The Prospects of American Boys

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 13, 10 July 1884, Page 3

The Prospects of American Boys

While the American father is puzzled with what to do with his boys, the American mannfacrnrer is compelled to go to Europe for skilled workmen— and this suggests that, coupled with other circumstances of an everyday character, our American boys are unwilling to golthrough the drudgery of apprenticeship. Of course everyone with common sense sees that we are making a great mistake iu not preparing ourselves to fill the ranks of skilled labor in every department where it is needed from the ranks of our owu people, rather than be obliged to depend upon our too willing neighbors across the sea. One of the baneful results of the American boy growing up into idleness and wasting" the formative period of existence, i* patent to all, and needs no elaboration by example. The young man who has bceu taught to use the hand and eve ; who has aptitude with fingers and lools, insures Ids own livelihood, and such n one hns a great advantage over nitn who wants to oarn his hrread by taking office, keeping books or selling wares Does the skilled artisan harass anybody for work ? The thought in Lite thinking bayonets of the Germans conquered at Sedan. The industrial training of the N.-rth was more than a match for the chivalry of the South. In Gemany prince and peasant must learn a teade. in France, young men pay high for the privilege of lear ing some kind of trudes, besides giviru; their entire time for several years to their employers. In this country we an 1 drilling away from :he moorinjis on which industrial supremacy drpen>is.. Boston Commercial Bulletin.