STATE POMOIvOGICAIv S0CIE;TY. i6i 



it is healthful work, and an occupation which we need not fear 

 at all so far as health and enjoyment are concerned. 



Again, the farm offers a continued livelihood. I asked a 

 business man with wide experience some months ago what per- 

 centage of men who invested their money in mercantile lines 

 and manufacturing, were able to receive their money and con- 

 tinued livelihood so long as they lived — what percentage lost 

 their money? Thinking it over a little, he said he could only 

 give a matter of judgment, but he said he thought perhaps fifty 

 per cent of those who put their money into commerce were able 

 to get a livelihood from it through their life, and perhaps eighty 

 per cent through manufacturing; but he thought of that fifty 

 per cent in commerce a large proportion would finish by working 

 for some one else, — in this way : a man may be established, we 

 will say, in the shoe business in a town. The department store 

 comes, and he becomes the head of the shoe department in that 

 great establishment. Perhaps he may remain there so long as 

 he wishes to remain ; but more than likely, as he grows a little 

 old, not quite so alert, not quite so up-to-date in finding the best 

 styles and bringing about sales, a younger man is wanted and 

 he is obliged to drop out. I am reminded of a story of a gentle- 

 man in the city of Quebec, who on an icy morning started to 

 go down a long flight of steps, and who losing his footing went 

 down bumpety-bump onto the icebelow. As he got well started 

 he was somewhat chagrined to see a lady ahead of him. He 

 was not able to steer his course very well and the consequence 

 was he ran into the lady, she sat down on his lap, and together 

 they went bumping down the steps to the bottom. When they 

 reached the bottom they were both somewhat disconcerted, and 

 she not getting up quite so quick as he thought she ought to, 

 he said "Pardon me, madam, but this is as far as I go." Now 

 many a man reaches early in life a point which is as far as he 

 can go. He reaches that dead line which faces every man who 

 is working in the employ of others, and it is coming early in life 

 in the city in these days. Young men are wanted, men who are 

 alert, active, bright, energetic, and the man who has the experi- 

 ence perhaps may find that that experience does not count 

 against the alertness, the energy of the young man, and he may 

 be obliged to step out. And what is that man going to do? 



