The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-11
YOUNG MEN II NEW YORK.
The Metropolis as a Magnet y ait.n
and H.p.ng tn Ov sr-Corhdeat

mel come TO New York every month in
search Of positions where they may acquire
fortune or fame, or both. Nine huadred
and fifty OF them fail to find such positions
as they seek. and fully $50. or - per cent.
fail to better their condition in life in any
way. just now many make the fatal leap
from the frying pan into the fire, when
they come t. the metropolis, no one knows
The > per cent. who succeed, will be heard
OF Ia time, but the dark waters OF the
rivers, and the darker prison cells, will
etfectually hide the failures from public
view. In the dust cloud at the finish post Of
the race for fame and fortune, we only see
the winners.
These 200 young men come from every
part OF the United States and from every
walk of life. The young men from the
villages are In the majority. but there are
many young fellows just from college with
their heads crammed full OF technical
knowledge, much of which they will soon
forget when they enter the school Of practi-
cal experience.
The young men from the country are the
most hopeful for success. From boyhood
they have been RECALLED with tue story of
how roor John Smith, the farmers boy,
left home without dollar and going 70
New York made ever so many millions and
founded the family of Van Smythe. Their
a
smaller than John Smith ever was, aud
they have grown up with the idea in their
heads that vast fortunes and a coat OF arms
awaited them In the metropolis.
Smiles Of hope and tears OF sorrow mingls
when the young man bids farewell to the
old home and the village that seems too
small for his talents. With a light heart
he starts out to find an opening, when he
reaches New York. But in week he will
suffer more bitter disappointments than he
ever dreamed could be crowded into such
short space OF time. The splendid openings
in business aud the professions in this city
are hard to find. Every line of endeavor is
already crowded, not to its utmost limits,
perhaps, for there is always room at the top.
But how TO reach the top when it is impos-
slble TO obtain footing at the bottom.
that is the question.
An honest face, willing hands aud letters
OF flattering Endorsement from lifelong
friends count for little or nothing. Others
have been there before you They had the
same credentials and failed, When young
man applies for position il New York, the
first question no is asked is, can he give any
city references? They do not care for his
letters from home IL can give no city
reference he is curtly told that he is not
wanted. But have just come to the city,
he explains. Then we could not give you
the position any way"
What can he do? Try another place and
another and another, only to meet the same
questions and the same answers everywhere
he goes. The young man must be made of
stern stuff If be does not grow weary and
discouraged by the end Of the first week.
Once lie grows discouraged, he is face to
face with tue crisis OF bis life. Most young
men who have come here to seek their fort
tune are too proud TO let the folks at home
know how they have failed. They determine
70 stay and find something to do. They
will work at anything until something bet
ter turns up. But their troubles are not
over. There are 100000 idle men in New
York, 100 applicants for every position Of
any kind that offers food and shelter
In few weeks the young mau finds his
money is almost gone. He leaves the hotel
or boarding house where he has been stop
ping and goes to one of the cheap lodging
| houses on the Bowery. His restaurant is
the free lunca counter. Weary OF continued
disappointment he will soon find his pride
and ambition DESERVING him. He must be
brave then or his self-respect will go too.
| Free lunches and lucent lodgings are
| great Jewelers. Of pride. Ones q man loses
his self-respect and ambition the struggle TO
| find place is over. He no longer makes
| an effort to stem the current that seems to
have set against him. When he gives up
the struggle for good he is a tramp, a thief
or bsggar. The millstones of pride and
poverty have ground the manhood all out Of
him.
1t is from the ranks of the men who come
to New York to seek their fortune that the
great army of tramps is recruited. A few
OF them are brave enough to go back to the
country village and take up the old life
where they lett off, but very few. OF the
thousands who are caught and swallowed
up in the whirlpool of vice it is not the pur-
pose of this article to deal. This is Intended
to call attention only to those who fall be-
cause there is not room for them and they
are without the ability to make room for
themselves.
The trouble with many Of the young fort
une seekers is that they are too confident
or success. They cannot stand a few disap-
polntments because they are not prepared
for them, so they give up the struggle very
soon. Many young men, professional men
especially, come here with an idea that Now
York has been waiting for them several
years and that the only question for them
TO consider is in what part of the city TO 10
cate m order to be most accessible 10 those
who will require their services.
few days ago young man called and
introduced himself to me, and stated that
he had come for little advice. He said he
was journalist with one years experience
on small daily in small to Sn, and had
come to New York to locate. Before going
to any of the newspaper offices he wanted
to know which of the morning papers In the
city was the best to work on. When |. as
gently as possible. intimated that be
might find it difficult to obtain
position on any Of them. be smiled
at the suggestion. He said the New York
papers all wanted talent, and the poor fell
low evidently believed that as soon as the
managing editors learned be was in the city
they wonld be falling over each other in a
rush to secure his services.
Men In other professions come here with
an equal amount of confidence Young
lawyers think they can build up a practice
worth $4,000 year in a short time in a
city where there is so much legal business.
Young men with brains aud energy can
succeed in New York, but success is only
attained by years of patient toll AMI indus
try. Men do not become rich or famous in
year by legitimate means. The failure of
95 per cent. of those who come here seeking
their fortune is not likely to discourage any
one who is planning to come, but young
men OF limited means who have no friends
here will be wise if they secure positions
before they leave home.
CURTIg KTNGTARp