The United States census of 1880 gives 265 occupations, engaged in by
17,392,099 persons 10 years of age and upward. Of the 265 occupations
there are only six which I consider purely professional, to-wit:
Lawyers 64,137
Clergymen 64,698
Journalists 12,308
Physicians and Surgeons 85,671
Authors, Lecturers and Literary Persons 1,131
Teachers and scientific men 227,710
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455,655
This is about 2½ per cent. of the persons employed in the various
occupations; or to put it more plainly, about 5 in every 200. The per
cent. of persons of the colored race who are engaged in the professions
is five times smaller. It is about ½ of one per cent. or one person
in every 200. It will be seen from these figures that at least 97½
per cent. of all races are engaged in personal service and manual
labor. The old expression "There is Room at the Top" has misled many
a youth, and consequently many a man has found his way to the poor
house or the felon's cell. Public speakers and lecturers have done
much to give a wrong impression of the meaning of this famous sentence
uttered by Mr. Webster. They hold certain positions, or occupations,
as being at the top. Such an erroneous idea never entered the head of
that great statesman. He simply meant that whatever you engaged in
strive to reach perfection in that. The blacksmith may climb to the top
in his occupation, the washerwoman may reach the top of her art, for
washing is an art as much so as music or mathematics, and so with the
carpenter, the mason, the hod carrier and the common laborer. Each may
obtain such a degree of skill as will render his services indispensable
to his employer. Did you ever think that there is art in the use of
the pick, and that it may be cultivated with high satisfaction to the
employer and employe?