1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 313 



tion from the ideal to the actual shall be rendered easy and 

 natural. If the occupation which seems to you to l)e the 

 best for your son, and to which he appears to incline, is one 

 which requires long and laborious preparation, or is envi- 

 roned by unusual difficulties, do not try to hide or depre- 

 ciate those objections : rather encourage him to put forth 

 efibrt and energy, in order that he may overcome all obsta- 

 cles, and compel success. So will your son, in the very 

 eft'ort of settling the question of his occupation, receive a 

 lesson in mental discipline which will materially help to pre- 

 pare him for the actual battles of life which are just before 

 him. 



In approaching the choice of an occupation, the young 

 man is at once confronted by an " embarrassment of riches." 



The doors opening before hira are so many, and the hands 

 beckoning him on so numerous, that he is confused. While 

 these occupations may be divided into few grand divisions, 

 as, the professions, agriculture, mechanics, arts, commerce, 

 etc., their subdivisions are numerous ; but most of them are 

 honorable when well filled, and the young man who aspires 

 to enter any one of them should be conscious of a determined 

 purpose to so full}^ qualify himself for his work, and to so 

 well and successfully perform it, that he will prove an 

 honor to the occupation of his choice. 



But very important changes have taken place Avithin the 

 past forty years, as to the facilities afforded youth for 

 acquiring the theoretical as well as the practical knowledge 

 needed as a preparation for the active duties of mature life. 

 Then one graduated from the district school, where he was now 

 at the head and again at the foot of his class ; but that 

 depended generally on whether the record was taken Satur- 

 day night or ]Monday morning. Now the farmer's boy has 

 the benefit of the high school and the agricultural college, 

 with all the advantages suggested by this contrast. Then 

 the lad served an apprenticeship of three or more years at 

 some trade, and learned the rudiments, at least, of all 

 branches of that trade ; and it was not very easy, for one 

 w*ho had not served out his time, to obtain employment in 

 any other respectable establishment of the same trade. 

 Now the young man, after a few months of service, leaves 



