The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-11-23
cnARKsBURG, W. VA, NOV. %, 1908.
BOYS SHOULD BE GIVEN A TRADE.

One of the greatest questions before
Che American people is what to do with
the boys. The subject has not been
given the thought it demands and seems
OF too little concern to parents, In
speaking on this subject one needs not
look the world over TO familiarizc him
self with conditions. They are local and
prevail alike everywhere.
In the city OF ClarkSburg the question
is one that startles the man who looks
into the future, or who even reflects on
She present. For years it has been the
custom of a majority of parents to take
the boys out Of school at an early age,
with intellect hardly started in the direc-
ton of development. They place them
in positions where they acquire but lit
tie TO aid them in life's course. Most 20
into grocery store as errpnd boys
Sometimes, after years of Identification
with these stores, they are promoted to
clerks, but seldom do they get beyond
that. There are Others who are placed
in other positions, with only the consii-
Grafton OF earning few paltry dollars
for the time being. Others do nothing
except to idle time away and live of
their parents and wait for the time when
they will come into an inheritance which
they will not have the ability or the
sense to preserve and augment. In other
instances the boys are sent away to
school, TO play football and other games
of sport and to get smattering Of
the books, coming out of college without
definite purpose and lacking accomplish
ment or knowledge for the entrance into
the activities by which they may make
their way through the world and be not
only self.supporting, but successful in
the pursuits they may take up. They
come home and are at a loss TO know
what to do. Some do not want 10 work
and would not, on account Of the fact
that they labor under the impression that
it would lower the family standing to
do So
Seldom are these exceptions to the
false pride that keeps young people from
earning an honest and respectable liv-
ing, ii those young people happen to be
members Of family with distinguished
lineage. They live in memory of their
ancestors and their admiration for them
results in their waiting for an accident
to bring them prestige and possibly sub.
sistence. Outlines they fail to compre-
bend the fact that their ancestors at
tanned distinction by individual effort
and not by virtue OF birth or lineage
The degree of their satisfaction of hav-
ing sprung from such a source overshnd.
ows their knowledge of the way the life
OF the ancestor was paved The result
is that the patriarch would turn in his
grave If he knew to what his progeny
has come.
In connection with this subject, it is
well to recall the fact that the wonder
full progress of the country is not due to
the fathers entirely. 1t is true they
laid the foundation, but Others have built
and beautifed the structure. They have
made it strong, and, when the Telegram
says "they" it means not people who
made no preparation for lifc's work, not
persons who have waited for opportunity,
but those who have prepared themselves
for actual work and have not only taken
advantage Of opportunity, but have also
made opportunity. These are the men
who, after careful preparation, have APP
piled themselves and put forth full effort.
The builders of the country, with few
exceptions, have been those, who learn
ed how to do it before they undertook
it. And this assertion leads to the main
thought advanced here, namely, that ev-
cry boy, rich or poor, should learn trade
or some sort, or something else, that will
place him in position to earn his own