New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-29
TIE RTSINESS CHILD.

Child labor" is a term that suggests sweat
shops Southern cotton mills. squalor and deg
radation-such is the force of association and
the tendency of words to degenerate in mean
ing Yet in society constituted at present it
is absolutely necessary that thousands Of chill
dren especially in great cities, shall be bread
winners and to that end shall be engaged In
regular occupations with fixed hours of labor.
The law recognizes this necessity, and public
opinion sanctions it; nevertheless there Is In
the minds of many a feeling OF protest against
it and of pity for the youthful toilers. To many
such il may be a surprise TO learn what large
EMPLOYERS of child labor in this city and Phlla-
delphia are doing for the benefit of the boys
and girls In their stores land incidentally for
themselves in the way of rational oversight and
education AT the annual meeting of the Amer
lean Academy of Political and Social Science,
hold in philadelphia recently. Mr. Franklin y.
Rraver manager of the Wnnnmaker store in
that city outlined the business career Of the
child who enters the employ of the concern ut
the age of thirteen. Beginning as cash boy, he
is advanced if he merits promotion. through the
grades of cadet" stock boy, salesman, stock
heod buyer's assistant rs well as through the
various positions which belong to the clerical
and mechanical departments of great store
But the mere routine work of his Job is
only a part OF his business training The
smaller BOYS are organized into school and mill
tarv companies Each company assemblies in
the schoolrooms of the store building two morn
ngs Of the week. when regular instruction is
given in arithmetic, grammar, spelling writing,
composition and singing. On two other morn
ings they have the setting up exercises and
drill with some other physical culture Textures
| The girls have their school organization also,
each division having two mornings In the week
| The branches taught are those just mentioned
| and also business correspondence, stenography
and typewritng and bookkeeping. Attention is
given to singing and physical culture. The older
BOYS remaining in the store two evenings Il
week. study arithmetic. spelling, writing. com
| mercal correspondence. English, stenography
| bookkeeping and mechanical and freehand
| drawing and have the advantages of military
| and rymnastic training. Debating and literary
! clubs and glee clubs and other musical organi-
cations are also encouraged.
One of the obvious things TO be said Of this
system Is that many If not most of these youth
| ful workers are getting more rational and
| practical education than they would obtain in
the public schools If their parents could afford
| 10 send them there several years longer. Their
| life OF self support has less of play than we
could wish for the young but they are less
exposed to temptation than the children of what
we call for want of a better name, the lower
| middle class. But. as Mr.. Brewer indicates
the system is developing important features of
modern business life. As child is regularly
employed who is not expected TO continue with
the house for considerable period, this process
of training has the effect of forming picked
| class of employees, THIS replacing the Old World