The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-07-30
TnE CHOICE OrA PURsUTT.-

Thefe 10 q gentleman IN this city
who has conducted the same business
In WhiohlhOis now engaged, for near.
ly forty years; and whose honest pride
tits that there are many persons In hlA
employment who have been with him
nearly all that time. There are more
than one btill In his establishment
who helped to transact The prellmIn7
aries, before the concern In which they
are engaged was opened for business.
II the principal In this establishment
happens 10 stay away for o day or o
week, the busineSa proceeds with regu.
larity. All hands understand their de.
partments, and the methods In which
their employer wishes the business 10
be conducted. Or II the head Of the
house inclines to 20 TO Europe, his only
preparation tBito pack his own trunks
and leave q few general 'directlons.. L
Such are the advantages he has real
lied by retaining old friends, and by
makingl Il an object for bis employees
oIremain with him, Their positions
are improved As their service length.
ems, and no vacaclea are created by dis
mlssaI OF old hands, from, = false notion
ofeconomy. New hands are not taken
In tosupplant, OF o leAsVpriee, the old
ones who have served faithfully. 'N"n
The case OF this house 10 by no means
unique, for there ara, many like ill.,
There should be more. But the custom
ID too prevalent, In this as In other,
cities, OF taking In boys TO train, and
dIsmisslng them when they are compeA
tent 10 do men'A work, "a Practical
Books Sleeper, ID o note to the Ledgei.,
complains OF this habit OF employing
lads 10 do mems work, thus over. salts.
flying the demand for clerkshlps and
other light labor. The complaint OF
our correspondent Is well taken; and
he pestlnently asks what 10 to be done
with the men who have given years OF
application to the duties OF clerks,
bo0k.keeperB and other like employ
menis. In q late number OF the Ledger
appeared an article on Mechanical
Callings! which prompted our cores.
pondent's letter. VI E7la.lIa yfI.-'..
To our correspondent we need only
say, that we both see the same Diff.
Guilty, though from different stand.
points, The very disadvantages under
which tho clerks labor were with US the
argument TO dIssuRde youth from aim.
Ing at clerkships, or any other employ.
ments which consist rather iu trailic
than production We do not preach
mechanics' 10 those who are already
efficient In traffic and It's collaterals.
But we do urge the young, who have
line OF occupation, 10 choose, to choose
one which has more certainty In 1t
than, rs by Practical Book kkeeper's'
own showing, Is 10 be found IN the buy.
ing and selling OF the work OF other
men. So far we are e.suhslAntiaIly In
agreement, and, II we could, we would
induce merchants TO prefer old hands
over new, and 10 discourage boys from
entering counting.rooms, unless they
anicommand capital at their majority,
or hAyeothef specia advantages. We
should delight 70 meet always the same
faces year after year In the business
marts. But trade Is always huctuating,
and traders will consult what they con.
celve TO be their own Interests. When
business IL dull, men must reduce their
expenses; and the temptation IL all the
stronger; when, as In the case OF the,
demand for light employment the
supply Is always In excess.
Inc duties OF u practical book X eeper,
ready salesman or a neat clerk are as
useful and important as those OF any
other class Of employees. They require
education andipIactice. ButrWhiIe all
callings have. at some time, more pro.
hcients than those prolicienis have op.
porlunity, what weaim TO show Ia that
mercantile pursuits are, OF oil cAllinHs,
most liable to huctuAtlon. Merchants
suffer, and their clerks must also.
Hence we advise young men to look
Tor employments which are not over.
crowded. They must also learn, as we
have more than once suggested, 10 hus.
band their incomes In flush times, go
that there may be Il reserve for periods
OF stagnation. The great fault OF most
men, employers and employed, Is 10
living up TO their incomes. II the far
r1sr should consume In the summer
months all that his land raises, where
would his winter supplies come from ?