The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-25
Lcys Work and Moro Resi-.

CFrom the Cleveland LCadCr)
The suggestions advanced by the Ledd
er of Thursday last concerning the utility
Of reform In the hours OF business seen
TO have embodied what was already in tht
minds oI a large proportion OF our busi
ness men. From various quarters VI
have received assurances that a move
ment having In view the shortening Of thl
hours ol daily work will soon be insttu
ted, and meanwhile we are requested "a
keep urging the matter" 1t would
however, appear to be case In which nc
great amount OF newspaper argument
should be necessary. Tho discomfort
and awkwArduess Of the present
o'clock system OF dinners and bro
ken business hours are apparent tC
every ono, and the remedy Is In the
hands Of those most interested, Under
the epresent rule, Wholesale stores, count
ing rooms, tho offices OF railroad officers
and manufacturers are opened RthAlf.pasl
seven or eight o'clock in the morning and
kept open until six In the afternoon.
About midday tue merchant or ;manuiac.
turer goes home to hearty dinner, and
leaves a blank uI two hours in the middle
OF his DAYS work. He cats in hurry,
with his mind filled with the inCompleted
work ol the day, and he returns TO his
labor in the drowsy, hall stupid condition
that accompanies the digestion ol mid
day dinner. When at last the days work
is finished, it Is late in thcaltcrnoon. The
proposition Is whether 1t would not be
better TO shorten the midday meal TO q
down town lunch, close tho office at four
o'clock, ard have two hours moro OF the
best part Of the day left for rational living,
social recreation and self.improvement
In Eastern cities the latter plan has been
found most judicious, and the physical
and mental condition oil business men in
those cities ls the best evidence that their
plan is the correct one. 1t 10 believed
that tho business which is now distrib'
uted through ten hours might as well be
done within seven or eight hours.
Norsr the proprietors the only persons
who need the greater freedom Of the new
schedule. The employees, the clerks, the
workingmen all those who work for hire,
need an earlier release from labor than
they now have on Saturday. In some
kinds Of retail business, in which Sat
urday Is the most important day
OF the six, tho extra two or three
hours leisure might be granted on some
other day Of the week. A few OF the
wholesale houses Of Cleveland close at
three o'clock on Saturday, and the Others
might proatably follow the example. In
Cincinnati and other cities many houses
of that class close their doors on Saturday
at one O'Clock. This ia q still greater i'm.
provement, which We commend Ia. the
consideration OF those directly interested.
The national fault Of Americans is too
much hard work, and too little intelligent
well ordered recreation. There are too
many men who do not know. how TO en-.
Joy half holiday or a midsummer Vaca.
ti0n when they have it, and they need TO
learn the art 0frest. More leisure would
beget more and better means OfrecreatIou
and amusement, and society would gain
In the promotion oi better health, higher
intelligence and the average lengthening
oil life. ..r ...-...., - ..-----.-.