The Grand Haven news., 1865-12-27

ployer and clerk. has now obtained, that
even a suggestion on the part Of the form
er would be deemed by the latter piece
6f impertioence. The couseq uence IS seen seen
ia tho Increased vitality ofbilliard and
drinking saloons, so observable Of late
Gears. 1t Is positively frightfpl to look
|into any OF The many hundreds Of drink
ing and Billiard saloons 10 our city at any
hour Of the evening, Occasionally one
sees a middle.6ged man engaged at the
game, but the great majority are clerks
mere sttiplibgs-wbo daily, from one
Years end to another, play from seven 10
the evening to one O'clock at night, not
neplecting the bar which Is part Of every
billiard saIoon. Ii il is said that there ate
more temptations for young men at the
present dav than formerly, the answer is
plainly Young mans moral principles
forbid him 70 give encouragement to these
gltteripg dens Of vice, they wcnld in a
great measure cease to exist. The tastes
Of young men should BE- directed Alright.
If the employers Of the city furnish no
guide, offer no inducements, lend no aid
to the employed 10 'cultisating pure and
elevated tastes, social as we'll rs literary,
they must expect the young 70 yield to
temptations. D'" 3 '''',o'. ~
y One ca6uot but view with alarm The
singular apathy with which several re-
cent developments Of crime have been re-
ceived by the community; and SO long as
public feeling on this subject is so dead,
just so long will one great incentive to do
right he, taken away from those who have
20 higher motive. Employers owe il to
themselves, as well as to others, to intro
duce a change in the relations which sub
sist between them and their subordinates.
1t is to the change in our city social
system that very much of this new state
Of affairs is due. The houses Of wealthy
merchants, instead Of affording means Of
social pleasure and profit to young men in
their employ, too frequently remain clos
ed to them, except on occasions Of great
display, when admittance is gained only
at heevy cost, with the disadvantage
added Of temptation to other expenses on
the part Of The young. The old social
system has given place to the new order
Of conveptionalisms which we call society.
| Young men can enter it only at the high
est price in clothing and ornament. The
subjects Of conversation are too frequent
lly confined TO such topics as the young
man can matter only by expensive living.
TO talk of the opera, he must 60 TO the
opera. To talk Of driving in Central
Park he must have or hire horse. The
extrayagance Of social lifeis unquestioua-
bly, a great injury, TO the young men Of
the city. ,Ia IN.
The subject is not exhausted, but we
pause here. The moral here is briefly
Stated. We cannot hope to reform the
state Of society in New York But we
can hope 10 interest the merchants in the
morals Of their clerks, 10 their employ
ments and enjoyments. We have often
taken occasion to speak of the Mercan-
Tile Library, and its excellent provisions
for young men,. This is but one Of ma,
ny points towards which attention should
30 direcied. The great point is to estab,
llish a persouaI interest between merchants
and the young persons in their employ,
and if these remarks set some good men
to thinking on the subject we have served
our purpose.N New York Journal, q y
Commerce. .i n. .,a,..a ~,