The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-03

kKw ORLEANS Oct. ~, 1910.
Perils of Young New Aryirrmg IN Netc Orleans
a Fsc Words to those who Contemplate Coming.
When the Herald is looked for so eagerly IN all
parts of our country, as the record, in these times
OF political excitement, It may be that you have lit
tie space for my poor lucubrat:ons. Yet, notwlth
standing the pervadng interest of the great contest
now raging, there are subjects of far higher I'M
porance TO individuals of certain class, than the
question whether Cass or Taylor shall sit in the
chair of State. Whichever of these respectable
candidates may succeed, We have no apprehensons
that the country will be totally ruined, and in
situations destroyed, within four years. No man,
no party, can accomplish so much in this
short period. This beng admitted, the political
battle is not so vitality important Office holders
and office seekers would have us believe. But
the question how shall he live % and those des-
pissed ones, mot lrreverently) "what shall he eat,
and what shall he drink, and wherewithal shall he
be clothed ~ are OF the most pressing interest to
every man. 1t is for the benefit OF your young
men North and East, that | now write. Ii they
will read and reflect, much misery and disappoint-
ment may be avoided.
The impression that New Orleans affords ready
occupation and liberal wages to all who might
flock hither, with, or without a trade or profess
slop has long been prevalent at the North, and of
late seems 10 have been increasing Several
causes have induced this. Prominent among them
imperative since ten years ago,) that SO many
vacancies are created here by the epidemic, that
every new applicant must find place They hear
OF the large salaries paid here, OF the liberality
of employers the ease and leisure OF the employed
and many other items considered inviting Iindl-
Gated those N orh and East; 1t is not less true of
the young men from the Southern States, and all
those in fhe great valley. What is the conse-
quence Tempted by these iaDcled advantages,
hundreds are arriving in this city weekly might
say daily, at this season. with the confident xpect
tatlon of finding immediate employment, which
will afford them gentlemany support. And this
confidence not the less strong, though they are
educated to no profession, unskicd IN using the
tools OF any trade, and never accustomed to any
species OF manual labor. They behold here an Ell
Dorado where the tables OF abundance are freely
spread, and where a royal roadts found TO luxury
and wealth. The deluson Is short-lived. After
waiting few days for applications for their SER
vcet, and finding none, they begin TO inquire into
the cause of this unlocked tor reception. The in
formation they obtain IN reply convinces them that
their imaginations had been too VIVID, and that the
accounts they had received in egard to the 'open-
ings' in this city had been at least exaggerated.
They lind that here, as elsewhere, all are struggling
at the various pursuits which yield q profit and
that hard work is demanded to ensure an honest
living; that here. no more than elsewhere is ,he
employer content to pay his money wi thout full
equivalent IN efficient labor IN short, that here,
elsewhere, mans services are demanded In eX-
act proportion to his usefulness. Persons Of this
class generally, IN the first instance, seek sltua-
lions as clerks or agents in mercantile houses
For this, they are apt to imagine no qualifications
requisite luther than tolerable hand writing,
and moderate acquaintance with figures. Find
Ing their mistake here, and failing, they next soil
CIT employment as porers, as bar-keepers, Oor
whom. 1t must be admitted, there is usually brisk
demaId) and In any situation where they can
make themselves generally useful. And the
writer has seen many young men, evidently, In
habit and education, far above the situations they
seek, asking Tor employment whatever it might
no Al w hon Iyh oh 1aho
ed, If they might thereby obtain daily bread. Even
tins desperate resort too often fails Those who
have friends do not call on 1hem from feeling of
mortified pride: those who have rot, are poor in
deed. The result is, that no city contains, accord
ing 10 Its size. more non-wQrkers living without
the me ans than this of the Crescent This fact
is apparent to the most casual observer. A sup
port must be had, and IN this city, where, tor
greater part OF the year, so many temptations are
held out, 1t may be UNI easonabe to expect stoical
resistance. The question now arises, how many
OF these young men, who left their homes with
characters unstained, and with the worthy mo-
tive of gaining an honest livelihood, are seduced
by degrees into the lowest paths of vice Our
police reports answer daily, could we learn the
history OF every case. The close OF the war has
aggravated UNNECESSARILY, this evil. 1t gave ex-
cremenf, If not employment, to this class. Peace
discharged thousands OF clerks and agents. and
employees OF every description, from the different
departments. And every public officer has proba-
bly, received more than score of applications for
each and every place, however humble. Now,
my advice to young men Is, avoid New Orleans,
unless you come 10 work at some trade or profess
sion which you have fully mastered. If physician
or lawyer. bring funds to pay your expenses until
your practice shall begin to do ii. II good me-
chanIc, come on; you will not remain day
employed But if, unfortunately, you have been
reared TO no regular remuneratlng occupation,
avoid New Orleans, as the road to disappointment,
If not inevitable ruin.
have endeavored, briefly, herein, to expose,
and, If possible, help TO remove serious error.
Many pages IN illustration and enforcement of my
POSITIONS might be written, but you have not space
] have not time. would fain hope, a mite of
evil may be prevented by what have written.