The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-05-25
PlE1PIR PROSPERITY.

- sPlENPIN PROSPERITY.
duM-
Enplos ss.s in /. Big City.
In these distressing times, of compe-
tition. trustS ANA combinations, the
worker who 81 81 unfortunate enough to be
out of emplqXmAnt. or who is caught in
some of the seaaBolidations now form
ing and dropped from the pay roll, is out,
and from my, actual experience seems to
have but small chance of connecting
with job of any kind.
Some three weeks back I had read
Mr.. Stevens account, in the New York
World, of his having lived on "99 cents
for week" while he was in search of
work in New York. His struggles with
the bunk. in the Sky parlor" of cheap
lodging house, and in the morning his
sumptuous breakfast of two stale rolls,
and cup of fine coffee, all for the small
sum of cents; and his subsequent con-
clusion that no man need be without a
home and plenty to eat, no matter how
poor he was, and that work was easy to
get for those that wanted it. give Mr..
Stevens the benefit of the doubt. 1t
may be so In New York. But in Phila-
delphia, after weeks good honest trial
.well it's different.
In the interests of The Representative
therefore, pocketing my pride and natu-
raj shyness, week ago started out
Monday morning determined to get
situation of some kind before night, by
my own unaided efforts. With this end
in view 1 carefully scanned the column
of help wanted" of the Press, and Sc
Letting one ad that read as follows:
"Wanted-A readable business man,
neat appearance, bright and energetic,
for good paying out door position;
steady work to right party. Apply -
Eighth street, o'clock sharp" l was
there promptly on time, ready to fill the
bill, but to my great surprise so were
about 200 more, formed in line, just as
neat, bright and energetic looking as
myself. Nothing daunted, however, 1
took my position at the end of the line,
and then, one by one, the applicants
were admitted for inspection into little
back room and interviewed. The 25th
one at last seemed to suit. The word
quickly passing along the line he had
gotten the job. The wages, he informed
me, were 81 q week; hours a. M to
p. M; business, collecting; $50 cash Sc
curity." He seemed much elated. Our
line quickly dispersed, and l strolled
down the street bordering what would
be my next venture. My eyes lighted
upon a sign in the windows of build
ing on Market street below Seventh,
porter wanted I Immediately pre-
sented myself as an applicant. was told
the wages were IS week, hours 6: 80 to
Z p. m, and when busy 10 p. m. After a
critical survey of me, II would not do"
When asked Why,gI was told my clothes
were too good, and as they couldn't be
bothered looking up references, they
would not take chances on my being
honest. This set me thinking 1 must
change my clothes for a laborer's job.
After a tour of some 80 business houses,
three or four taking the trouble to make
a note of my application, quit for the
day rather disheartened.
Tuesday morning, bright and early, 1
scanned the columns of the Press male
help wanted" carefully; answering two
for clerks, three for bookkeepers, two for
statesmen, and one for driver of a laun-
dry delivery wagon. q never received
a reply to any of them.)
Ny first personal call was made at one
of the large department stores, near the
city hall. 1 intended to take them in
one by one. l was greeted at the first
one by the question what was my nation
atty, was it English? They were sorry,
but there was no chance. They only
wanted experienced English help.
At the next l was told they were over
run with help of all kinds, and there
was no opening of any sort, except that
if could bring my trade with them they
would allow me small commission on
all sales, and possibly small salary.
The third one, known as the cheap
store" under the management of Gods
chosen people, the Hebrews" was more
promising, and after much running from
one department to another, and ques-
tioning as to my ability, experience, ETC.,
l was engaged as a bookkeeper at the
princely salary of SIS week. Hours, to
suit the business, displacing of girl at
50 so, who, poor thing, looked much
more fit for a sick bed, pale, emaciated,
and with a hacking cough. 1 was in
formed she was discharged because "she
did not get the right kind of move on
her." Two days in this position made
me acquainted with those moves" Half
the time not knowing which side of me
was up, doing the work of four.
Coming to work the third morning 1
was much surprised to be told that my
services weretnot wanted longer. My
work was perfectly satisfactory, but they