Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1859 — About Hircd Men. [ARTICLE]

About Hircd Men.

We have had frequent occasion to notice the different “luck,” as they call it, which i employers hate had with their hired help, i We knew a Mr. P. who was forever in hot ' water with his men. They couldn’t be ■ trusted out of sight. They would idle away half their time, slight their work, abuse the horses and cattle, and waste more than their . help was worth—such was the frequent comI plaint of the man to them. On the other I hand they unhesitatingly declared that there never was such a driving, miserly, surly, and altogether contemptible man as their employer. From early summer until their emI ployment ceased in the fall, there seemed to be a continual strife between them; each aggravating the other, each apparently studying to find the limit of human endurance.. and it sometimes happened that actual ; violence was resorted to, a hand-to-hand onI counter with one or more of the men. folI lowed by prosecutions, lawsuits and Costs to pay. 1 But neighbor G. never appeared to have such difficulty. He frequently hired the same men employed by Mr. P. the previous season, yet all went smoothly. Ilis work was done in spason, and ireZZ done; although they were often away frorn hie observation, there was no disposition shown to take ab- , sence, and he used to speak with pleasure of his “excellent hands.” Yet he never was heard to scold, but often to praise, and if fault was found, the offender alone knew of ' it. This, we apprehend, was one secret of . his success. lie remernpered that they were men as well as “help”—and as a inan he knew that appreciation is one of the highest stimulants to exertion, and that fault-finding in the presence cf others, sours the feelings and disheartens from effort. The man who takes as much pains to find points to coinj mend in those in his employ, as he does to ; discover their defects, will soon see the beuj efit, in cheerful readiness to work and enj deavors to please. Scolding never did do < any good. A man will listen if you tell him . his faults, however plainly, if it be dune with j mildness and in private. j Too many men pay but little regard to ; the physical comfort of their “help.” They i are kept on the coarsest, sometimes the 1 meanest fare. They are sent to slepp two 'or three in a room, often in the unfinished ; chamber of an outbuilding, and in bqds fit j only to do penance upon. Then, too, the : men are not only kept at their work f‘lrom j early dawn ’till set of sv.n,” but one furrow more must be turned, or one swath more I mowed after the full time of a day’s work is i completed. Men arc easily affected by what touches physical feelings. Generous rare—it need not be expensive—comfortable! lodg- ' ing rooms, ample noon rests, and prompt . “turning out” from the field at night, will be more than repaid by the cheerful spirit and j “working with a will” which will be {given in return.