The Drapers of Devonport and Their Assistants: To the Editor of the Western Daily Mercury: Sir, – In this town there is a large class of persons who look forward with delight the approach of winter: they hail its long dark evenings as the time for improvement – spiritual and mental; the time when the health and strength which has somewhat decayed through the long hours and increased work of the summer months shall re-established, and they shall once more enjoy the intercourse the friends they love. This class is the drapers’ assistants. It has for some years been the rule to commence closing on the 1st October at seven o’clock, a rule which has held good through the winter months — then, be it remembered, it is for the most part near eight before the assistants can leave the shop – but this year the hope which had been fostered by many in this respect has been frustrated. In Plymouth this rule has been observed almost without an exception, in Devonport some few of the employers commenced the practice, but it was to be of short duration, for one man – there’s a black sheep in every flock – interferes. He craves the small amount of liberty which the white slaves of Britain have hitherto enjoyed; body and soul might be sold to fill his coffers, and further his ends; he interferes, and, with one noble exception (Messrs. Pinsent and Co.), he gets the drapers of break this rule, and to prolong the hours business from seven to eight o’clock. Many thanks for his Christian charity! There must drapers’ assistants, but many of your readers know that the thrush has often piped his flute-like melodies over those who have been hurried to the tomb by the close confinement and unhealthy atmosphere they have been obliged endure; their employers, many of them men holding prominent places in the Church and in society, for the most part caring little or nothing for the welfare of those who get them their gain. The assistants have souls: the records of our churches, and the young in our Sabbath Schools, testify that a large number of them know the value of a soul. Do these souls require no refreshing from the hill of Sion, save that which they receive on the Sabbath day? They have minds, they possess talents; is an employer justified in keeping those minds barren, dry and husky, or in giving the employed no opportunity to improve or use their talents? Certainly not: To that employer who has been the means of robbing the employed of their privilege, nay, their right, I would humbly commend the lesson of our Master, “Love thy neighbour as thyself;” whilst through the columns of your widely circulated paper I would appeal to the public to mark with disapprobation such meanness of principle, by making their purchases before seven o’clock. With an apology for thus intruding on your valuable space, I remain, sir, yours truly, W. B. H.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0741 Devonport: Richard Steele Pinsent: 1820 – 1864