
Z the question still more. 1t is feare,
by some the conflict of sexes is to b.
one of our dangers in the civilization
of the future. man has filed
o position as bookkeeper at twenty
t FIVE dollars per week. He has
wife and three children. He worke
j up to his position from being offic
0 boy during twelve years of servic
i He was unable to save anything fro1
I his salary, but to his surprise on
u day he was informed that the frl
q had employed lady as bookkeepe
= at ten dollars week. He lost hi
place. He looked about IN his con
munlty for another situation as bool
keeper. The best offer he could e,
was ten dollars week. Dishear
l. ened he complains that women HAY
o come into competition with men an
% are driving them to the wall. The
8 are doing this as agents, waiter
l. bookkeepers, stenographers, casl
y iers, editors, and in great mar
le other positions.
70 The army of unemployed wome
y will no doubt ask for places in Il
l., business world, they will get the
u and force an army of men out
u these places. We do not share
y the apprehension that there will |
70 any "conflict' between the sex
y over tLis industrial problem, but '
u may inquire, Will it not work har
- ship to many man and result
the distress of many a famllyi w
40 this condition in the business wor
deter young men from getting ms
= ried1 Is it one of the signs of t
= times that points to a reduction
~ ~ the cost of ivingi Shall We n
90 find the standard of living in Ame
3d. ca brought down to a lower figu
as a result of having more peoI
~ who want work than can find wor
IN It is a great industrial probl'
nu when we find machinery taking t
place that workmen formerly oct
~ ~ pied, women coming in to do
80 work that men used to do, the !
q. tive population constantly on
ny increase, and emigration from f
:, eign countries to our shores rea'
VI ing high tide. These questions
feet the life of the average citiz
and they appear in the political c'
dition of the country in large fo
tha where the political questions of +
St trade or protection will help or b
r. der in the improvement of the r
A. of wages among the masses.
os- The rule that the world is run
ap- the law of faction and reactit
ex NAV he appiied to this condition
the a philosoper, On the principle t
ds, things regulate themselves, and t
ur- out of this social chaos is to come
rts, der and harmony and the hlgn
ter good of the average man. Yet it
md mains true that thousands of I
rs." will suffer while leaders in so
the work and social problems are gett
all their bearings, and a multitude
as industrious and useful men will
lid -, <ha ha%f1o oe 1ifo.