The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-15
THE YOUNG CLERK

merchant Of Richmond, Of wide ex
perlence and ripe Judgment, tells us that
he has been astounded to find how feu
OF the many young men who come to
him seeking clerical positions write good
hands or nave enough practical knowl-
edge Of arithmetic to enable them to en-
ter business life with any promise of sue.
cess. Fills observation is that this den.
cheney Is noticeable alike in youths from
the country and from the cities.
1t Is a fact we believe, that chiroc.
raphy Is not cultivated now as 1t used to
be. We take 1t that the reason for nj,
Is that the average boy looks forward to
making himself proficient in typewritInr
rather than In handwriting; the latter
he thinks he need not bother about SO
very much. But there he makes a mis-
take, especially If he ever expects TO
become book-keeper. Handwriting Is
not everything In q bool1-keeper, but II
counts for a good deal. TO the precise
and painstaklng man of business moth
ing more offends the eye than n set of
books kept in slouchy, sprawllng hand
Neatness and symmetry In books are
dear to the hearts Of many besides the
old-fashioned man; to him they are MS
much a requisite and a recommends
tion as clean fingers and well-trimmed
nails are.
In the matter of business arithmetic, wa
incline to the opinion that many employ
ers expect too much Of their young men
1T should not be expected of tho latter
that they will know the short cuts in
calculations that are part and parcel or
the accomplishments of most experienced
business men.
In nearly every line of business, meth
DDS are practiced that are almost I'M
known to the general public It cannot
be expected that all young men should
know these things; but If they have been
taught properly they will at least be in
possession Of the rudimontary knowledge
which will enable them to learn the short
methods soon Addition, subtraction,
multiplication, the rule of three our
young friends certainly ought to know,
and IL they have had proper instruction
and havo prolited by it. tho rest will
| come In tlme TO some 1t will come very
quickly; TO othors slowly There is a
great difference in the acquisitIycness of
people, Some never can be made into
competent book-kcepers or statesmen,
Their minds do not incline that way,
| Others learn rapidly.
| We conclude that the schools ara not
so much to blame ms may appear ut first
blush. Nevertheless, 1t seems not amiss
to urge teachers to try to make their
pupils learn to write legibly and SYM
metricaly, and to acquire among other
good things such knowledge of arith.
metlc as will enable them to enter a
business house prepared to acquire there
the training which the head of the house
will be only too glad to give my ready
and worthy young man, In these matters
we spenk chiefly OF youths who have not
had, and win not be able to secure, tho
benefits OF advanced education. hut d
good handwriting and readiness at figures
are accomplishments not to be despised
by any one. no matter how highly cul-
tured he may be.
From time immemorial,it has been con-
sidered admissible for lawyers to write
illegibly, and cramped, cranky hands are
characteristic or that profession, as OF
some others. But In North Carolina a
reform has been inaugurated. The Supreme
Court OF that State, which examines APP
plicants for licenses. has laid down the
rule that applicants who expect to pass