250 
HINTS TO YOUNG MEN IN THE TRADE. 
his time in trying to unravel the mysteries of science? Or was Franklin a 
worse tradesman because he discovered that thunder and lightning were only 
the terrible phenomena of electricity ; and who, when engaged in scientific pur¬ 
suits, still had the good sense and humility to wheel his own goods in a barrow 
through the streets of Philadelphia to his own shop ? 
Knowledge is power,” not only in the higher walks of life, but even to the 
humblest tradesman ; and the greater the knowledge, the greater the power. 
Young students, take courage and work hard, for intelligent men must of neces¬ 
sity receive the greatest preference in the future. Let self-dependence and im¬ 
provement be your thorough determination. 
At the same time, to lessen the force of objections, always strive to combine 
with the highest scientific attainments good business and moral habits. An 
eminent statesman has remarked, that w r e ask the opinions of intellectual men, 
but we follow the advice of men of character. 
An idea prevails that a member of the Pharmaceutical Society gets nothing 
but the Journal for his guinea: suppose this to be true, the Journal itself is 
worth the money to any man who has a taste for his business. The highest 
idea connected with the subject, however, is, that the founders of the Society 
had loftier motives than self-aggrandizement. Their motive was how they 
could secure permanent advantage to those who were to follow them ; and 
although many of us may feel to a certain extent isolated from the more imme¬ 
diate advantages which are enjoyed by those in London, yet we are just re¬ 
ceiving as much pleasure and profit as it is possible under the circumstances 
to obtain from any institution of a like kind. If the Journal be not worth a 
guinea, it is a satisfaction and honour to feel that the few shillings thus spent 
can uphold such a noble institution as exists at present in London for the edu¬ 
cation of young chemists. It ought to be the ambition of every young man 
now entering the trade to try and prepare himself for examination, even for his 
own satisfaction, if nothing else. The opinions of both friends and foes to the 
Pharmaceutical Society culminate in the fact that there must be education, and 
an examination test for the future; and whatever means of training of a similar 
kind which may spring up, none can arise that will be able to show in its foun¬ 
ders, greater sympathy, disinterestedness, benevolence, and desire to benefit the 
young men in the trade. Young men who enter the business now should ponder 
well before taking the step, and instead of trying to evade the necessary studies, 
they should lay themselves out to master the various branches required, and 
they would never have cause to regret the ordeal. Where self-dependence, 
energy, industry, and indomitable perseverance are the guiding principles of 
any young man, he will seldom have occasion (unless under very peculiar cir¬ 
cumstances) to retreat. At the same time, it should always be borne in mind 
that any man can do far more for himself than any society or master can do for 
him. It is not to be wished that combinations of men are to be undervalued ; 
but there is a great difference between undervaluing and overvaluing them. 
It is pleasant for brethren to unite for the common welfare of each other, and 
for the protection of each other’s interests ; and it was this very principle 
which actuated the founders of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
To organize, therefore, and to train the mind to the highest pitch is not only 
right, but it is our duty, for the sake of others as well as ourselves; but, after 
all, there is a sort of moral culture required to teach the proper use of or¬ 
ganizations and intellectual attainments. This moral culture would develope 
all the qualities of the man ; so that he would never consider himself as above 
his work. To be a first-class worker is the highest achievement, and to be 
a first-class worker requires the highest mental and moral culture; and no¬ 
thing short of this will give public satisfaction. Men so trained would be 
above advancing their business by fibbing advertisements of cures for every 
