The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-03-06
DAILY CRESCENT.
Boston Mercantile Library Association,


ADDRESS AND PoEM.-We are indebted to the
Board of Directors of the Mercantile Library Asso
citation, says the Boston Journal, for a copy OF
the Address and Poem delivered before that Asso-
ciation at the dedication of their new rooms, jan
3D., lS49 This pamphlet we have perlsed with
much interest, for its contents are of high order
and reflect much credit npon the literary acquire
Inens of the authors The address, which was de-
livered by Daniel N. Haskell, a member of the
Association, we have no hesitation in pronouncing
one OF the best of the kind we have ever read. 1t
Is replete with interest being written in a manly.
straightforward, fearless style, and clothed in a
garb IN which beauty of language, terseness of
style, and purity of thought are the prevailing char
acteristics. The remarks of Mr.. Haskell upon
some OF the topics which he has presented. we
trust will be read with profit by large numbers of
those engaged in mercantile pursuits We make
some extracts from this address,
Concerning the relations sustained by clerks to
their employers, the. author of this address makes
the following just remarks Would that they were
printed in letters of gold, and suspended in every
counting room throughout the land:
The relations sustained by clerks to their en-
poyers are a source of many troubles and occasion
unpleasant thoughts, and oftentmes result in mntu-
al and reciprocal hatred. In many departments of
business, the compensation allowed to clerks is so
small, that the of wealthy men have mono-
poly of the places, which operates unfavorablv TWO
ways: it drives away large and meritorious class
OF young men, while it introduces another, who
from the very nature of the case cannot take SO &C.
tive an interest, as those whom want and necessity
urge forward. The influence of these rich clerks
IN situations where little compensation is al
lowed, is very pernicous. in inducing habits of
extravaganza, maenton TO business, and of substi-
tutlng the swell manners and flash appearance of
the roue, for the gentlemanly bearing and manly
dignity of the good citizen
In branches of trade where compensation is
allowed, it is generally too small for the interests of
both parties. Enlightened selfishness would seem
to dictate reform in this matter. We are proverb-
lal for our thrift, and have character for knowing
what investments will produce the best dividends
and submit. whether an investment in the shape
OF increased salaries, would not exhibit as large re-
turns, as any stock known to the board of brokers'
Let any merchant reflect how large portion of
the details of his business is in the hands of clerks
how powerful an agency they exert in his affairs
how often he is the victim of their negligence, in
competency, or dishonesty, and he will perceive the
great necessity for care in the selection and may
we not hope careful investigation of the subject
will lead him most cheerfuLy to pay ample remu-
neration for services rendered. Two poorly paid
dlspirited clerks are not so valuable as one who
takes an active interest in his employers affairs,
and goes to his business in earnest.
boy whose existence is an experiment, showing
the lowest point at which body and soul can be pre-
vented from dissovng their painful connexion, is
as far from being the living intelligence he crea-
ted for and is much below the level of his race
as are the jaded and broken-spirted animals, we
see carted about In caravan cages, below their
brethren of the boundless forest
The best help, like the dearest law is the cheap
est; and it will always be found the truest policy to
practise the inspired precep the laborer is worthy
of his hire +"
The poem which accompanied this address was
delivered by Mr. S. A. Dix. and is a production of
much merit 1t abounds in satire, interspersed
with sound moral reflections, and was particularly
appropriate to the occasion. Both the poem and
address derive additional interest from the fact that
they the productions of young men just entering
upon the fields of literature, and who are daily en-
gagged in the active routine of a mercantile life.
We copy from the poem the following passage, in
which the author has happily hit off the peculiar
of the age:
PROGRESSIVE TINES in which our lots are cast
That court the future rather than the past,
Age of the steamboat, railroad, telegraph
Those mighty engines that, in mockery, laugh
:. oTn nnt o con amt % a I'd p Gse
What mighty changes, with magic hand
we've wrought throughout the breadth of this fair land
Progressive spirit of the age indeed
That sacrifices every thing to speed!
That pauses not for patient, calm review,
But thss insatiate STILL for something neg.
The infant that in modest days of yore
W as wont TO lie and kick upon the floor
That found its happiness in peaceful nap
In mothers arms, nurses soothing lap,
That never Scorned to vent It's rage IN squalls,
And try It's little lungs IN deaenng bawlS;
Now, holding such small things its mind beneath,
Learns Calistlenics ere it cuts its teeth, |
And while, IN quiet nurse or mother sleeps. |
In Baby Jumper" takes elastic leaps.
The child that once went tippingly school,
Knowing
That spent whole days and weeks in pet,
Grasping the mysteries OF its Alphabet
At mereSt mention of a spelling book
No longer DER their tedious pages pores.
What need of books, indeed, he II cooiy say
FhORogrGphy can master in day.
No " Emerson or Colbun'' frig!Its him now
With grave and , lengthy lule, explaining how
The hardest problem, most perpex sum,
In course of time can surely be oercone
sar modern sn s yom p eRe not and tas
Give hin materials, and let him try,
He add, subtract, divide and multiply
Whole mountain heaps of figures at sight,
And warrant them, moreover, to be right
Ask him the secret of this power, the name
OF him TO whom we owe its birth, whose fame
Ge rnnd yet to live N p2se t ana gss,
Process OF COMING GoLD.-The process of
,oning gold is very accurately yet succinctly des-
ribbed in a recent letter to the Boston Post. We
,ondense the description as follows:
The miners have to grind the gold rock fine
,eeping it wet constantly, and it becomes fine it
$ washed off They then mix quicksilver with it,
md that collects the gold dust. 1t is washed out,
Tried and goes through some kind of heating pro-
ess The gold dust is then usually sold to the super
ntendent of the mint. Sometimes the miners melt
he dust and cast it into bar before offering it to
he mint 10 find the value, each parcel has to be
ssayed. The meters take the gold dust melt it.
nd cast into bar, when ii is weighed accurately,
nd piece is cut off for the assayer He takes 1t,
lelts it with twice its weight of silver in connec-
ion with several times its weight of lead. 1t is
Which absorb all the lead, when large part of the