Year: 1879

New York is the commercial metropolis Of the
space and larger population than subsist within
its corporate limits. Active affirmative agencies
in its commercial interests are actually found in
multitude and force to the extent of thirty miles
around the city, while its correspondents and fac
tors are scattered over the civilized world. More
than two millions Of people derive their subsst-
ence directly from the industries, enterprise and
vital force of this great metropolis. Yet 1t IL
strange TO the rural mind how the means of sup
porting so vast a multitude Of human beings can
be created within the city This is not literally
done. Yet its commercial equivalent is actually
created within the commercial precincts of the
town.


The farmer sends to this market his produce;
the manufacturers their cloths, fabrics and other
staple goods. But all OF these consumed or used
within the city, have to be freely paid for ont OF
the industries and commercial gains OF the peo-
pie who appropriate them to use or consumption.
These facts are only to be accounted for from the
consideration that few OF the adults of our vast
population are exempted from the law that !" man
shall eat bread by the sweat OF his brow" Our
people are, in fact among the toifiny millions OF
the land. Thedreams of the country youth that
wealth and ease and sinecures are the common
fortunes of city life, will be dissipated by an
hours inspection, not only of great factories,
but on comprehendng the details of any single
store or department of business.


OF the residents within the city limits, not more
than one in ten have any visible property, except
few articles Of plain furniture. At least one
half the families are dependent on the daily
- 81, ntr Jast,
laboring man in the city is but little cocl-wheel
in the vast and complicated organization Of our


industries and business operations. If he rebels
against the position which habit and the force OF
circumstances have fixed for him, he is nowhere.
What is worse, II he is satisfied with his employ
ment and its remuneration, he is still dependent
the success OF the boss, to create constant de-
mand for his labor II he seeks to adapt hiswork
to his health and strength his situation, which is
his only reliance, may be given to another In
fact, feebleness in strength and inefiicency in
energy makes him like a weak horse in n six
horse stage team II 1t falls, the others drag the
wheels over it in their mad rush to reach their
appointed station. 1t is only the ingenious me-
chanic who by his skill and intelligence makes
himself master of his situation, whose place can
not be filled by another, that is INDUCED and
cused under the pressure of infirmities OF the
operatives in our factories perhaps one in ten, IL
he is strictly temperate and married, will save
enough to buy "A house and lot in the suburbs of
the city. The others, il they have sons or daugh-
ters who can learn to work and provide for their
own support may get a moderate living. But
large family, dependent wholly for support
on the labor OF the father, would find more
f,, To-, -,
crowded town Yet multitudes of such are
here. And with tenacty and infatuation they
cling to the town, as IL fate had forbidden
the country resort for relief or support.
The difficulty is, that man who pursues particu-
lar industry for years becomes, rs it were. a
fixture, and neither has the courage or the capac-
ity to apply his physical strength to a different
department In every other pursuit, he becomes
a raw and awkward apprentice Even il he was
brought up on farm in the country he feels
repugnance to returning to agricultural toll Be-
sides, having learned to count his gains in dollars
and cents, he has seen so little ready money in
farming, it becomes a mystery to him how
farmer can live. lie has no comprehension OF
the methods in which our fathers lived in the
country, by picking dandelion greens in the past
ures instead of buying spnnage and sprouts; by
gathering wild leeks from the woods in the spring
in the place of onions; by gathering the tender
shoots OF fern and finding them more tender and
better Favored than asparagus by eating beef
broth and bean porrdge instead of turtle soup;
and then how they gathered from the garden in
summer and fall, fruits and vegetables, whose
value is never counted in dollars and cents. He
does not comprehend how our fathers used
burned rye and barley, or burned brown bread
crust for coffee; or, sometimes for a variety,
stepped eUdn root, dug from the swamps and
dried in the place of tea


In fact people whose habits are fixed to any de-
partment of labor in the city, have deep feeling
of repugnance to any new experience. Hence, in
any revulsion in manufacturing interests, large
numbers OF our working population find them
selves in utter desttution and helplessness. Prob
ably more than one-third-we may say one-half of
our working people, or Of the capacity for labor
have been without employment during the past
year; though times are now more prosperous and
the future looks brighter. Men who run facto-
ries and carry on business differ from the mere
operative or laborer Adaptation to the wants of
the public, and commercial markets, is II part Of
their study. But few of these are skilled in any
manufacturing art; but, having acquired money,
factor in their business. 1t is singular fact