The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-04-08
ESSAY ON LoAFERs.
BY asrMo sARo."

The title of this may sppear strange 70
many persons, bui we are treating OF queer
class of persons Familiarity designated as a
AloafeF, can be found. in the summer months,
SaskiDg his "weariedn limbs on the soft side
OF white pine board; and in the winter
mNnihs longing around The counters OF
stores, or nesting close 10 the stove, think
ing of the necessity but impcssibility OF his
attendance 10 every place, ut all times, while
he thinks il is absolutely necessary thai ne
should attend TO everybody's business ex.
cepi his own. These idiers ihhabi, stores,
and BY their apparent drcwsy state would
bs taken supsr6cially as not 10 having The
least idea Of what is passing around them,
but they are wide awake; they notice every
gesture, every sale, every customer, and cal
crlats The profits and advantages derived
from the articles which are bariered away.
Loafers are divided into two classes.
1st CIsss--The person belonging to this
class you may ,hiuk q erea, deal Of; they
may be particular friends; these are rather
delicate 10 approach; still he is 'losfer,"
and should be classified as one. But, say
you, il would be very important for me to
consul, chosen friend OF mine, On The pro.
prieiy of removing his person from my prop
er,y; that would be preposierous. But he 10
loafer and should be uealed as such. His
continued presence in your store prevents
many lady customers from coming in 10 pur-
chase. IL he does Observe such hints as
these and comprehsnds them, it does not
reform him; for in 9 few days he 10 found
occupying The same old place, reclining in
an armchair, envsloped in cloud oi smoke.
gently rising from an immense Havana
which be carefully removes from his mouth
10 give Q clear passage for volume OF to.
bacco spit. While enjoying all these CON-
for:s, he would take il as an unpardonabls
insult il yon should ask him 10 retire. This
may meet ths eye Of some one who will no
doubt see that i, applies TO his case exact.
ly.
The second class consists Of professional
loafeTs, who can bear all tho reptoach that
could possibly be heaped upon them, with.
out iakias The least iBsu, from your remarks.
The members of This class can always be
found hhsbiling printing Offices and grocery
stores, sitting on the counters, or stretched
al full Ieugih on boxes and barrels, prylng
into everything ,ba, does not concern
hem, and carefully avoiding those which
do; dictating 10 The attendants as If they
were the supreme ruler of the establishment,
Of such ioafers good, kicking ont Of doors
would be- the eAor,e.. and most efiicscioos
method of getting rid Of them; they deserve
snoh treatment.
Loafersm ranks the lowest of all acts nat.
ural to man. There are many genleel loaf
ers who pop in once and while TO have .
social chat with the proprie,os. His occa.
sional snss do seem at first to rela'd the
business from going about his work; but
gradually his visits become fixed fact, and
HE presence begins TO be iniolerable. To
surh then we would give lius advice, viz:
Stay al home to keep The children quis,; and
If you have none, stay 10 keep the s,oye
warm. Spend your evenings at home, for
you hinder the merchant, from regularly al.
tending 10 his business. To fact, attend TO
vouf own business, and il will attend 10 you.
You must take it into consideration that you
are losing all the lime you are loafiug; this
time is more valuable than gold. Why not
be reading useful books when you have
leisnre evenings. You ars getting your
character for losfns firmly sci in the mines
Of those persons whose places of business
you frequently inhabil. Take warning in
time, before you are entered on their books
as q prsc.icsI, hsbilual ijIsr. 'For idlsrs
destroy characier."