Year: 1877

aptitude OF men for different


pursuits is very dissimilar. 1t


therefore becomes each person


to devote himself to an employ


ment for which he has an apti-


tude, and in the pursuit of


which he may derive satisfac-


tion and attain success. Many


young men, especially those


that have had the advantage of


finished education, think them


selves too good to labor as some


do for a support. Thus it is


that our merchants have so


many applications for clerk


ships. Thus it is that we have


so many young men of a stout


and robust nature too, loafering


from place to place seeking an


easy vocation-one that they


may keep out of the sun. Many


of them barely make a support,


yet to keep out of the sun and


from hard labor and drudgery,


they will, many of them, forti-


fly themselves behind the coun-


ter even at reduced wages. We


admit that the mercantile busi-


ness is one Of honor when prop


erly conducted, and also one


that the people could not well


get along without. We often


see a man trying to be a merch-


ant either without capital or but


very few goods. We think
such a man, if he is a stout and


hearty man, ought to be in the


field, where he can make an


hOnorableliving Common sense
and experience teach us that
it would not do for all to engage


in the mercantile business or
any other one pursuit. For in
stance, if all were to manufac-
ture boots, We would have no
hats nor nothing else to wear
nor nothing to eat. Each per-


son by producing that in which
he is well skilled and for which
he has the greatest aptitude, and


by exchanging the same with
others, who have also a surplus
Of their own products, is enabled
to derive satisfaction and enjoy
ment from the possession and
use of a thousand products and
is consequently happier than he
would otherwise be; and as the
same is true to all persons, we
can see the advantage that would
result to each and to all individ-
uals and communities, from
division of labor and exchange.
Intelligence and skill are es-
sential to constitute any kind
of successful man in business.
Many of our educated young
men don't think it requires an
educated mali to farm or to per-
form other common labor.
What the farming class lacks,
is more educated people, more
industrious and energetic ones.
Why they think so is perhaps
because they have seen some
uneducated farmers, by their in
defatigable efforts and industry,
acquire considerable wealth.
May God speed the time when
more of Americas young men
will educate and prepare them
selves for the farm and other
laboring vocations, and quit
seeking offices and places of
rank among their fellow-men.
But nowadays, when most
young men quit school they
don't think of farming; they
go to the study of law, medi-
cine, theology or some other
profession besides farming.
Most girls nowadays when
they leave school or finish their
course, go home and sit down on
the stool of do-nothing and ex-
pect their dear old mothers to
wait on them and let them spend
their time at playing on the pi-
ano, primring and amusing their
admirers, or spend their time at
evening parties. Girls, We don't
think you treat your mothers
with that respect and courtesy
due them, when you thus treat
them. We don't object to you
spending few hours once in
while with your admirers. but
think how much your mothers
have done for the many weary
and sleepless nights they have
spent in your behalf. Each
one should engage in that pur-
suit which renders them and
their community most pleasures
and benefits. Be not afraid
young woman and man. to labor.
All vocations that are useful are
honorable. God says, labor
that we may have bread to sus-
tain life. OBSERVES FRIEND.