Page:The Newspaper and the Historian.djvu/549

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former steamer steward , wants any kind of a job,” — so the list

lengthens into column after column, day after day, throughout the year. Why are men and women out of work ? The “ help wanted ” column in part answers the question , — " thoroughly competent

bookkeeper wanted ,” " experienced salesman , willing to go on the road ," " ambitious man, not tired of life, can get permanent position," " hustlers only need apply," " office -boy , willing and ambitious,”

“ best of references demanded ,”

“ applications

considered only from sober men ,” “ no boozers need apply ," " applicant must dress well and have good personal appearance," “ small capital needed,” — and so this list, too , goes on, suggesting in every line the difficulties employers have in securing the help of well-trained , competent, ambitious workers.

Is war menacing the world ? All articles advertised for sale are urged on buyers with the statement that they are to be used

in some way connected with the war,-- sewing machines will make garments for soldiers , and piano-players will play martial

music ; “ personals ” are used to communicate with absent friends or to locate wounded relatives; 16 Kurt Schwarz in London advertises that he has changed his name to Curtis Black , while

Schmidts become Smiths, and Müllers, Millers ; " want ads” in

English papers are printed in the French , Dutch , and Russian languages ; newspapers offer to translate foreign advertisements

into English, and the reverse ; “ situations wanted ” become “ situations needed ," and they indicate that the loss of occupa tion is most felt at first in what the English call the middle class , — “ stranded Englishman , expelled from Germany needs work ;" innumerable sales are advertised of clothing, jewelry , furniture , automobiles , pianos, houses, and of pets of every

description ; firms advertise that they look for lost luggage, and others that they will discover the secret of making articles hitherto made in Germany; books are advertised describing the 16 It was estimated that early in September, 1914 , the Petit Parisien was printing advertisements to the amount of $ 4000 per week that were used by families separated by the war to get into communication with each

other. Cable from Paris to New York Times, September 25 , 1914 . Many advertisements for news of relatives lost in the war appeared in Amer