The two who accompanied me both left me in a very short time.I have nothing to say against either of them;both did their best,and I am much obliged to them for what they did,but a very few days'experience showed me that the system is a bad one for all the parties concerned in it.The cadet soon gets tired of working for nothing;and,as he is not paid,it is difficult to come down upon him.If he is good for anything,he is worth pay,as well as board and lodging.If not worth more than these last,he is simply a nuisance,for he sets a bad example,which cannot be checked otherwise than by dismissal;and it is not an easy or pleasant matter to dismiss one whose relation is rather that of your friend than your servant.The position is a false one,and the blame of its failure lies with the person who takes the cadet,for either he is getting an advantage without giving its due equivalent,or he is keeping a useless man about his place,to the equal detriment both of the man and of himself.It may be said that the advantage offered to the cadet,in allowing him an insight into colonial life,is a bona-fide payment for what work he may do.This is not the case;for where labour is so very valuable,a good man is in such high demand that he may find well-paid employment directly.When a man takes a cadet's billet it is a tolerably sure symptom that he means half-and-half work,in which case he is much worse than useless.There is,however,another alternative which is a very different matter.Let a man pay not only for his board and lodging,but a good premium likewise,for the insight that he obtains into up-country life,then he is at liberty to work or not as he chooses;the station-hands cannot look down upon him,as they do upon the other cadet,neither,if he chooses to do nothing (which is far less likely if he is on this footing than on the other),is his example pernicious--it is well understood that he pays for the privilege of idleness,and has a perfect right to use it if he sees fit.I need not say that this last arrangement is only calculated for those who come out with money;those who have none should look out for the first employment which they feel themselves calculated for,and go in for it at once.
第23章 CHAPTER VI(1)（2 / 3）