The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-09

~ Age Limit for

sts ~ 20 years. Zen years ago the businesa
man OF that age was considered In his
prime; today the man OF experience al
the ngc Of 80 is most In demand. Some OF
the Observation-Disclosures OF tho country viii
not employ n man who Is 40 years old, and
b others have set the limit is low as 40 years,
Ihese arc tho grim conditions Of modern
business as they affect employees. ~ 10 con.
sidera man old merely because OF the date OF
ms pirth certificate is Mt once n dangerous
precedent. Without doubt 1t IA tho rcac
tionary tendency following the time when IN
business the old man was everything. From
.iih' ' ex IRENE where the gray In man.s hair
WAS me passport TO prefcrrnent and position
me pendulum has swung until no one will
have the old man in any position OF promise.
man for any saaried position al the aga
OF oo. Tor instance, would be burden upon
our roll ofnpplIcants.
Why Ago Limit Is Set.
When you ask the business man why he IA
! disposed to draw the line at tho age OF AZ Il
must be admitted thatfall his reasons are
. not of the best. Ordinarily he Will ask YOU
"hatthe man has been doing that at his n &c
he has not competence or an occupation
at least which promises him haven for his
old age. He tells you that a man beyond 40
VIII not adapt himself readily to the condi-
lions of another mans business. He will
slur over the condition OF great consollda-
lions IN business which have thrown some OF
1.-The best men OF that age out OF active busi.
VI ness life. And frequently the thing he viii
I not admit Is that the older man dema nds a
better salary than will secure the services OF
an active young man who can be trained to
the work and who Will make salary acrifce
in order TO gain a position giving promise OF
| a future.
\ Out Of these conditions 1t may be said that
J before the condition OF the old man In ont
4 lined in, its details the drift or the times
N would be better observed In pointing the
u application OF these facts for the benefit OF
VI the young man who must become old
N Fifty Years Age Limit in Future
. In all probability the young man no Just
IL now Is entering the business world VIII ha va
N five years longer lease OF business credited
TO him before he comes under the ban OF the
age limit There is little doubt that this
reaction In favor OF the young man has been
n 100 great. The mistake will be discovered
and rectf1ed partly on the side OF the en-
ployer and partly on the side OF the enploye
III but IN the end It will make so years tn more
II logical age limitation.
! But even II 80 years be the dead line OF the
future. 40 years will have Its o.ninous sound
! young man taking his place in the world OF
] business at % years has scarcely more than
! I twenty years in which to mature and provide
] himself position OF security against ,ths
! lean years OF his old age. What shall he do
that he may assure himself the compe tency?
II Properly this Is n question that can be
answered for the individual only. At any
given time taking the census Of a great
establishment employing maximum OF
oclerical help In city. for instance, and
only 10 per cent OF these ever will rise above
the $50 a week class. Naturally this 90 per
cent OF young men who are TO grow old in
n the harness OF the employed can have small
hope OF a competency in their old age, just
"A as they may expect to be little in demand for
u any position Offering place to old men.
n But for the 10 per cent OF those whom sta
n tistics have declared should make good
something may be said in a general way
Y toward the realization.