LEARNING A TRADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 46, 10 January 1880, Page 3

LEARNING A TRADE.

,( Castnet's Rural.) Nearly, if not quite, all our wealthiest and best men, certainly the most successful ones in life, have had the benefit of trades in their younger days. To give names would occupy an amount of space ; but look around among your acquaintances of men of position in your district and you will find as we say—a trade is a finger board that points to success if properly learned and followed. It is always safe for boys to learn to work. The mad chase after professions [and situations in offices is one of the most serious mistakes of the present day. We want and need all the institutions of learning that we have, and many more, but we do not want or need the pernicious teaching, that, in order to command success, respect, and eminence in tiio world, it is necessary to shun manual labor. It was a wise law of the ancient Jews that the sons of even their wealthiest men should be obliged to servo an apprenticeship to some useful occupation, so that in case of reverse of fortune, they might have something to “ fall back upon.” How fortunate it would be if such had been the law of this country. “ Would to God I had learned a trade !” is the cry of many who are occupying clerkships at very low salaries, and enjoying hut scant linings to their pockets, who' never learnt a trade, but who aimed to dress and appear respectable. It should teach parents that whatever else they gave their sons, they should insist upon their learning a good trade. It does not cost-anything to carry it, and is very useful at times, if not followed as a constancy. One of our contemporaries most truthfully remarks “ that a popular idea among our people is that all their sons should adopt clerkships, and the adoption of the business of book keeping as a means of obtaining their livelihood, and every effort is made to give them an education to that end. So tor as the education of their children in the science of keeping proper accounts is concerned, the idea is a good one, as every young man should have a sufficient knowledge to manage his own books, should he ever embark iu business ; but. to make book-keepers and clerks of all our boys is a grand mistake. ” But place them in a workshop or a mill, where they can learn an independent occupation which at all times will secure for them pecuniary compensation as much, if not more, than the majority of those who stand at counters and desks. It is a matter of interest to parents that their sins learn some trade, no matter what, to that it is an industrious pursuit, that they may grow up independent citizens. It does not follow that they should work at their trade all their lives; but in many instances they would do better if they did.