Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-01-21

A. few days ago,a gentleman advertised in
this paper for clerk, and requested appli-
cants to address their notes 10 him at the
Ledger Office. BY the close of the first day
on which the advertisement appeared, there
were four hundred and eighteen applicants
for this one clerkship. This afforded most
forcible Illustration of the extent to which
the occupation of clerking and book-keep-
ing ia oversineSed in this city. But a few
months previous, the head of a business us-
tablshment, who wished some help in the
way of writing, but in which some literary
ability was required, advertised for an sssis-
tant, ut II moderate salary, and having Incl
dentally mentioned that the position might
suit a lawyer or physician not in good prac-
tice, got more than hundred applications,
of which fifty-threc were from young law
yers and doctors. Here was another illus
iraion of an over supply Of the professional
or ''gentcel occupations" Another adver-
iiser in the Ledger, who wanted person to
take charge of the editorial work of weekly
paper, got flfty-seven applications, not more
than half dozen Of the applicants being
recognized newspaper writers, but nearly
all of them being clerks, book k-keepers and
professional men. Still another advertised
for Two apprentices in n wheelwright and
smith shop, In one of the semi-rural wards
oi ;an city, requesting applicants to give
their address and age. He got three ap-
pliualious but in every case the applicant
was too old, two of them being over eigh-
teen, and one nearly twenty. Still another
advertised for an Office boy, about fourteen
years old, and had SO many applicants that
his place was crowded for more than five
hours, and the applicants were of all ages,
from mere children not more than twelve
years old to full-gr0wn men of twenty-one.
These are not very cheerful or encouraging
signs. They are such, however, as every man
and woman in Phlada. should give attention
to. The present generation of young men
seem to have u strong aversion to every
kind of trade, business, calling or occupu-
tion that requires manual labor, and an
equally strong tendency towards some So
called ''genteel' employment or profession.
The result is seen in such lamentable facts
as those above stated-a superahundance of
elegant panmen, book-keepers and clerks of
every kind who can get no employment, and
are wasting their lives in the vain pursuit of
what is not to be had and terrible over
stock of lawyers without practice and doc
tors without patients. The passion on the
part OF boys and young men TO be clerks,
0lllcc attendants, messengers, anything, so
that it is not work of the kind tina, will
make them mechanics or tradesmeu, is de-
plorable sight 10 those who have full oppor.
tunites to see the distressing effects If It in
the struggle for such emplo, ,menis by those
unforlunatcs who have put it out Of theil
power 10 do anything else by neglecting to
learn some permanent trade or business in
which trained skill can always be turned to
account.
The applications for clerkships and SINH
lar positions in large establishments are
numerous beyond anything that would be
thought OF by those who have no chance to
witness it. Parents and relatives, as well as
the boys and young men themselves, seem
to be afflicted with the same infatuation. To
all such we say, that the most unwise ad-
vice you can give to your boy is IL encour-
age him to be Il clerk or book keepcr. At
the best, 1t is not well paid occupation.
Very frequently it is among the very poor
est. This is the case when the clerk is for
tunate enough to be employed; but il he
Should happen to be out of place, then
comes the weary search, the fearful struggle
with the thousands of others looking for
places, the never-ending disappontments,
the hope deferred that makes the heart sick,
the strife with poverty, the humiliations
that take all the manhood out of the poor
souls, the privations and sufIeriDgs of those
who depend upon his earnings, AID who
have no resource when he is earning moth
ing nothing. No father, no mother, no
relative should wish to see their boys or
kindred wasting their young lives in striving
after the genteel positions that bring such
trials and privations upon them in after life
-Phildtlel21hia L eCiQey.