The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-27
How City Clerks Live.

The New York correspondent of the Providence
Press describes the life of the clerks in that city
"Some OF the establishments have as many as
two hundred clerks in their employ. They are
expected 10 dress well, to keep up with the fash
IONS so as TO be in keeping with the general style
OF tnlngs about them. They must be at business
promptly at eight in the morning. strict account
being Kept OF any failure to dose which is reported
Dy the head OF the department to the general man.
sger. All the day long they are kept on their
feet, under watchful eyes, and with multitude of
details TO attend to; and at noon they must hurry
out for hasty lunch and be back as soon as pos
sible, Tying the day through until seven or eight
O'Clock at night. In the busy season they are
liable to be worked until eleven or twelve O'Clock
at night; and in the dull season, which comes on
the city often enough, they are Just as liable to
be discharged at weeks notice, even though
they have been years in the house, and have been
faithful in every way.
d" 1t is a well known fact that New York mer.
chants care nothing for the interests of their
clerks, and the>larger and more prosperous the
mousse the more anxious it Is to save few dollars
by cutting down hands in dull times. The supply
OF clerks is always so large that at the approach
OF busy days they can easily fill up again. With
me exception OF men who bring trade, and are en-
gagged by contract, no clerk Is sure of his place
beyond the passing week. And for it all what
salary Is received? By careful search through all
branches OF trade. it is found the average is not
over fifteen dollars week, falling in some, yes in
many cases, far below that, and rising in a few
exceptions, far above. Thus the head book.
Keeper Of prominent Broadway house gets a
salary Of thirteen thousand dollars, while under
him are no less than six men. having the brunt OF
the work TO do, who are paid three dollars a day
There are men in otbeSy Aayes ,Kb enjoy DSjpcsy
prizes of trade; they have a trade of their own.
which brings in large sums to their EMPLOYER:
they are paid for their work with unstnted hand
But all around them are men without this special
aoyanlsge: though competent, who are barely
getting living.
60 into other lines of business. An entry
clerk ID great grocery or produce or tea house
IS thought well paid, for the first few wears at
lesst Win nve hundred salary He must be
crack penman, and devote himself like a draw
morse to- business, even 70 retain the position
where In this overcTowded city so many are eager
10 get 1t. A young friend of mine worked SIX
ysaIs IN one wealthy commission house, giving
nlght and day to the affairs, hoping each season.
as ne saw his services were worth more than he
as getting, that the firm would raise his salary.
AZ last his ethcient business quality attracted the
atIehton OF rivsl company, who offered him a
large advance. he announced his intention of
leaving his employer, who then woke up TO his
value, and told him he could not spare him, and
v anted him to name the salary he wished, Ard
This is a fair sample Of the mercantile style in
New York.
" The clerks in banks are well . aid. welltreated
and oftentimes are provided with dinners free in
act some. OF the banks get up daily luxurious |
1lnDer Tor their clerks, serving it hot and nice in
ne bank parlor or other room provided for the |
Yearly gift from the bank for faithful service.
angling from fifty to three hundred dollars Aud, |
IS might be supposed, there are five hundred an.
'hcants for every vacancy that occurs.
The lack of home sends the clerk too often
u the streets for amusement. Thousands of
1oupg men are living in New York without any
meek upon them in the way of home influence.
finds them out quick. Disappointed
r weary, they seek those exciting pleasures of
own lie which blast and kill. Not being able TO |
leet the demands Of these follies thev oanobIa |
oplng to raise money; they rob employers, go
~ on from small sums to large amounts; and at
Asst become reckless. Even as / write memory
rings up the career Of clerks have known aud
,atched-youpg men who were of New England.
good families, who in some evil, wayward'
emptIng hour, fell into the pitiIess snares. and
ere caught beyond hope in the meshes-who
lnk name and caste, and broke the hearts of |
mo parents at home They came to New York |
eaniDg well. and with high beating hearts. Bat |
8 whlrling life was too much for them. Its com. |
eution and merciless demands broke their spirit |
-they lost honor; they lost themselves 20