Hi Mike- Nice work!! How fun-! Never would have guessed~!! And the term being used as late as 1948(and beyond?)! And to think I worked in the employment/recruitment arena for 20 years!:-)! If I had to "guess" I was going to say it may have been a Pinkerton office- I kept buzzing around that thought- but was baffled as to why it did not just say Pinkerton- ! I really appreciate also the new ebooks links(uofv and eldritch)---these really help cut down on my book purchases- !!I will read the books you mention at the sites!!!! I keep hoping that MOA will change their format:-! but they really have done a tremendous job on their content!! Definitely enjoying, Thanks! I hope it is OK to transfer your answer over to the folks at California History! Best, Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Michael White <white@mae.engr.ucdavis.edu> To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, October 14, 2000 6:49 PM Subject: [CAMARIPO] Re: INTELLIGENCE OFFICE-1854 >Carolyn, > I think I have found you answer. The sources for the information >are no other than Nathaniel Hawthorne's little work called "The >Intelligence Office" (March 1844) and chapter 22 of Herman Melville's >book "The Confidence-Man" (1857). Both are quite entertaining to >read. I will give a little of the latter here... > > > CHAPTER XXII. > IN THE POLITE SPIRIT OF THE TUSCULAN DISPUTATIONS. > > -- "'PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICE' -- novel idea! But > how did you come to dream that I wanted anything in your absurd line, > eh?" > ... > > "Oh, respected sir," whined the other, crouching a pace nearer, > and, in his obsequiousness, seeming to wag his very coat-tails > behind him, shabby though they were, "oh, sir, from long experience, > one glance tells me the gentleman who is in need of our humble > services." > > "But suppose I did want a boy -- what they jocosely call a good > boy -- how could your absurd office help me? -- Philosophical > Intelligence Office?" > > "Yes, respected sir, an office founded on strictly philosophical > and physio -- " > > "Look you -- come up here -- how, by philosophy or physiology > either, make good boys to order? Come up here. Don't give me a > crick in the neck. Come up here, come, sir, come," calling as if to > his pointer. "Tell me, how put the requisite assortment of good > qualities into a boy, as the assorted mince into the pie?" > > "Respected sir, our office -- " > > "You talk much of that office. Where is it? On board this boat?" > > "Oh no, sir, I just came aboard. Our office -- " > > "Came aboard at that last landing, eh? Pray, do you know a > herb-doctor there? Smooth scamp in a snuff-colored surtout?" > ... > >It takes a while to find out what they are talking about - but a quite >enjoyable read. In short, an "Intelligence Office" is an employment >agency. > >It seems that the term is still in use - at least in Missouri. The >St. Louis City Revised Code section 8.40.010 says: > > 8.40.010 Intelligence office defined. > > Whosoever shall open or keep an office or place in the City for > the purpose of obtaining employment for others, or obtaining > employees for others, or giving information whereby employers or > employees may be obtained for a compensation to be paid by either > party, shall be deemed to be the keeper of an intelligence > office. (1948 C. Ch. 21 ' 1: 1960 C. ' 652.010.) > >And, in St. Joseph, MO a cost of an "Employment or intelligence >office" business license starts at $25/year. > >To read Herman Melville's "The Confidence-Man" (1857) follow the link >with the same title (under his name) from the following page. >http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/modeng/modengM.browse.html > >To read Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Intelligence Office" in the United >States Democratic Review (Mar 1844) go to the MOA database at Cornell: >http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/moa/browse.author/h.71.html >[Note: This was reprinted in 1854? in "Mosses from an Old Manse" which >you can find at: http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/intel.html ] > >Enjoy, > - Mike >> >>Looking at a street scene photo (ambrotype), Sonora-1854, one of the >>buildings has a sign that reads: >> >>INTELLIGENCE OFFICE >> >>Anyone know what that is referring to? >> >>Thanks, Carolyn >>