Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-25


1,,..n ne went into board of railway
directors and suggested that he should
+ol,a on a great big contract, the direc-
tdrs looked up at his beardless face and
could scarcely keep their countenances.
so shocked were they at the disparity
between the proposal and the age Of the
proDoser.
Turning over the pages of one Of the
Anril monthlies. / find curious con-
frmation of what my travelling COM
panion said to me of the difference be-
tween the English and the American
paint of view. John Foster Fraser is
we'll known traveller who has made
study of American methods, and has,
indeed. just published book contain
ing his observations. 1t is book
which l am sure, will we'll repay
perusal. In the article to which l al
indie he deals with the American young
man. and tells what he is like. what
are his aspirations, what are his meth
DDS 1t is really an astonishing and
man is. above all things, enthusiastic
and self-confident. THE young Amer
ican." writes Foster Fraser, realizes
early what sort of battle is before him.
He is not content to be mechanic or u
clerk. When he is earning 10 shillings
a, week on an office stool, he doesn't
make 81 a week the height of his am
bition. To be millionaire is his
hope"
Starting with such ideals, the Ameri-
can young man neglects no opportunity
of improving his position. He is not
foolish enough to believe that he Be
comes n worse workman by thoroughly
learning all branches of his business
and bv giving himself better all round
education. On the contrary, he starts
at the beginning; he does that even
when he is the son of a millionaire 1
read the other day long account of
how one of the young Vanderbilts, who
in time will be the master of thousands
of miles of railway property, goes
regularly TO the workshops ON his
fathers line, put on overalls, works
with his hands all through the working
day. Just as if he were a wage Garner,
never destined to get beyond that posi-
ton. In this respect young Vanderbilt
is only a type of u very large class.
In great concerns (Writes Foster
Fraser we'll educated young men will
start at the lowest rung of the ladder.
For instance. it is not unusual to find
university man acting as fireman on
q great railway line. These men don't
go there to stay as firemen. Their am
bition is not bound by the range of be-
ing a driver They know that ability
is soon recognized in America. Ac-
cordingly the university man argues TO
himself thus: Here I am, with good,
sound education. There are thousands
of men above me who have nothing
like the knowledge I possess. I will be
good fireman: then I will be a good
driver: then 1 will become president of
the railway"
Here are examples of Foster Frasers
observations:
When visited such universities as
Harvard and Pennsylvania 1 was
amazed at what I saw and heard.
Young fellows would work hard at
their trade and live meanly, in order to
save money to give them a university
course. At Harvard there are lots of
young fellows who pay for their in
struction by acting as table walters on
the other students. They all work in
the same classes under the same pro-
fessors. and yet at meal times it is the
duty of some to hand around the plates
and bring the food to class companions
more fortunately situated in regard to
money. OF course this work is not
liked but it is regarded as no degrada-
ton to dignity. Indeed. / believe the
head student at Harvard a year or so
ego was q young fellow who had
worked his way through the university.
Many of the students earn money by
doing clerical work in the evening.
Quite number of tram conductors in
Boston and in Philadelphia are uni
versity students earning money to pay
for their tuition. Go to the American
watering places in summer time and
many of the walters and bath chair
men are university men. | have heard
Of one university student earning his
living by selling iced drinks, and
another by driving a hearse."
Employers are just as ready to
recognize the utility of university
training. The head of q great business
sent word to the head of a university
the other day: I'VE will take fifty of
YOUR students as soon as they have
passed their course in electricity This
is the true spirit. I wish we had little
more of it in England.