Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-04

Night Works It RIghtl


Editor Morning Meas: A question Of vast
importance to the clerks OF our community
has reached such a point that some effort
should be made towards its solution. 1t is
an evil in the management Of our business,
which II at one time necessary has develop
ed into q useless and ridiculous custom, the
Ill consequences of which are being felt by
the clerks in many ways.
The question / refer to is that OF working
at night, and to such an extend has this
habit forced itself into the business system
that half of the best portion OF the day is
wasted, aud the time intended for mans
recuperation, and his mental and physical
recreation, Is devoted to an unnatural, even
criminal, purpose.
1t is productive Of 20 benefit to the en-
ployer: it is demoraliZing to the clerks, con-
verting them into unreasoning, Ignorant
machines.
or what possible benefit is life to one
whose continual application to his desk is
only relieved by a moment at his meals and
a few hours sleep? There is pleasure In
reasonable work; there is recompensing
pleasure in accomplishing ones duty, but
no better method forth abasement of those
over whom it exercises its powe, could
tyranny invent than a continual subsection
to toll whose pleasures they are not allowed
to enjoy, whose spurious reward is confined
to the emoluments which make possible an
existence, whose only hope is a faint one of
pecunisry success in an Uncertain future.
II the thinking men of our community
have any interest in the future prosperity
Of our beautiful city aud the intellectual
superiority of its inhabitants, they should
certainly make an effort to aid in its devel-
opment by providing facilities to the grow
inc
only In theoretical information to be de-
rived from study, but also that superior
knowledge which consists in man feeling
an independence which ennobles his mind
and dictates a course of conduct towards
his fellows as Just and charitable, as slavery
debases him TO the point of mistrusting
them and exercising a selfish partialitY in
regard to himself.
What is the superiority enjoyed by the
North over US? Simply that Of education.
Employers there appreciate the value to
themselves of clerks, who have thought
above the misery accumulation of riches,
and afford them opportunities Of improving
themselves physically and intellectually,
that makes them a mighty force in the pro-
gress Of the age. There is not hand in
factory, a clerk in a mercantile house, girl
winning her bread by honest toll, IN honest
hours, who will not be found when their
feeding their mind with the golden gifts of
thought Of fellow Workmen, who have toiled
for humanity's benefit and give it the noble
results Of their labor in volumes which show
men the means of living higher and nobler
life, and animate them with love for their
labor In the certitude that their apprentice
ship will lead them to a satisfactory master
ship of their trade. 1t is a question of mo-
mentous importance, and our citizens would
do VOL tn remedy the evil at once and try
to make men Of renal hlreliags, who, sub
jected to unjust toll, use all the ingenuity
and cunning of an oveIbnrdened slave to
make his labor during inevitable subsection
to it as light as possible.
With the pleasure of release ct a reasona-
BILE hour in view, a man will do wonders to
accomplish his task in season; and with
greater recreation a man is better able to
work during the time consecrated to It. He
can and will work with greater pleasure,
greater facility and 6fficiepey. Thus the
slight cor cession made to the clerks will
revert an hundred fold measure to the bene-
fit Of his employer. CLERK.