The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-02-01

ences as to past life and character.
They are their own reference.
They don't have to worry or begin
at the bottom when they lose one
position, if they are good work.
men. All they have to do is 60
across the street, fguratively
speaking, and secure another stu
alton just as good as the one they
have left.
And to the man in prison who
expects to spend several years or
more here. He will find it greatly
to his future welfare in this world
to try and learn one of the valuable
trades which we have here in this
institution. Especially the young
man who has no trade nor any
knowledge that is of any material
value to him; would it not be of
greater advantage to him to 60 out
of here equipped with the knowl-
edge and training of a good trade
than to leave knowing no more
than the day he came in! 1t is
for him to decide; and he must not
base his decision. if he should de-
eide in the negative, on the theory
that because the trade would be
prison taught that it would not be
of as much value as if he had
learned it in an outside shop. The
man who would hold to that view
could not learn a trade in any
shop-in prison or out. And if
he believes the shops in this insti-
tuition are not equipped in a man
ner that will facilitate his learning,
he is very much in error; for the
shops here are equipped and man
aged as we'll, if not better, than
most shops on the outside. So, if
he believes be cannot learn trade
in here in manner that will en-
able him to compete with outside
workmen, he either don't believe
in work, or he is one of that class
who think their time is wasted if
it calls for the use of little brain
power, and who, having lived
useless life in the past, have re-
solved to continue an existence
that will not only be a bore to ev-
eryone else but to themselves as
we'll.
Many of our greatest and most
noted men have risen from the
ranks of the mechanics. They
take great pride in the fact that
they have a trade; and some of
them attribute their success in life
to the knowledge and training they
received while learning and work.
ing in the shops where they were
employed.
Some of our greatest statesmen,
authors and editors began their
march to fame at the printers
case. Railroad presidents have
risen from the shops where they
worked at one of the various
mechanical trades. Some we're
telegraphers, and several even had
no other trade than that of the
pick and shovel. Great inventors
most generally have risen from
mechanic to become a creative
genius; for it was while working
at their mechanical trade that they
first conceived the ideas that
brought them fame and fortune.
Therefore, a good trade at your
fingers ends is as good an asset. if
not the best, that any man can
possess, for no matter where you
are or where you may 60 in a
civilized community, you can al
ways find enough work that will at
least keep the wolf from the
door.
And should you become so we'll
fixed with this worlds goods that
you need no longer follow your
trade, it will always be source of
comfort to you to know that should
anything happen that would cause
your wealth to suddenly vanish.
you would still have your trade
with which to keep you from pow
erty, and finally in need of charity.