The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-06-05

inducements for young men is the
machinist's trade, but this craft has one
drawback; to quote the words of an
old mechanic who had seen forty years
of service at this trade, and who was
master of all its details: 81 would never
allow boy of mine to learn the ma
chinist's trade; it takes too much money
to start in business, and expect success,
for man cannot start unless he has
100000 to invest, and then he does
not care to engage in the close compe-
tition of the trade, but would rather
enjoy an easy life on the interest of his
money" There is much truth in these
words, but on the other hand no trade
offers such possibilities to the inven-
tive genius, and in this age of machinery
machinist is always sure of constant
employment. I might add that
machinery has also by labor saving de-
vices forced down the wages of machine
men below what they were some years
ago.
The blacksmith trade offers sure
reward for those who are content
''To live contentedly between,
The little and the great"
Moderate financial success is all that
can be gained by even a lifelong SER
vice in this craft, but then perhaps the
master of humble blacksmith shop
enjoys life more than modern captain
of industry who is beset by thousand
cares and trials and knows but little of
that balm of all our troubles,-con-
tentment.
Progressive methods have revolu-
tiOnized many Industries and created
new occupations for workmen and
made of large percentage of workmen
specialists, that is men skilled in one
part of craft only. This is true of
the textile industry, the leather trade
and the copper, zinc, tin and iron in
dustries. So complex and diversified
are the branches of these mechanical
arts that lifemtie is too short to
master them ALL A workman entering
any of the large factories where these
industries are carried on can only hope
for success by perfecting himself in
one particular branch of the industry.
He can rise to the head of his particu-
lar department, but beyond this his am
bition is bounded, by the measure
of his personal ability to control and
"handle" men. Some superintendents
have begun at the top instead of the
bottom and owe their station in life to
their influence over men and their
ability to get the most work from those
under their charge. Such men seldom
achieve any great success, for when a
crisis comes the men of practical
knowledge step in and take their
places.
A college education greatly enhances
a mans value in the world, but without
some manual training such an equip
ment is only ornamental and of little
practical value at crisis, while on the
other hand a skilled mechanic is doubly
armed in the battle of life; he not only
has his trade to rely upon, but he has
been disciplined in school of actuali-
ties and strengthened by the necessity
of early self-support.
All men cannot be successful, but a
man can rise above the level of his
surroundings by self-instruction and
close application to the principles of
his particular calling. These two rules
followed persistently will make of any
intelligent workman skilled mechanic,
and the more skilled he is in his craft
the better wages he can command, and
as success is measured by the value of
ones genius in dollars and cents so
modern society rates mans standard
of success by his ability to earn money.
PENDENN1s.