Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-10-02
For the vermont Waichma
Plain Talk and Some Figures.

My friend, Mrs. d., called upon me last
evening, and our conversation chanced to
turn upon hired girls and their wages. We
were speaking of family who had been
without help, except by the day. for several
weeks, and were anxious to find strong, ca
pable girl that would do the work for fam
lily of six, with good deal of company for
the sum of one dollar and fifty cents per
week | remarked that no girl ought to
work for that amount, for she could not lay
by anything at such wages. Mrs. d. frankly
said girls could not, and dress as they wanted
to. We did not discuss the question fully,
but it gave rise to train of thought, the re-
suit of which wish to place before you.
We will suppose that a good, capable
girl, without a home or parents, engages to
work for one dollar and fifty cents per week.
If she attends strictly to her work, and is
not i'll at all, she will earn in one year $500.
We will suppose that she is church-mem-
Der, and wishes to give for the support of
her church, Sabbath-school, missions, and
an occasional token of remembrance to her
teacher, superintendent, or the pastors wife
at Christmas-for girls don't like to appear
stingy and little about such things. This,
we will suppose, will take one-tenth of her
income-S7.S0. Most girls doing house
work will wear out three pairs of shoes every
year AT two dollars per pair, this bill will
be 5000, also one pair of rubbers, for
which count fifty cents more. Sixty yards
of print seems a great amount, but it will
only make four print dresses aud as many
kitchen aprons, at a cost OF $500. Innings,
buttons, braid, and cutting and making of
the same will be not less than $780, Two
worsted dresses, twenty yards in each, at
" fN-a ward will cost e u ON
Cutting and making the same, $1,000; lin
ings, buttons and trimmings not less than
| 81 80 cents each Two hats at $500 each; two
pairs gloves at sl.00; corsets, Sl.00 per pair ;
dozen ruches, twenty-five cents two sets
| collars and cuffs, at forty cents set two
ueckties at thirty-seven cents each; four
pairs of cotton hose for twenty-five cents,
| and two pairs of wooden hose at fifty cents,
are no more than girl needs. One skirt at
| 100; four handkerchiefs, fifty cents; ten
Yards cotton cloth, Sl.00, aud one suit OF
| flanuels at Sl50, will be needed every year
to keep her wardrobe in good repair. Nearly
every year something will be required In
the shape OF an outside garment, sometimes
| a shawl, sometimes waterproof, 1t IS safe
enough to say that it will cost $500, and
| sometimes more. OF course she wants to
write some letters, and Sl.00 is not too much
for stationery aud paper. Books, papers
and magazines are mental necessity, and
$500 will hardly make a taste of brain food
she must depend on her employers for the
rest
Now | have no fears that have over
rated articles, but know have not men
toned many necessities. | have not spoken
of scarfs, wells, needles, buttons, pins, combs,
brushes, ETC., that must be had, and cost
money. Dentists bills have not been
brought into account, yet we know they are
not few nor small.
Let us see how much the girl has left fol