The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-01-12
JANUARY.
KEEP OUG OF THE CITY.

and pondered by our young men
in this section:
About the most reprehensible
piece of business that we know any
thing about is headvice sometimes
given by parties who are in some
way interested, to young men IN
the country to come to the city.
It is bad advice, and scores OF
honest country lads find it so every
year. Occasionally, and only occa-
sionally, does the young man from
the country find a desirable open
ing in the city, and begin a signal
II successful career. The city is
full to overfowing. There is no
business that is not greatly over,
done, and there is no business
which cannot at any time be suppl
ed with more help than it needs.
There is no position now filed
which cannot be filed with rs much
competency as it now is, and at e
much less salary than the present
occupant is receiving, almost at a
moments notice. Employers are
usually willing to pay what services
are worth and desire to retain tried
and faithful help. Otherwise there
is not a man or woman employed
in Chicago to-day who would not
have their salary reduced, or their
place filed by some one else. Times
are now prosperous. Business is at
its noontide of success. Never was
more money made in thessmarts OF
trade than is being made here now !;
and YET, while this is true, we have
hundreds of young men who are
either working for starvation wages,
or are wholly idle.
Is it wise, therefore, for q young
man to come from the farm or the
village into this over-crowaed COM
munity where the chances would
be a hundred to one against sue
cess? Where he now is, be has
room, and not only has room, but
he can get better remuneration for
his services than our young men
viii average. A familiar COM
parison will be beneficial. Ten
dollars q week is probably the
average for the salary Of a clerk.
We know of competent and accom-
plished book keepers who are'work-
ing for ten dollars a week, and we
know competent clerks who are
working for five and seven dollars.
For our present purposes, how
ever, we will take ten dollars for
the average. Out of this, at the
very lowest estimate, five dollars
must be paid for board, and that
will secure only q small room with
out fire in winter. Seventy-f7e
cents a week will be the average
, for washing. Two dollars will
have to go for clothes, and then
comes the almost inevitable cigar,
theatres, and other qualification Of
tastes which are so easily form,
ed in the city, and which cost
the average young man at least
two dollars a week. We have
thus figured up an aggregate
of about five hundred dollars for
expenses, leaving only a few
dollars balance, and that bal
ance will only be found in very
few instances.
Now in comparison with this,
let Us look at the common, indus
trious and frugal farm hand. He
receives from eighteen to twenty
five dollars per month and his
board. This is about as good as
ten dollars per week, and if he gets
the higher sum it is more. he has
no temptations to beset him like
the young man in the city, and
consequently his tastes are less ex
pensive. The result is that in
few years be is the owner of a farm
and the employer Of help. Every
reader knows that some Of our
most prosperous and wealthy far
mers began life in just this way,
and it is not unusual for for us to
receive letters from farm help, say
ing that they are saving their
money, and that they intend soon
to have a farm of their own. Now
cordially, young man, which is the
better off OF the two classes?