Show LEARN A TRADE THE fashions and habits which prevail among our young men have changed very much of late years ian kan in former times their ambition in many instances was to handle and break wild horses to be expert at throwing the lasso and at picking it up from the ground while the horse was under full headway much of the time of the boys and young men of that period was spent on the range after stock or in the can caf cannons lons ions these were very necessary and useful pursuits and they were indispensable pen sable under the circumstances which then surrounded us our young men of the present day do nat take pride in dressing in the mexican ran cheros costume nor in riding the saddles used by that class nor in wearing outlandish spurs and heavy leggings if they do not wear wear silk sashes of gaudy colors fastened around their waist the ends dangling at their hips but wear suspenders instead they are still considered dressed to escape ridicule it is not necessary for them to wear long hair or to have a hat with a brim six inches wide tastes have changed and in many respects for the better and a visible improvement pro is very perceptible among the young men there is entirely too much carelessness however among them and in some instances among parents also about their learning trades therease Ther eare but few of them who think any mechanical pursuit worthy of their attention they work around home and probably do a little farm work dibut grow up without a knowledge of any special branch of busi busl business ness nAss this is unfortunate every young man should prepare himself to work in some gome well defined field of labor if he has a taste for farming he should avail himself of the excellent opportunities which the present age affords of bec thoroughly practical and intelligent farmer if he wishes he can even become a scientific farmer the facilities which every young man of the present day has within his reach admit of this if he has a taste taue for mechanism he should devote his attention to it and spare no pains to make himself a good workman so with any pursuit that he may choose to adopt he should master it and never be satisfied with his progress as long as there is anything to be learned A man who is jack of all trades and master of none is proverbially of but little account A knowledge of various branches of business eyen even if it be but partial is never a disadvantage but one at least should be thoroughly mastered many of our young men and boys appear to have an aversion to becoming apprentices and where they do entertain the idea they ex expect pectin inmany many cases to get wages which no employer feels warranted in paying in many countries parents pay a premium to secure se cureto to their sons the privilege of learning a good business or trade and in almost every country the knowledge which the apprentice acquires is considered orsome of some value and he does oes not look for neither is lie he paid at the same rate as the skilled hand who has served his apprenticeship in consequence of the views which prevail here there is but little inclination among employers to take apprentices if the boys boya would moderate t their air expectations to reasonable limits and manifest a determination to stick to their business and learn it there would soon be a great change of feeling on the part of master workmen respecting apprentices there is plenty of room for good farmers good mechanics and good workmen in every branch of business the demand for them increases every year and the boys and young men should prepare themselves to supply it IV we e never see a young man whose only ambition seems to be to get a clerk snip in a store or some other light employment I 1 without having a feeling of pity for him such work may do for invalids or women but ft t is not sueh buch such as a young man should spend his youth and early manhood in acquiring after leaving school attention should be turned to some useful pursuit A few years should be spent on a farm at a carpenters bench at an anvil in a machine shop or in some other position where skill in a good reliable handicraft can be learned then if circumstances should so shape themselves that a young man can do better in any other othen pursuit he is no less prepared because of his trade to enter u upon on it his habits of application anz any and industry will be an advantage to him and should he fall fail in that direction ho he still has his trade to turn to confident that his skilled labor will procure him a living if he masters two trades for there are several trades at which employment can only be obtained at one season of the year he is still better prepared for the battle of life and is of more value to the community raun ity as a citizen |