1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 309 



CHOOSING AX OCCUPATION. 



BY J. HEXKY GODDAED OF BAKRE. 



When, one year ago, my excellent but now lamented 

 friend, Dr. Lynde, secured from me a })romise to prepare 

 a paper for this meeting of the Board, it was required 

 that a topic should be selected, so that the announcement 

 might be duly made in the Secretary's report ; and so, 

 without much reflection, I said, let it be, " Choosing an 

 Occupation." But, when it came to writing the essay, the 

 topic seemed to be not well chosen. However, let it stand. 



Another thing : it occurred to me that the members of 

 this Board, having presumably already chosen their occu- 

 pations, are not likely to be directly interested in the 

 subject of my paper. Yet I hope they all have, or may 

 have, sons or grandsons who are to be fitted for useful and 

 honorable citizenship. And the customs of the past lead 

 me to hope that the suggestions herein contained may yet 

 reach a much laro-er and more varied hearinoj. 



What is an occupation ? 



Webster defines it as "that which occupies or engages 

 the time and attention ; the principal business of one's 

 life." Accepting this definition in all the force of its 

 meaning, with what importance does it invest our topic, 

 and with what care and solicitude should the choice of an 

 occupation be attended. 



That the highest good and greatest happiness of the 

 human race imperatively demand that regular employment 

 be furnished its members, will, I think, be conceded by 

 all. There are various reasons, in different cases, why this 

 is true. The rich need it for its moral benefits, and for 



