If you feel that you’d like to get away from it all and pop back to August 1839 for a while, I have a number of employment opportunities that you could consider. Some might require a level of experience that may take some time to acquire, but others? Well, have a look.
Walters and Llewellyn of Neath wanted someone to start immediately. A ‘young man to superintend a timber yard.’ That can’t be that difficult, can it? Persuading them that you are young might be the tricky part. In Monmouth they seemed less fixated on age. They just wanted a ‘respectable youth,’ which you could probably pull off, if the lighting wasn’t too bright. Mr Henry Lane was looking for someone to start immediately, as an apprentice to a ‘brightsmith and bell-hanger.’ Now, I have no idea what that is, but is does sound rather exciting.
The best that Merthyr Tydfil could offer was a post for a ‘steady active young man, who thoroughly understands his business, and is perfectly conversant with the Welsh language.’ You see, this emphasis on ‘youth’ I can’t regard as anything other than discriminatory to those of us of mature years. So what with that and the Welsh and the requirement ‘to produce satisfactory testimonials,’ I suggest we look elsewhere. Who wants to be a grocer’s assistant anyway?
There are better opportunities if you want a career in clothing and soft furnishings. Back in Neath, Rees Morgan was looking for an active youth, as an apprentice to the drapery business. For an immediate start, too. The ‘active’ requirement I am not sure about, unless Rees Morgan was a pioneer of leisure wear and the town’s leading supplier of tracksuits, which, you will have noticed, are still the garments of choice for a posh night out in Neath. Down in Carmarthen they were a little more demanding. W. G. Jones of King Street wanted, ‘as an apprentice in the linen and woollen drapery business, a well- educated youth, who will have every advantage in learning the above business, in all its branches, and who will be treated as one of the family. A lad acquainted with the English and Welsh languages would be preferred.’
If you feel you want to set your sights a little higher (and why not?) Mr F. C Batt, surgeon, in Abergavenny was looking for a ‘medical pupil.’ It is a vacancy ‘for a well-educated youth, as an indoor or outdoor articled pupil, who will receive all the advantages in his professional education which an extensive private Practice and Public dispensary can afford.’ An opportunity certainly and why not, indeed, learn on the job in the days before anaesthesia? One thing troubles me about this, though. I mean, how much call was there in Abergavenny for an ‘outdoor’ surgeon?
The North Wales Chronicle tells us that a curate is wanted for the Parish of LIanfihangel y Pennant, Carnarvonshire; ‘the duties to be entered upon immediately.’ If you don’t feel ready for that sort of responsibility, then in Newport there was a post of assistant curate, in a District Church. We are told that ‘the Church is large and requires a powerful voice and a distinct utterance.’ Essentially, they were looking for someone who was able to shout in both English and Welsh.
If you don’t possess the outgoing personality that such duties must demand , and you are instead a person of ‘sober and active habits,’ then you are invited to apply to the town of Swansea ‘to fill the situation of surveyor to supervise the implementation of Swansea Paving and Lighting Act.’ You will be required to ‘devote the whole of your time to the duties of your office’ – so no moonlighting there.
The Looking Glass and Picture Frame Manufactory of Wind-street, Swansea wanted ‘an intelligent youth, of respectable connections,’ which in Swansea is still a disappointingly small field, as an apprentice ‘to be fully instructed in each branch of the business, treated as one of the family, therefore a moderate premium will be expected.’
Not a bad arrangement and it would be certainly worth that ‘moderate premium’ if you could palm off that spotty youth of yours who would otherwise hang around the kitchen, lolling in front of the fire, knocking out poems of unrequited love to the girl at the pie shop.
Not all the advertisements are quite so ordinary. The Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette showed admirable enterprise, reaching out across the world. ‘Wanted immediately. A sensible, competent confidential person, who is capable of doing all the talking, and listening to complaints. About 15 dollars per week will be given him. Apply at this office.— New York Morning Herald.’ Hmm. The unexpected prominence of the ‘complaints’ word, does suggest that standards in journalism in New York had been allowed to slip.
It is that old problem, isn’t it? Acquiring the experience so that you can put that first tentative foot on the ladder. You can’t help thinking that advertisements for a ‘working bailiff who thoroughly understands the management of the farming business’ in Monmouth and one for a journeymen tallow chandler, who is both ‘steady and sober’ and ‘thoroughly understands the tallow chandlery business,’ are a touch restrictive. Mind you, I’d probably struggle with the final requirement – ‘None need apply only those who can produce all unexceptionable character from his last employer.’
Some job-seekers took our advertisements of their own. We learn that in Cardiff , ‘A young man, aged 20, of most respectable connexions, is desirous of obtaining a situation as an accomptant. He is well acquainted with the theory of book-keeping, and writes a good hand. Salary not so much an object, as an introduction to business.’ I can’t help but think that he is selling himself short.
There is a similar announcement in Newport from a young man, 32, who ‘wishes to engage himself as groom to ride Second Horse, weighs 8st. 10lbs, knows London well, and can have an unexceptionable character from his late employer; would have no objection to drive, if required.’ Riding second horse? If he had been working in Newport he would probably spent his formative years riding shotgun.
Words: Geoff Brookes
Feature image: Brightsmith (Whitesmith) is a person who finishes and polishes metals, particularly tin plate and galvanized iron.
