Alexandria Gazette

RUNAWAY APPRENTICES.

Of late years it is difficult for mechanics to procure good journeymen. There is no scarcity of a certain kind; but finished workmen--men who have received a proper education in a particular art--are not often found seeking employment. The cause of this is very evident. Apprentices do not serve out their time. It is idle to suppose that anybody can learn a trade in one, two, or three years, although there are, but few apprentices who do not think they are perfect in their trade after one year's service and for the slightest cause leave their "boss." and start off as 'jour or half jour.' As far as known a runaway apprentice to succeed well in life; and in nine cases out of ten they become dissipated, indolent and depraved--of no service to God or man. We are aware that some masters are arbitrary, exacting and ill-natured; but it is far better for an apprentice to submit to even supposed wrongs and indignities, than to run away. By serving out your time you receive a good name and acquire a knowledge of great value. You are then a man in the true sense of the term, master of your business and conscious of having performed your duty both to yourself and boss. But on the contrary, if you leave your employer or some trifling offence, you not only sacrifice your honor but all the future success in life. Mechanics do themselves a great injury by employing runaway apprentices. If they would make it an undeviating rule never to employ a runaway, we should not hear of so many dissatisfied apprentices, nor so many Jack "jours." By employing runaways, encouragement is given to all apprentices to leave their places.