Year: 1869

The New York correspondent of the Troy Times


hus writes concerning the merchants clerks of that
city:


THE WAY CLERKS ARE PAID.


In the great shipping and commercial houses no sal
Try is paid for the first year, and sometimes clerk


nay continue in service several years at the
The employers overrun with applications from rich
nen who desire their to learn the shipping and
importing business, and hence willing to support
hem during the slow progress OF meareantie educa-
ion. The writer of this, many years ago. had an am
'ton to get into South street shipping house, and
lfered to serve in one of them without pay. This


liberal offer declined and he got into better busi
| 'ess We met noble looking youth, recently, who


as the favor of serving in of these houses on the
same terms. He spends about $1,000 year. and his


relatives are put to it to raise the funds but such
their ambition that they will strain every nerve to
maintain his position. If he is very bright fellow,


e will in course of four five years be able to sup


port himself but as to rising the dignity of South
,treet merchant not one in a hundred can do that


In dry goods obbing 500 per year is paid
20 Beginners and IN some cases $500. By the
beginners we boys who wish to learn the bus


ness. These must expect to work at starvation prices


md take their slow chances of promotion which few


lave patience to wait for


DIFFERENT CLASSES OF CLERKS.


These may be summed up as cash boys errand BOYS
'alesmen shop walkers cashiers cloth measurers etc.


Ill of which found in retail trade The most i'm


'ortant of these is the shop walker, who be of
Inc appearance and elegantly dressed. He stands at
hhe entrance to greet customers with gracious smiles,


md to escort them to the different departments they
nay wish to examine. If any one wishes to note an
'xample of overdone politeness and good manners
running into extravaganza, let him look of the
walkers in our fashionable stores To turn to the
wholesale trade there entry clerks shipping clerks
corresponding clerks, customhouse clerks receiving
clerks, statesmen on commission saared statesmen and
book keepers. To these to be added the various
branches of trade which will stop to record but
which are so extensive that may estimate the
Der of cerksin New York about one hundred thou
sand, one-tenth of whom may be found in Broadway.


HOW CLERKS LIVE.


Some of the Broadway houses have from one hun
dred to three hundred clerks The salaries of these
Young men reach from one hundred to one thousand
dollars-though few reach figure ranging from two
70 four thousand dollars. But on the moderate rates
6rst mentioned they expected dress well and
keep up appearance. They must be at their post at
O'Clock or fined, unless excused for Illness They
kept their feet all day, having just spare time at
noon for hasty lunch, and by in the evening they
are weary as farm lahorer, for retailing goods and
incessant talking is hard work. In the busy
wholesale clerks often kept work until midnight
without allowance for extra services, and when trade
falls off they are liable to immediate discharge With
the exception of stock salesmen who influence trade,
no clerk is sure of his situation week ahead The
'' drummers," who hang around hotels and bring in
customers, have better chance than indoor men,
but drumming is killing business hence they not
to be envied.


Merchants nothing for their clerks, except as
tools to make money WITH and every unexpected out
lay is met, if possible, by cutting down their pay.
merchant who is making twenty five thousand dollars
per year, and living in handsome style, will gladly re-
duce his clerk to the lowest pittance The clerk lives
at cheap boarding houses and fluids hard to meet even
This outlay No Injuries are within his reach unless
he obtains the by fraud, and this he is
.empted. He finds amusement in the street, and dis
pation makes up for the loss of home associations
TO meet the cost of pleasure he robs his employer,
'uns brief career of mscaled pleasure and either is
aved by flight, or winds up in the Tombs. Such, at
east, is the history of majority of clerks; and
yet the country boy who reads these facts is just the
'ne to determine to try his chance, and shall PROB
hly meet him here in his suit and best good
ooks in less than fortnight. So march on, dear
,reenhorn, to your fate, and become unit in the
rand army of les misera6es, who the
# trade.