The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-11-07
Jl'e 4 olu'"''
THE OLD QUESTION AGAIN.

I seldom feel encouraged to contribute
anything to the columns of our Elkton
newspapers, because | always see them
50 ably conducted that | am afraid of
giving the editors offence by making
them think | am not pleased with the
matter they print and would suggest
something else, something, for instance,
that might select myself. | know one
of the writers of THE WING who has
lately come upon its staff has a particu-
lar dislike for people who presume to
know all about certain thing, and yet
when the matter is sitted their presump-
ton is all that can be found. l know
literary worker himself, has conscien-
cious scruples about what should and
should not appear in his paper, and
who is very right in thinking some men
to be very silly to write to him as fol-
lows, enclose several clippings which
| feel confident your readers would like
w SIT, anu W ilICl W III titltl lIItltSJ 10
the columns of your paper An editor
is supposed to know his duties better
than anybody else and any such sugges-
tons as the above are merely looked
upon by him in ridicule. All, your
trials are hard, Messfs. editors, but
hope you will not think l am placing
another one upon your shoulders when
ask you to print the following for me
and the thousands in Cecil county like
me, who will be Interested | cut it a
few days ago from Philadelphia daily
paper where it appeared in the form of a
communication, and | wish that l was
able or that you had the time to reply
to it in full:
WHAT SHALL WE DO TO BE SAVED?
.Ur. E3H0r:-I noticed in late issue
OF your paper communication in regard
to better pay for school teachers. don't
know what pay they receive, but if they
don t get enough, pay them more.
| write now about the Philadelphia
prices paid to two skilled classes of Office
help; bookkeepers and short hand writ
ers. | saw in your Want" column last
week an advertisement for "a compe-
tent bOoEkeeper, with security, salary
IS week. What is a competent book
keeper? Not school boy who has fin
ished a course of theoretical bcokkeep-
ing at business college, who, when he
comes to take charge of real set of
books finds transactions that "were not
in his book"
y practical man is one who has, bv
beginning with the lowest book in the
set in business house, worked himself
into the keeping of all the books and is
posted on practical wledge. He had
to accept small sum when he began,
and should be worth more when he has
mastered the science. Our city mer-
chant wishes to profit by the experience
of years. for which he will pay the sum
of S n week. How is a man, whose
only profession is that of bookkeeper, to
get along on such a sum? His wife can
take in washing to help along, or she
can do sewing, or stand in store, any
thing, 50 long as the merchant does not
have to pay over IS week for services
that would be cheap at $50
L also noticed an advertisement for
short hand writer's, who can use a type
writer, salary S.. Here are two ac-
pmphShments that take time to be per-
feet III. y man competent, not only to
take notes, but read them quickly, be-
cause he happens to be out of a position,
has to accept IS week or make room
for a boy who will work for that sum
and who, to nrisquote is short hand
It PJaCtGrtH MILL" Is the laborer in
these days worthy of his hire? | have
answered some dozen advertisements for
bookkeepers and stenographers during
the past three months, and have heard
from none of them. Why? Because
with long experience in both of those
accomplishments, | have suggested com
pensati0n which was above IS week.
What are we practical, educated men to
do? Are We to cheaper our work SO as
to compete with inexperienced boys?
have been West for a number of wears,
and there the office boy has received as
much per week as is offered by the
whole. sOulad business men OF this con-
sentative city for skilled office help. |
can ear; nearly that much by carrying a
-Nnph ~ Iii, -