Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1879 — Why American Boys Do Not Learn Trades. [ARTICLE]

Why American Boys Do Not Learn Trades.

Chicago Tribune. The American press occasionally talk about the disinclination of American boys to learn a trade. Will you allow me to give you a few plaiu re;isons for it? First, we take the sons of the socalled higher ciass. Tfiey would lose caste almost invariably by lowering tbeir dignity by coming in close contact with a greasy meclumic. They know well (for it is a lact) that their fashionable young lady friends would look with holy horror at a pair of hands seamed with black, and what would they think of tlieii going home with a suit of clothes that has been used in a machine-shop or foundry?— for no man can work (I mean work, not clerk) at any manufacturing business without getting dirty. I know, and you know’, that these butterfly acquaintances would drop such a young man out of their set, and until society is completely changed in that respec your educated and intelligent American youths will continue to be clerks, counter-jumpers, office-seekers, gamblers—anything but mechanics. So much for the suns of the rich. Now for those of the middle class. You will notice that lam classifying our people not as politicians like to class all—equal—but as we really exist, for caste is as plainly visible in America as it is in England or on the continent of Europe. The sous of the middle class—l am speaking of Amferi- . cans—would, aA general thing, be too glad to get an opportunity to learn a trade, but, Mr. Editor, it is well kuown to me and to many other fathers that unfortunately the opportunity is denied, and you will ask, Why? I can truthfully say because they are Americans. Our factories almost exclusively are run by foreigners, and the workmen in them will annoy, and snub,* and impose upon any American boy who is introduced iu their shop till hey make life unbearable. Now, I have brought up a family of six boys, aud know whereof I speak. Two out of the six have learned a trade; one is learning now; two would, gladly get the opportunity; one some timeigo tried a cabinet maker. There is scarcely any annoyance you could think of those Bohemians did not practice on him, till I was forced to take him away. But that is only one instance. I could give you plenty. Now, sir, I know of a factory, which shall be nameless, the owner of which had told me over aud over again he would take one of my boys in bis shop, eventually told me he could not, as his workmen would not leach an American boy. Now, sir, I have given you some of the reasons why American boys do not learn trades. They are willing, but are not allowed. They naturally think they ought to get fair play in their native land, but they don’t. Foreigners run seven-tenths of your workshops, and they want to keep them, like the political offices, for their own class. American boys can see it every day. When they want to learn a trade, no American need apply. A F AT her.