The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-09-17
COMING TO NEW YORK.

Among the hundreds of young men who
visit our Office from time to time for ad-
vice 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 gentlemen seemed so
iaunty and bright and free from care, so
full Of knowledge of many worldly things,
and so we'll acquainted with the promi-
nent business men Of the city, that the
simple young man in the country has
mentally seen all city life in dreams that
lay in the color of the rose. He does not
know that those quick-witted young men
are putting all they have in their clothes;
that in the city they live in very obscure
quarters; or, if they have little room in
a great hotel, that they have to work for
their houses" in those hotels in labors
often more humiHating than waiting on
the table, and more laborious than carry
ing baggage.
Sometimes there is sheer deception
We have had several cases where women
as well as men, have been brought to New
York by glowing descriptions Of the open
ings here and the demand for workers by
those who knew better They had sold
out their little stock at home and surren-
dered their position to try their fortunes
in the great city. They had barely enough
to bring them to New York, and landing
almost penniless, and not having learned
the small economies Of new place, they
were soon absolutely destitute and spirit
less, and funds had to be obtained to re-
turn them to their home.
Some time ago we had such case in
hand The young man was printer
He had place at home in which he could
make subsistence a young friend in
this city wrote him a glowing letter, de-
scribing 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 il
he would come on. He sold what he had,
and came. He presented himself at the
office where his friend was working at a
case. 1t was startling apparition to
that friend. He did not think his cor
respondent would have taken his letter
seriously ut 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, a pas
sage was secured for him on steamer,
and he was sent back.
A few days ago young man came to
our door early in the morning requesting
us to get him a position as salesman in
some large mercantile house On ques-
tioning we ascertained that he had once
been clerk in small country store in
village where we had preached; that
he had no other acquaintance with bust
ness; that he had brought not single
letter to show who he was; that he did
not know the name of a single merchant
in New York and could not tell with
whom his former employer had traded.
He seemed to think that our influence
was so great, that all that was needtul
was that we should take a stranger down
town and tell his name, and that his for
tune would be made. We had an engage
ment out of town that day, and lost our
train by taking time to explain to this
young man the utter hopelessness Of such
an undertaking in midsummer. He had
the good sense to beat a retreat to his