Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-01-28

WIN Pioau iOE any kllu Ol "OTh
Nor are these unfortunate ones only
idlers, inprovident and ignorant.
Many are learned, skillful me-
chaLics and refined gentlemen and
ladies.
AT Chicago the condition is ten
fold worse, and in Denver men who
have been professors in colleges,
prominent Office holders and counted
once among the prominent and
prosperous, gladly mount the car
riago as drivers, or wagons as team
sters, they heave coal, wait on tables
or do any menial service for the
pittance on which their families
must subsist.
wish l could act as guide through
this city or some of the large towns
to some farmer and his family who
contemplate leaving the old home
stead. would show them farmers
who came to the city with money
and tried the grocery business, then
keeping boarders, and are now in
cheap tenement houses, in stores
and shops at wages insufficient to
pay for board and clothing, and the
boys doing no better, the father
working at day labor when he can
find it, the poor broken hearted
mother signing for the country home
with it's gurgling springs, cackling
hens, lowing cows and big red apples.
saw an educated gentleman and
his son bright lad of fourteen, who
tramped the streets in this city for
six long weeks going to every de-
cent place that afforded the least
shadow of chance TO obtain em-
ployment, at length when foot-sore
and weary with seeking and waiting
they gave up in despair. A friend
in the country came to the relief
and helped the distressed father and
son, the cultured mother, the scam
tily clad and hungry little ones TO
return to farm, where they live
now in comfort, and it is useless to
add, are seized with indescribable
dread at the mere suggestion of fleav-
ing to try city life again,
Last spring 1 saw blue eyed,
fair haired boy, grown, strong and
industrious. He longed to try his
fortune in the city, his parents con-
sented and he came here. He
carried with him q valise and trunk
well filled. He stopped at genteel
boarding house, the next morn
ing full of eager anticipation, he set
out to seek the clerkship of
which he had dreamed. At night
he returned to his lodgings, after
the hardest days work he had ever
done, wondering why so many to
whom he had applied answered
gruffly "no, business is dull and we
have just turned off part of our
force"
Saturday night came and the week
ended as did the first day. Then he
went to the stock yards, next to the
shops, and in the fourth week was
glad to find work in Il smelter.
A hot afternoon in the summer
with his younger brother went to
ri fn cit 70
was dirty, hard looking place, a
coarse woman in greasy wrapper,
informed us that he was at the
smelter. Outside the enclosure we
waited till six in the evening when
hundreds of men filed out. We
watched closely, for the smoke, gas
and cinders had blackened their
clothing and faces so that hardly a
mothers son of them could be recog-
nized. AT last the fair haired boy
came out. shall never forget his
appearance. had seen thousands of
coal miners ascend the shaft, but
never one SO blackened. face, hands,
clothing, all as black as the ink l
write with.
He grasped his little brothers.
hand and when told that his father
had sent for him turned away his
face that we might not see the tears
and hurrying to his cheerless little
room bathed, put on the best he had
and took the train for home and
comfort. His valise and trunk were
in the hands of the pawn broker.
Boys l humbly beg your pardon
for this melancholy picture but let
me tell you that one should know
what he is going to do before he
settles in a city, and remember that
there are many more chances for
employment and comfort in the At
lantic states and among the Allie
phanies than in the far west or in
the Rocky Mountains.
CHOCTAW.
LAWYER Uhrusting servant from
dOorsill and entering hastily to delin-
quent tenant)-So you are in, are