The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-12-29
CITY NIGHT TOILERS.
\ RESPECTABLE ARRAY WHOSE
RANKS ARE INCREASING.

RANKS ARE INCREASING.
Newspaper Workers Take tho Lead in
Nnmbcrs-Ways of the Printer-Bakers
and Their Hours-In tho Telegraph OF.
fces-Othcr Callings.
w no and how many are there of those who
turn night into day-who labor from sunset
to sunrise and sleep while the great masses
are tollinS! Quite respectable in numbers
when all are taken into account, and their
ranks are daily increasing as new industries
spring up or certain lines of business prosper
and demand moro help for their develop
ment
In the lead in numbers arc tho newspaper
""rNers-printers, editors, pressmen, re-
| porters, mailing clerks, stereotypcrs, proof
readers and other branches of the occupa.
ton The five morning newspapers of Chi
ra;" employ we'll up in the neishborhood of
2'' persons each in their various DEPART
ni.i!is, so that here is in round numbers n
thousand men and boys-for the softer sex
has fortunately kept comparatively clear of
night work, and though h'plcnty of women find
employment III various ways at printing, it
Is rare indeed that ono can be found con.
iec'ea WIN the morning newspaper-at least
III snch way that the burning of tho mid
night oil is demanded In many cases too.
there is not demanded of tho man who earns
his lvlns on any of the papers strict night
work. The afternoons and evenings ore
taken up by editors and reporters, but long
before midnight the majority have completed
their labors. Still there is remaining bv far
the greater proportion of the employees who
are on duty into the early morning hours.
lhe most numerous of these are, of course.
the printers.
THE PRINTERS WAYS.
odd people arc some of these printers, and
itll OF fancics, but as n rule SOBER quiet,
decent members of society. The time has
gone hy when to he II printer it was also ncc-
rssnl,y to he thoroughly familiar with the
various brands of liquor at the all night So
looms or to put i'll the day at tho poker table
after II night at the case" Tho "bumn
printer has no place in Chicago Offices today.
There has been n revolution. and without
any crusade temperance reform has swept
away such of the old timers us had rot sue
rlml"d to earlier cxccsses, and it is so we'll
recognized that sobriety is essential to secur-
ll'g ana holding situations that few nova
days venture TO ovcrstep the bounds. But,
as stated, there are odd characters here and
'hcre among them. Superstitious in degree
are some. Their dreams nrc full of mean
iIg, and they pin their faith SO firmly to
these visions of sleep that many n dollar has
sone to the policy or lottery shop on tho
strength of certain numbers that had passed
through their minds in tho midst of their
Summers. To Speculate" is n ruling passion
with some, and, while there is little fuscina-
tlon IN cards or dice, the printers own game,
known as ''iefling," and which is simply not
to he explained To tho outside world, has in
Tunes past had its adhcrcnts by hundreds,
and though now taboocd in all we'll rcgu-
lated offices is still talked of lingcringly and
lovingly by its former dcvotccs.
Next to the printers tho bakers form per-
haps the most numerous class of all night
workers. There in Chicago about 700 of
those who are employed in the night time.
Picturesque figures they make, too, covered
with -four, white uproncd and white capred,
and with Il look about them-dcspte their
late hours of labor-which speaks we'll for
the hcaltLfu nature Of their calling and their
REGULAR habits out of service. 1t is Il strongly
marked fact that there has been u revolution
IN the ways of tho bakers us we'll as the fol-
lowers OF other occupations, and that tho
moral standard has been elevated in recent
Years. The men arc sober, industrious and,
as Il rule saving; they look after tho welfare
of ono another in sickness, and have an i'll
slIrance system and burial fund, which fur
nsh relief for widows and orphans. Their
hours are somewhat lengthy, but arc in re-
aiiiy much shorter than demanded of day
workers, while tho pay il better. In fact, it
might he Stated here that the average day,
OF iil night workers does not exceed eight
hours, and that the compensation is moro
than prolortionatcly increased.
TIE TELEGRAPH OPERATOR.
AT the Western Union and postal tcle-
graph Offices there arc large forces employed
at night in both instances Taking advantage
of the half ratio thousands of dollars worth
of business pours over the counters afterG
O'Clock IN the evening. The great volume of
dispatches handled for the morning news
papers, too, require many intelligent and
fast operators. There are about $50 night
operators in Chicago. The ina ajoritv are young
men, but some arc gray haired veterans
whose years of service ut the key ought tc
demand their retirement on Il pension roll
something not yet established, by the way.
There is fascination in pounding the KEY
or transcribng its cliciings to paper when
the world is sleeping that cxcrts so potent an
influence that these veterans cannot break
away from it. 81 have tried day jobs half n
dozen times" said one, but l couldn't acclls-
tom myself to the increased whr and rattle
aud activity, so always driftcd back to the
old way. have grown up i'll that way.
was night messenger boy i'll New York
years ago, and have held down night sits al
most continuously since that time, so that it
isn't to be wondered mt that love the dark
ness, and not because my deeds are evil,
either"
Tho hours of the night telcgrapher are
short. Seven and Il half hours labor winds
him up, md all work after that is paid for
ut an extra rate.
The "cabblcs' are also numerous class
There are hundred or more who have
stands scattered around over the city.
Strange stories they could tcll-romances,
stories of wild revelry, tales of crime-were
they not close mouthed and clannish to re-
markablc extent Dull times now" said
one. Tho closing of tho saloons and gam
bling houses has cut down trade, and things
arc not lively like they used to be-
In most of the restaurants a force is kept
busy until midnight or o'clock in the morn
ing But these workers scarcely come under
the head of the toilers with which this article
treats.
I..e.l there is the small army of policemen
and 8 still greater army of watcnmcn-Pi
crton men, the Veterans patrol, tho private
employees Of the big down town firms and in
the residence districts; the carriers who serve
the papers at breakfast to thousands, and
who report for duty at ) a. m; the drug
clerks, some of whom sleep with one eye
open, others remaining at their posts all
night; the street sweepers, the cas drivers
and conductors, the messenger boye. the hotel
cierIs-even an all night barber. Other oc-
culpations could be mentioned, but their fol-
,-e T,.,l,,
Going Through Life,