The Washington herald., 1907-09-08
ENGLISH BOYS BEST
Yankee Manufacturer Tells
of Their Superiority.
LEARN TRADES THOROUGHLY
Kirk BOWden Declares John Bull,
Jr., Makes Best Artisan in World,
While His Yankee Cousin Never
Sticks to One Thing in His Wild
Desire to Get Rich Quick.

London. Sept. I'm the belief that the
the most efficient mechanic. and Is supe-
rior in every way 10 the American lad
under the same conditions, Kirk Bowden.
the American millionaire wlre-nau man
ufacturer. who is now IN England, is
taking thirty British lads from fifteen 10
eighteen years Of age back to America
with him. In an interview he said:
There can be 10 question about Eng
ush boys being superior to their Ameri-
can cousins on the standpoint OF willing
ness TO work and TO remain at one trade.
In learning a given trade they master
every detail and turn out to be reliable
men, in whom employers can have every
confidence.
THE American boy has no intention Of
working hard, at any rate for any length
Of time. lie wants TO get rich quick. He
has not the patience. perseverance, and
pluck Of John Bull. Jr. He looks Tor
new job every few weeks, aiming al
ways to find one with the minimum
labor for the maximum wage He has
no desire to earn his livelihood by the
sweat OF his brow. but seeks a junior
clerkship, preferably in the Offices Of in
surance companies OF in law Offices and
banks.
Gets Better Results.
Some years ago I took over with me
lad from Birmingham. and taught him
To-day he is superintendent Of one Of
our factories. He knows how to handle
men without driving or bullying them,
and gets better results from his hands.
showing far greater and better amount
Of work than several Of our hustling fore
men born in America. Sixty per cent
Of our men are Of Scotch or English
birth. and the quality of their output
warrants further importation.
Il am now taking back with me a com
pany Of healthy. strong lads, all orphans.
The boys are willing and viii be given a
good chance. Once these lads reach the
States they will be most comfortably
looked after by the wives Of their fell
low-ccuntrymen. and will go 10 night
school. They viii be taught the steel
industry from the bottom, and will re-
ceive a salary 10 commence with Of S. a
week, this paying their board and Ieav-
ing them little pocket money BY de-
grees they win receive ar increase. Those
who prove quick to learn and show will
ingness TO remain IN the business will
have no cause 20 complain.
Best Artisan in World.
II find that English lads greatly emulate
the English worlIingmen at first, having
that tired feeling, wanting their tea.
union ideas, and all that sort Of thing
But they grow out Of this in new sur
rouRdi1rgs and make the best artisans and
mechanics in the world. The boys will be
chosen if possible in Birmingham. and if
the results warrant l shall build factories.
filling them with British labor trained in
Ameriea.
There is the greatest possible opening
for industrious boys over there, for our
American boy is far from the cLTver chap
he is supposed to be, that is, from the
standpoint of an employer who demands
hard work and care. He may be quick
at figures. but before figures can be
reached. raw material must be made up
and turned into cash: and here the Eng
lish boy beats him hollow"