Liberty Advocate

LEARNING A TRADE.

There are many people who dislike the name of mechanic, and would rather than put their children to a trade, tug hard at their business, and live sparingly, for the sake of giving their children a college education. They think meanly of him who wears a leather apron, and is not dressed up in finery and show. This, we believe, is the reason why there are so many pettifoggers and vagabonds in the world. Many a son has been sent to college, with the expectations of his parents highly excited; but like the fable of the mountain, had only produced a mouse. We think highly of our college institutions, and rejoice to see them prosper; but we are more pleased to see an individual's mind turned in a right current. There are hundreds of lawyers who would have made better mechanics and have obtained a more comfortable livelihood; there are mechanics who would stand high at the bar had they been blessed with a liberal education. But if a child have talents, they will not remain hid; and no matter what his profession is, they will sooner or later burst forth. There are many distinguished individuals in the world who are bred to mechanical trades. Many of the editors of our best journals were mechanics, and do credit to the station they occupy. And our mechanics, too, generally speaking, are the most industrious part of our community. They are almost always busily employed. But it is apt to be otherwise with professional men. They are often dilatory, lazy. It is an effort for them to bend their minds to a difficult pursuit. They are well informed. Because they spend much of their time in reading; but this is unprofitable business, unless we have something definite in view.