Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1878 — Phases of Hired Help. [ARTICLE]

Phases of Hired Help.

Vice seen toe oft, familiar with ite face. We first endure, then pity, then embrace. Nor is this true of vice alone, but also of many of the petty evils, annoyances, inconveniences aud misfortunes of daily life, and especially of incompetent, distasteful or incompatible hired help. ’ ; As soon as tho new hand is engaged, we at once set about instructing him in the duties he will have to perform Sooner or later, the length of time depending on his aptitude and industry, lie becomes familiar with the routine of his work. So long as the newcomer continues a “new broom” he may impress us with the belief that he is just the man we wanted—the right man in the right place. Butit sometimes happens that so soon as the notion enters into his mind that his situation is secure, that his services are so highly valued as to be substantially indispensable, just so soon does his conduct often change for the worse, and this though his treatment may be as considerate as formerly and his remuneration equally good. He becomes less respectful, less assiduous and thoughtful; though no addition may be made to bis former duties, and though he may still have the same facilities for properly performing them, yet ho first neglects one thing, and then another. Although he may have abundance of time, yet he often shirks and slights his work whenever he can do so without the risk of immediate detection, and—a natural result of such conduct—he becomes untrustworthy. Although all this may seem apparent to his employer, yet remembering the valuable services of which his help may have shown himself capable, and dreading tho tedious ordeal of breaking in another to supply I# place, he may often feel disposed to permit his unsatisfactory hand to retain his position, in the hope that he may see- the evil of his ways and reform. Frequently, however, this hopo is disappointed; the man’s conduct becomes unbearable, and be is finally discharged, perhaps after years of service. Again, we have known instances in which utterly worthless men have boon retained for years on the farm, because their plausible ingenuity gave a false appearance of value to their services. Perhaps they wore possessed of considerable mechanical skill, and by deftly mending broken implements or handily executing odd bits of carpentry or painting, cunningly caused these occasional trivial jobs to stand instead of that hard, every-day labor on the farm, which, however profitable in its remote results, makes but little immediate show.

Then, again, in farming sometimes, but still oftenertn mercantile life, there occur striking instances were utterly unprincipled men, by studying the weak points in their employer’s character, and cunningly employing obseSuiousncss, subterfuge, misrepresentaon, or sullenness; as occasion may require, havo obtained absolute control over him and his business, and sometimes indeed over the entire family. In this they are often aided by gradually filling all vacancies about the place with creatures of their own type, and their own Selection: by alternately treating their employer with bland submission and premeditated sulkiness; and by losing no opportunity of impressing upon him the vast extent of theii own abilities and the absolute necessity of their aid to the success of his business. Although, at the outlet, the employer may only temporarily “ endure’’ these diplomatic tricksters, yet habit may soon lead him to “pity,” and finally to “embrace” them rather than suffer them to quit the business which, owing to their arts, niight then be more justly q«AM theirs than his, Although few" 1

men have ever stepped out of the most exalted positions iu this world, and still fewer out of merely subordinate places in it, who could not be replaoed, yet he lias been educated to believe their services indispensable, and, though groaning under their whims anti edicts, is foroed to retain them in control of his business. We believe that so soon as an employer is satistiod of the incompetency, untrustworthiness or incompatibility of those who work for him, the sooner a separation takes place the better for, both sides, and that the upright emwho, while wishing to retain n manliness and independence, treats his help courteously and fairly in every respect, will in all cases strictly adhere to such a course. —Rural New Yorker .