Practical Advice.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6061, 7 May 1891, Page 3

Practical Advice.

The United States Consul in Auckland, Mr J. D. Connolly, recently gave a short address to the members of Sfc. Patrick's Literary Society, in the course of which he dwelt upon the advantages to be derived through the medium of Literary Societies. He thoroughly believed in such organisations, but he experienced a difficulty in attempting to suggest the kind or character of their literary exercises. He felt like Dr Clifford Allbutt, who had said that "to give such advice was like urging all men to have a taste of music." "If, however," said Mr Connolly, " you have a taste for literature, it is indeed a charming possession, and one you should continue to cultivate. It is impossible to create a natural desire for literary pursuits. Such desires must be spontaneous, a part of your being. If you have a liking for any special line' of literary work you should encourage it by reading all available works or authors having any spockl reference to the particular line you are desirous of following. Your time should not be wasted in reading irrelevant books "which may have a tendency to lead your thoughts away from the literary path you desire to pursue." He then urged most forcibly on parents tho necessity thrit existed for studying the bent of a boy's mind in choosing his walk in life, and thai, above all, his own wishes should be carefully studied. Too often nowadays a j boy's interests are not taken into conside- j ration. So soon aa he leaves school he is pushed into the first situation that presents itself, and however much ho may detest the work he has to perform, he is obliged to stick to it. It is a billet by which he earns a few shillings a week, and that is the^main consideration. On this point Mr Connolly says:— "lf a boy's whole ambition is to be a blacksmith or a carpenter, by ali means let him follow the bent of his inclinations. If you will allow him to do this he will take a pride in his vocation, and will endeavor to excel in everything he does. But you force him to other occupations— such, for instance, a? grinding out different and ill-digested theology to a suffering people during hia natural life, or striving to understand and form an attachment for the many virtues of Blackstoue ; or, perhaps, vainly trying to master tho innumerable mysteries and perplexing intricacies of, the medical profession, in none of which will he ever attain to a - position of eminence unless he has a special inclination therefor.' Ido not wish to be understood as making an attack on the honorable professions I have mentioned ; but I am persuaded if greater pains were taken to ascertain what particular calling in life a boy .is much adapted for, you would on Sunday find our churches full to overflowing, the disciples of Blackstone and Kent could more ably expound the principles of their chosen profession, nor would there!be any quack doctors. This alone would be an inestimable boon to millions ofthe human family. Parents, in "too many cases, form an idea that their son Johnjor William must be a doctor, or a lawyer, or minister, without the slightest regard to the boy's own wishes in the ptemises, or knowledge of his capacity for the work he is intended for." This he Contends, is a grievous mistake, and he considers ifc a crime against a child to force him into a vocation which perhaps he detests or is totally unfitted for. The misfortune is that the mistake is discovered when too late. A youth has spent the best hours and days of his life in endeavoring to master a trade or profession for which ho has not the slightest aptitude. The work in which he is engaged becomes to him thoroughly irksome, and he looks upon it as drudgery of the most obnoxious type. Far happier would he be ploughing the fields or stock-riding, and at either of these occupation's he would probably be doing much more good for himself than wasting many weary hours in studying for a profession that had no attraction for him. "Could parents," continues Mr Connolly, "look in, upon such a man in after years and see him preaching to empty benches, or follow him ap that narrow lane which leads to that temple of justice known as the Police Court, there they would find him looking pale and haggard, ill-fed and ill-clad, inhaling the poisonous air which invariably circulates ainitl those unhallowed precincts. Or, worse still, perhaps he is a quack doctor, despised and unrecognised by his more eminent brothers of the profession, eking out a miserable existence, performing only such service as tho more respectable members of his calling would not deign to look at, bleeding gullible humanity, and perhaps killing more than he can cure. Could parents bufs foresee the misery their vanity and pride has brought to their child, they would be careful not to inflict the punishment of their folly on his innocent head. It is, therefore, most desirable that a young man should have a voice in the selection of his life's vocation. Then he will pursue it with stfeh determination and passionate impulses to eloyate his profession and achieve the highest degree of success." Mr Coiinolly concludes his practical address by saying :—" The few words I have spoken are intended to admonish you to examine yourselves carefully before making a selection of your life's calling. Consider it well, and once determined upon, in sunshine or in shadow, let it be a labor of* love throughout the long day of existence to maintain and eleyate the integiifcy of your calling, as by so doing you will become an honor to your profession, and a respected and uaeful member of society. You should never forget all throughliie'sstruggleßicheleu'scelobrated admonition, ' Remember that in tho bright lexicon of youth there is no such word as fail,'"

A proposal made in Melbourne to offer the unsubscribed million of the Victorian loan to the Victorian investor in L 25 or LSO debentures at a discount of 5 per cent. , , has received much support. It is olfeimed that these would be taken up readily, as they would not only yield a fair rate of interest for such unimpeachable security, bub would alao a cerfcainty of profit in the shape of premiums, ifc being calculated that in a short time the price of the Btock would rise from L 95 to 1 at least LlO5. ''The supercilious London investor would thereby be taught a salutary lesson, and made gnash his teeth with rage at losing a good thing, trhile the public Treasury would %eb all its requisite funds, and, best of all, the interest on them would not have to go out of the colony." When he arrived afc Adelaide Sir Geoiye Grey was met by several thousand people, and in responding to an address of welcome, he remarked that owing to the peculiar system under which the colony was formed, it w*as started by a superior clhas of men, and he had benefited by ifc *g' the result of his contact with them. In saying that he could hardly realise that Adelaide was the Adelaide of old, Sir George broke down and wept. New Zealand sent last year to London a contribution of only Lsll 10s to the British and Foreign Bible Society. This w^s from a population of about 650,000 - including Maoris. But Wales with only justs double the population, 1,360,613 sent ten times as much to the Bible Society, vizi, L 5978 5s 7d. Wales not only occasioned the starting of tho Society, but has been well to the front all the 87 years of its existence. """Money clubs in various divisions of (Dhriatchurch are flourishing, and the St. Albirns Club pays a dividend equal to 11| par ceiifc. . ■ During 1890 more than 120 new companies connected with electrical engineering: were regiafcered in England. Their aggregate capitalisation was upward of JjI3jQOOjQQQ»