Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-11-30
CITY NIGHT TOILERS.
\ RESPECTABLE ARRAY WHOSE
RANKS ARE INCREASING.
Newspaper Workers Take the Lead o.,
Nnmbers- Ways of the Printer-Eakerv
and Their Hour~-in tho Telegram f,s.
dces-Other Caiiines.

Nnmbers- Ways of the Printer--Eaker.
and Their Hours-in tho telegram M.
fces-Other Caiiines.
VINO and how many are there of those who
turn night into day-who labor from sunset
70 sunrise and sleep while the great masses
are tollingf Quite respectable in numbers
when all are taken into account. and their
ranks ars daily increasing as new industries
spring up or certain lines Of business prosper
and demand more help for their deyeIop-
ment
In the lead in numbers are the newspaper
wofKers-printers, editors, pressnen, re-
porsers, mailing clerks, stereotypers, proof
readers and other branches of the occupa-
lion. Inc i've morning newspapers of Chi
cage employ well up in the neighborhood Of
~o' persons each in their various depart
MENUS 50 tnat here is in round numbers a
thousand men and boys--for the softer ser
mas fortunately kept comparatively clear Of
night work, and though. plenty of women find
employment in various ways at printing. il
is rare indeed that one can be found con.
nected with the morning newspaper-at least
In such way that the burning of the mid
night oil is demanded In many cases, too,
tnere is not demanded of the man who earns
his living on any OF the papers strict night
WORK. Inc afternoons and evenings are
taken up by editors and reporters, but long
before midnight the ma joritg have completed
Iheir iabors. Still there is remaining by far
tne greater proportion of the employees who
are on duty into the early morning hours.
The most numerous Of these are, Of course
the printers.
| THE PRINTERS WAYS
| Odd people are some Of these printers, and
full Of fancies, but as rule sober quiet
decent members of society The time has
gone by when to be printer it was also nee
essary to be thoroughly familiar with the
various brands Of liquor at the all night sa-
looms Or to put in the day at the poker table
after night at the cease" The s'buun
printer has no place in Chicago Offices today.
There has been a revolution, and without
any crusade a temperance reform has swept
away such of the old timers as had not sue
cumbed to earlier excuses, and it is so well
recognized that sobriety is essential to secur-
| ing and holding situations that few nova
days venture to overstep the bounds. But,
as stated, there are odd characters here and
there among them Superstitious in degree
are some. Their dreams are full of mean
ing, and they pin their faith SO firmly to
these visions Of sleep that many dollar has
gone to the policy or lottery shop on the
strength OF certain numbers that had passed
through their minds in the midst of their
slurnbers. To speculate is ruling passion
with some, and, while there is little fascina-
ton IN cards or dice, the printers own game
known as "Jeffing," and which is simply not
to be explained to the outside world, has in
times past had its adherents by hundreds,
and though now tabooed in all well regu-
lated offices is still talked of lingeringly and
lovingly by its former devotees.
Next to the printers the bakers form per
haps the most numerous class of all night
workers. There in Chicago about zoo of
those who are employed in the night time
Picturesque figures they make, too, covered
with -four white aproned and white capped,
and with LOOK about them--despite their
late hours Of labor-which speaks well for
the healthful nature Of their calling and their
regular habits out of service 1t is a strongly
marked fact that there has been revolution
in the ways Of the bakers as well as the fol-
lowers of other occupations, and that the
moral standard has been elevated in recent
years. The men are sober, industrious and.
as a rule, saving; they look after the welfare
OF one another IN sickness, and have an in
surance system and burial fund, which fur
nish relief for widows and orphans. Their
hours are somewhat lengthy, but are in re-
atty much shorter than demanded of day
workers, while the pay is better. In fact, it
might be stated here that the average ''day''
of all night workers does not exceed eight
hours, and that the compensation is more
than proportionately increased.
THE TELEGRAPH OPERATOR
At the Western Union and postal tele-
graph Offices there are large forces employed
at night in both instances. Taking advantage
of the half rate thousands of dollars worth
of business pours over the counters after {
: o'clock IN the evening. The great volume OF
dispatches handled for the morning news
, Papers, toe, require many intelligent and
fast operators. There are about $50 night
operators in Chicago. The majority are young
men, but some are gray haired veterans
whose years Of service ct the key ought tc
| demand their retirement on pension roll
= something not vet established by the way
There is a fascination in pounding the key
or transcribing its clickings to paper wher
the world is sleeping that exerts so potent ar
influence that these veterans cannot breaI
away from it. Il have tried day jobs half &
4 dozen tines said one, but l couldn't accus
| tom myself to the increased whir and rattle
and activity, so | always drifted back to tbs
!, old way. have grown up in that way.
was a nlSut u4eS9el47el 10y III I'VE" OH
g wears ago, and have held down right sits al
, most continuously since that time, SO that i
: isn't to be wondered at that I love the dark
ness, and not because my deeds are evil
either.n
> The hours of the night telegrapher ar,
u short Seven and half hours labor wind
t him up, and all work after that is paid TO
at an extra rate.
The "cabbies' are also Il numerous class
:. There are hundred or more who hay
) stands scattered around over tie city
u Strange stories they could tell-romauees
J. stories OF wild revelry, tales Of crirne-wer
It they not close moutLed aud clannlsh TO q re
, u,arka5le extent. Dull times now sal
. one. The closing of the saloons and gam
., bling houses has cut down trade, and thing
" are not lively like they used TO be-"
Is In most of the restaurants a force is KEEP
e busy until midnight or o'clock in the Inorr
J. ing. But these workers scarcely come unde
a the head Of the toilers with which this articl
\ treats.
- Tnen there is the small army Of poiceme
Is and still greater army of watchfnen-Pinh
ID erton men, the Veterans patrol, the privat
lie employees of the big down town firms and
,r the residence districts; the carriers who serv
!, the papers at breakfast to thousands, an
- who report for duty at g. ~. the dru
IL clerks, some Of whom sleep with one ey
"a open, others remaining at their posts a
le night: the street sweepers, the car driver
n and conductors, the messenger boys, the hot
+; clerks-even an all night barber. Other O
equations could be mentioned, but their 70
l,viror is small -trhicaro Tribune