the "employer" alone, who requires a
deposit, usually accurately gauged to the amount the victim has or can
raise, as a guarantee of faithfulness in a position of trust. The trust
turns out to be entirely on the part of the employe, and he soon finds
himself without job or money.

Many business houses, however, never advertise for help--most of them
have a list of applications of portentous length, from which they can
choose people who come recommended by friends or employe's. It is well
to make as many friends as you can, and to ask them to let you know of
any vacancies likely to occur. It is permissible to go to a business
house and to apply for a place. This sort of work is very discouraging,
yet I have known of many places obtained in just that way.

I knew a boy, an Englishman, a stranger in the country, who in less than
a day's seeking got a place as entry-clerk at five dollars a week in a
large notions house. He lived on it, I don't know how, and I fancy he
would have difficulty in explaining, for six months, and then applied
for an increase. The firm, which was noted for its close methods,
refused; and the English lad, who was nearly desperate, simply resigned
and walked into the place next door and applied for work. There was
nothing for him there, nor next door, but before he had gone two blocks
he found employment at seven dollars a week. The firm was doing a large
business, which necessitated his staying until seven or eight o'clock
two or three evenings a week. On such occasions he received fifty cents
supper money. This boy shared a furnished room in Brooklyn with a
friend, and took his meals at cheap restaurants. His extra fifty cents
was, therefore, clear gain. The boys who boarded did not fare so well.
One of them, however, was able to find a boarding-house near enough for
him to go to it for all his meals, and so secured the same benefit, and,
in addition, all the advantages that come with having a settled home and
regular habits. This boy, too, had secured a place with no more
influence than that of the roommate his slender finances compelled him
to take when he came to the city looking for work. Both of these boys
were unusually bright. Though they had to work hard, they found time to
study at night. The English boy studied mechanical drawing, and is now a
successful designer in an architectural iron-works. The other boy
studied medicine, and is now a resident physician in a large hospital. A
third