The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-09
Employers and Clerks,

lhat the city OIL I've" OElednS Is as 6Atll pL liOhi
crime, in proportion to its population, any other
in the Union, will not be denied. The reputation
which it acquired under French and Spanish rule, |
when the Gulf of Mexico swarmed with pirates, |
STILL in some measure attaches to it; and those |
only who visit and live among as can overcome the |
deusion.
That much dissipation exists in city, all will
admit. That hundreds of young men of talents
and promise find here early grave, and that their
fate is superinduced by their habits of life, is equally
,dispuable. 1t behooves us to inquire into the
causes; and we know not how do so more
"Tectuay than by using the language Of North
| m gentleman who recently visited our city. He
| says
"The most eminent merchants of the North,
and indeed of America, began their career as clerks
| n a counting room. As their employers acquired
confidence in them they took them into their fami-
y circles. They were thus introduced into the first
society of our city, and acquired standing and
| reputation which it was their interest to guard.
Thus an additional inducement was offered them
to conduct themselves with rigid propriety. The
gofTee-houses of New York and Boston were never
indebted to them for patronage. After the arduous
utes of the counting room, they sought relaxation
the delightful society of the families of their en-
more close and endearing than exist simply between
The employer and his clerk.
But how is it with your city? On visiting
your places of amusement-yOur quadroon balls,
your theatres, and your gorgeous temples of Bac
Ghus, | find night after night assembages Of the
employtes of the first houses in your city Is it be-
cause they dead to the charms of the social cir
Gle ? Is it because they underrate the oveness of
emale virtue? Far from it, for, before leaving
their distant homes, they were the life of the do
nestle circle.
What then has produced the change? l will
tell you Your merchants appreciate their clerks
only planter appreciates an efficient and faith
ful "hand'' They are considered as adapted only
to special purpose, and that achieved, the en-
ployer is satisfied Strange as it would seem else
where, it is nevertheless true that merchants Of
y0ur city co1stfde ttei, honor, their credit, and
their fortunes, to clerks rbom they 7g0ud think it
degradation to admit to their social circle as tit
companions Of tbei, daugAtersI
Who can doubt that if the case were otherwise
he haunts Of dissipation would be- in a great mea-
sure, deserted that the brawls of the colIee-hou
would be relnquished for the gay and innocent
conversation Of the drawing-room that the spark
ling glass would be ecliPsed by the sparkling eye ;
and the rosy tints of the wine, by the blushing
cheek Of beauty? that the dulcet tones OF the
maiden would be preferred to the squalling of the
street musician, and the harmonious notes of the
guitar and piano, to the questionable music of the
hand-organ.
"The consequence Of the present system j.
readily seen. Distant from the homes of Their
birth and the association of relatives, they are
driven for society," after the hours of business have
passed, into your BacchanaIan temples"
We confess we have often been forcibly struck
with the idea suggested by the writer The varied
forms of dissipation which present themselves to
the young, in city particularly are hard to with
.tand and shut out, many young men are, from
the domestic circle the consequences are only sucl
rs might be anticipated. If there be any thine
aalculated to allure the young or even to win thu
Handerer back to virtue, it is to be found in tn
, domestic circle, composed, aswe all know ours t,
be, of all the embellishments of taste, intelligence
+ and beauty
70 1t is true there employers who feel that thei
clerks are gentlemen and entitled to the courtCsie
," Of life. We speak only of the general practice, II,
- Of the exceptions. A melancholy illustration Of II
: evil effects of this almost criminal neglect can
~ under observation many years since. A your
- gentleman, member of one of the most respe
lble families in Northern city, came to New q
eans as clerk in an extensive house. He was
man of superior mind OF cultivated taste, of ell
can't manners-his associates through life had bee
ok hose of a gentleman somewhat inclined to gaze
all but restrained from gross dissipation by his fon
On ness for ladies' society. By accident we met hi
a after he had resided here year, and soon disco
oil cred marked change in his habits, thoughts, ma
ners and associates, On expostulating with hi
g. on this change, he replied that he had not be,
invited to visit single family during his residen
r., here, he acquainted with one lady in
Tvs city. After the labors of the day were over,
or would G adly have sought relaxation in the 50
a. ETY. of ladies' but no door opened to hin-a
is. ne looked for amusement and associates IN the b
q, rooms, the masked balls, and other dlsreputal
gs places. few months terminated his career, a
~ he now moulders in one of the cells of the Cir
an street Cemetery
MS We feel confident that the fate of this you
.u man may well be traced to the causes pointed
3 W himself. How many have fallen victims to
same cause it is impossible to say but it is fair
en- presume that so obvious a cause has been attend
y with its necessary results.