268 
DUTIES OF MASTERS AND APPRENTICES. 
Parents often feel, no doubt, annoyed that their sous progress so slowly, but I 
say deliberately that in-almost every case the fault lies either with the parents or 
the son. I am, yours faithfully, 
J. W. Gissing. 
Wakefield, November ith, 1863. 
TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—In the last number of the Journal, Mr. C. J. Radermacher and 
41 Paterfamilias ” have ably advocated the duties of Masters and Apprentices; 
the former has done more than simply advocate , he has practically illustrated in 
his apprentice, Mr. Carteighe, what can be done by masters to promote their own, 
and the interest of those committed to their charge. I do not mean to say that 
every apprentice might by the judicious instruction of his master attain the 
same success that Mr. Carteighe has done ; but I am fully persuaded, after nearly 
forty years’ experience, that very much more might be done than is now accom¬ 
plished, if masters would only be a little more considerate, and treat their ap¬ 
prentices as they would their own sons. 44 Paterfamilias ” and other writers in the 
Journal, have from time to time adverted to the neglect which masters manifest 
for their apprentices, in failing to teach them, what they are morally and legally 
bound to do by their deed of apprenticeship. They may have all the domestic 
comforts in common with the rest of the family, and be treated so far with kind¬ 
ness ; but this is not enough, the youths must not be worked to the utmost limit 
of their strength, as too many are from 7 or 8 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., without 
any arrangement for study or relaxation, and this too in some cases for seven 
days in the week. Surely it cannot under such circumstances be surprising 
if the apprentice at the termination of his servitude find himself disqualified 
for passing his Minor examination at the Pharmaceutical Society. I am fully 
aware that difficulties interpose in most establishments for any systematic 
arrangement, whereby the youth may have two or three hours daily for study 
and relaxation ; but I have found a good deal may be done, if the master wall 
only make the effort, and as I have found the following plan succeed after many 
years’ experience, I am induced to suggest it for the adoption of others. At 
this season of the year, we open shop at 7.15, and after the ordinary rou¬ 
tine of dusting, etc., breakfast at 8.15, and if not very busy and the weather 
favourable, give one of the young men some commission to execute in the 
town, or a letter to deliver, so that he may have an object in view,—thereby avoid¬ 
ing an evil which I have seen to arise, from sending a young man out with¬ 
out something to occupy his time. At dinner, an hour is allowed, so that 
if the meal occupy but half that time, the other is taken up by reading and 
attending to retail customers. At 7 p.m. all labour that can be postponed is 
done so till the following day, and the retail duties are taken alternately by 
the young men for an hour each. Of course these arrangements are liable to 
be interfered with, and the reserve is ready to give assistance if required, 
but notwithstanding these interruptions a good deal of time is afforded for 
reading, writing, etc., until 10 p.m. These opportunities, with such informa¬ 
tion as the master can give, are fully appreciated, and have resulted in every case 
most satisfactorily, as the records of the Pharmaceutical Society can testify. 
I have abstained as much as I could from reiterating what has been so well 
said by others, on the necessity of keeping pace with the times, and have con¬ 
fined my observations rather to the means by which our apprentices may be 
enabled to do so. Let the masters try, and I have no fear of the result. 
I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 
M.P.S. 
