The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-01
TO PHILANTHRO-
PIsTS.

In the agricultural department Of the
Hartford Conrant some time ago there
appeared an article stating that while the
cities of that section were crowded with
people who were starving or suffering for
want of work, the farmers of the agricul-
turai sections were being subjected to
great inconvenience, and in many in
stances to serious loss, from lack Of
competent help.
The agricultural editor went on to say
that within the range of his personal OBJ
servation 1.-TWO hundred good men could
at once find employment on farms right
here in Hartford county, at from si6 to SIS
a month";" with good board, comfortable
homes and easant-surroundings And
services as medium for bringing together
the worthy sufferers for need of work and
those who needed their services and were
well-disposed TO give them employment.
Mr.. Hale took hold of the matter con
onlore and in the spirit of true philan.
thropist. The results have been discour-
aging and have damped his enthusiasm in
measure. He has received many letters
from those who are wont to complain of
dali times, of the cbstructed avenues to
employment, and of the unequal distribu-
ton of wealth. He gives few extracts
that are alike entertaining and instructive.
One man who protested to be veritable
walking encyclopedias of farming knowl-
edge-he "knew all about ibid not care
to do any of the hard or dirty work of the
farm, but did want TO "be treated like one
of the family" Another expressed de-
sire 10 do some of the light work of the
farm, such as keeping the farm books and
accounts, and filling that long-felt but
much neglected position on well-regu-
lated farm, the Office of cashier.
But the gem of the series was bright,
scholarly letter from one who drew a pen
picture of himself as ga smart young man
of 81" with wife to match, both of whom
"knew all about teamwork" and were dis
posed to engage in it as a congenial en-
ployment. From an estimable farmer
friend Mr.. Hale procured an engagement
for them. They came from New York,
bringing with them girl ten years of age,
whom he had not mentioned in his letter.
They arrived at the farm Sunday
morning. The first day on the prem
Uses this young adept in agricul-
tural spent in the kitchen smoking,
nor any desire to inspect the scene of his
future labor. The wife made no offer of
assistance, but left the farmers wife TO get
their meals. On Monday morning she
again had to prepare the breakfast, to
which the new Glands" came down late,
and in anything but pleasant mood, the
bright young man of q" inquiring some
what testify, s.'Why did you not call rs
when breakfast was ready?"
These were but few samples, from
| which many others did not materially diff
| fer. Out of more than twenty for whom
Mr.. Hale succeeded in finding employ
| ment, mot one single good worker has
| been secured" And, while it is no doubt
true that here and there may be found
worthy and capable people who are able
and willing to work and are unable to OBJ
tain supporting employment, to a very
large extent there are those who are not
disposed to do honest work for reasonable
remuneration, and to this fact, rather than
TO any social misadjustment is their idle
ness due.
| And these, in far greater measure than
the capable, worthy and willing, consti-
tute the grumblers at fate, the sttrrers-up
of dissension, the malcontents and the
malignants. There should not be in this
country, nor is there to anything like the
extent that some declare and others
imagine, serious lack of work for will
ing hands to do"