Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-04-18
A BOOk-keeper's Qualifications.

|
In the Philadelphia Ledger there ap
peared, says the Bulletin, of that city, no
| long since, this advertisement:
| XNTANTED-An active and intelligent young
| w man as assistant ook-keeper. Answer, briefly
the following questions: Where last employed ano
Why did you leave? What salary do you expects
| Your age and references? Poor writers and indif
ferent clerks, pass this. Address M. c. A., LEDGER
office.
Among the thousand and one responses
was one which, underneath the broad fun
and palpable hits at the small salaries and
endless work of book-keepers in general,
contains some caustic truths, and was
thought worthy of publication. Here it is
"PHILADELPHIA, February 29, 1872
You desire an active and intelligent young
man as assistant book-keeper. You also
desire answers to several questions, as fol
lows: First-Where last employed and
how long in the place? | was employed
in the big store up the alley. was five
feet nine inches long when | came into the
place, and four feet ten inches long when
I came out. You will infer from this that
did not grow in my last place. 1t was
not my fault, however; it was the result of
poor pay and hard work. Second-What
were your duties? Answer--Varied F;
sometimes this and sometimes that; gen
orally menial. I started in as assistant
book-keeper, and gradually progressed
through the various stages of promotion
in first-class Philadelphia houses-spit-
tOons, fires, sweeping out, and the like. L
have no doubt of my ability to satisfy you
of my capacities for the situation you
offer Third-Why did you leave? An
swer-(This is delicate question, reflect
ing upon the appreciative power OF my
employers; but will tell you) because
found that it was impossible to work up
to their expectations of profit upon
my services. 1 received $275 a
week, and though I tried hard to have
the firm come out square at the end of the
year, they always reminded me that in
stead of earning the sum which they paid
me, that was not earning my salt. Un-
der these sad reflections one day quilted
the establishment, not to return. Fourth.
What salary do you expect? Answer. l
should expect to receive from you, were L
to make an engagement, about three dol
lars and a nalf week $3.50. | should
also expect to be required to perform the
duties of book-keeper, assistant book
keeper, heavy porter and light porter, er
rand boy, sweeper and scrubber, salesman
and entry clerk, and should expect to open
anu Close your pldCe vi OuSlhooS 0a0H
morning and evening, and to serve as
watchman during the night and on Sun
days, and to serve you with the mails on
Sunday morning, as upon every other day
in the week. Fifth. Your age and re-
ference? Answer am twenty
married, and have five children; my re-
ferences are Tightfist & Grinder, in the
big store up the alley, noble representa-
tives of the Philadelphia merchants; men
who stand high in the church and gentle
men of immense wealth. They will give
me character (of some sort, but will not
look you in the face when they give tit
is not their custom to look people in the
face. I observe, upon getting at the close
of The advertisement, that you request
poor writer's to pass this Now, in one
sense of the word, I am a poor writer
almost beggar After conference with
Mes .s Tightfist & Grinder, | imagine
you will pass this, regarding me, per
haps. as an Indifferent clerk, as in truth
am, and unworthy of your consideration
If, however, you desire an interview, you
can address me,
"ALBERTUs SNIGGs,
"Martha's Court, This City"