The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-11-19
Coming to New York.

Among the hundreds of young men who
visit our office from time to time for advice
and assistance there are many sad cases.
Among these are those who have come to
the city on false representations, expecting
to step into business at once, and rise with
great rapidity. They have met the travelling
agents of New York houses, and those gen
tlemen seemed so jaunty and bright and free
from care, so full of knowledge of many
worldly things, and 50 well acquainted with
"Vanderbilt" and "Stewart" and "AstOr, ="
that the simple young man in the country
has seen all city life in dreams that lay 10
the color of the rose. He does not know
that those quick-witted young men are put
ing all they have in their clothes, that in the
city they live in very obscure quarters, or if
they have little room in great hotel, that
they have to work for their "hOuses' in
those hotels in labOrs often more humiliating
than waiting on the table, and more labOri-
Gus than carrying baggage.
Sometimes there is sheer deception. We
have had several cases from the South where
women, as we'll as men, have been brought to
New York by glowing descriptions of the
openings here, and the demands for workers
by those who knew better They had sold
out their little stock at home and surrendered
their position to try their fortunes in the
great city. They had barely enough to
bring them to New York, and landing pen
niless, and not having learned the small
economies of new place, they were soon
absolutely destitute and spiritless, and funds
had to be obtained to return them to their
homes.
A few days ago we had such case in
hand. The young man was printer. He
had place at home in which ne could make
subsistence. a young friend in this city
wrote him glowing letter, describing the
advantages of New York, the demand for
workmen, the high pay, and all that kind
of thing; together with promises of doing
everything for him if he would come on
He sold what he had, and came. He pre-
sented himself at the Office where his friend
was working at a case. 1t was a startling
apparition to that friend. He did not think
his correspondent would have taken his let
ter seriously sit was all joke!" he said.
He received barely wages enough to keep
himself from starvation. He could not help
his friend. After that friend had suffered
much in flesh and spirit, passage was Sc
cured for him on a steamer, and he was sent
back
The fact is, there is no place like great
city in which to achieve great success, but
unless a man have some money, or much
brain and great tact, the city will crush him
to death. The vast city is attractive. Peo-
pie flock from all quarters. There are ten
applicants for every place. There are at
least $4,000 adults in New York between
whom and starvation there intervenes only
the helping hand of public and private char
ity. These people can afford to work for al.
most nothing. There are boys here whose
parents must support them, and are will
ling that they shall work for dollar a
week rather than do nothing. Strangers
must compete with them. Advertise that
you want clerk for $40 week, and the
police will be compelled to guard your door
from the thrOng that will come sweeping up
at the hour. Advertise for boy, and men
will come in platoons, sometimes gray-headed
men.
There is room enough in New York for
men who can hold it, but man must come
prepared to hold his position a long time
without help. A great city is great soil to
a man who has so much sap that he can live
on his sap through long drought But it |