Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-03-06
A Heroine in Rags.

Jacqueline Dubois was not French,
though her name would seem to indi-
cate that such was the case. She was
an American working-girl Of mixed
parentage, her father being of French
extraction and her mother true-born
American.
She had neither beauty nor education
10 assist her to gain livelihood; hence
she was obliged TO toll daily in an i'm
mense factory, along with at least a
hundred other unfortunate girls and
women.
The factory was rattling and buzzing
away in the midst of one of the busiest
parts of a great city. 1t had been
there for years, and its tall, grimy
brick walls stood like a specter amid
the busy marts of trade which sur
rounded it.
The office of this factory was upon
the ground floor, easy Of access and a
model Of ease, elegance and comfort.
The owner was very robust, fat in opu-
lence; prominent member of an up
town church: 4 man whose name was
frequently seen in the uaIly papers
heading some subscription for the sup
port of foreign missions with a liberal
donation. Ii was a good advertise
ment. He liked il; it paid well.
This good mans factory room, where
his hundred female slaves toiled through
the week to fatten his already adipose
purse, did not possess a seat, except the
few boxes the girls had begged from
the store-room TO receive their weary
bodies after their limbs had given out
and refused longer to support them.
These girls worked from seven O'Clock
in the morning until six At night for
how much: Not enough 10 buy food
proper for their sustenance, not enough
10 keep blood in their veins and
strength in their muscles. 1t is the
bitter truth, as many know too well,
that the majority of these workers re-
ceive only from two to three dollars per
week, or less than fifty cents per day.
Then, hanging over them like Damo-
clean sword, is the docking system,
which eats into their wages like hun
gry rat into the malt. These hard
working souls have made the opulent
PROPRIETOR, who now can scarcely spare
an hour day to business, as his time
is entirely taken up by drives, clubs,
public gatherings and other pleasures.
In this den-yes, den that is the
right word. What better name for a
place where young girls are taught
that their time is almost worthless, and
learn the usefulness of honest effort. In
this den Jacqueline Dubois labored.
She was very earnest worker, and
wonderfully adept, consequently she
was one Of those who received three
dollars per week. She was generous
10 fault, and frequently divided the
scanty luncheon she had provided with
a fellow-worker less fortunate than
herself. Thus she made friends and
thus she made enemies, for the envious
and small-souled cannot call generosity
friend.
Some few girls there, who were
dressed much better than their position
should indicate. thus making their
means of procuring their finery equivo-
cal looked down upon her and sneer-
ingly remarked:
'.That Jac. Dubois is terribly stuck
up for as homely girl as she is"
But blessed is plain, honest face TO
Il girl in these circumstances, as 1t
keeps her from temptations and mise
ries.
JAG. Dubois, as they called her, had
a larger soul and a more intrepid spirit
than all the envious lot put together
1t was bright, sunshiny day in May,
almost the first bright day we had ex-
perienced. 1t cheered the hearts Of the
girls and incited them to renewed ef-
forts. Jac. Dubois had worked hard all
the forenoon, but she was not tired, she
was happy. Her face sparkled with
vivacity and her mouth wreathed itself
In many smiles. She had been singing,
as she worked, singing snatches of Mis-
sion School melody, which harmonized
strangely with the whirl of the machin-
cry.
The reason she was so happy was be-
cause her mind was so filled with the
image of young and handsome man.
She had met George Dunham few
evenings before at friends. He was a
young carpenter, and hard working
man. They had since been walking
together, and he had asked her If he
might Inger near the factory after
working hours and walk with her
homeward. .si..
1t was two long miles from the factory
to JAG. s home but the poor have to
live where the rent is cheap, and many
have greater distance than this to
walk after their days work.
1t was the hour of noon. JAG. had
eaten her luncheon and made known
her determination of going down on
the street TO get breath of fresh air.
Several girls offered to accompany her,
SO that quite a number were in the
party that strolled down the sunny
street to a busy thoroughfare below.