The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-15
Broad and Butter,

|
Its q very clear case OF nepatives ),
ne said, summing up the replies which
ne had made to questions Of him con-
corning young girl for whom the
problem Of bread and butter has arisen
brother upon whom to rely for support?
She has all four, but no ono of Them
both can and will burden himself or
herself with the girl.
| "Would it bo we'll for her to be thus
dependent, If she mlght?' Mol
Is there any apparent way by which
she can support herself?' No!
| Would it be we'll for her to be
thus independent il she might?' Mol"
!, NO wonder that somebody prop0unds
tlc query, "What are we to do with
our daughters?" and then devotes a
Whole lecture to answering it, Aud
| then doubt If it is answered.
The young girl in question has been
brought up in the West, in u fashion of
reckless prodigality, and not only has
not tho faintest idea Of the value of
money or how it should be handled. but
has also Uhe idea that only the very
BEST and the most expensive Of every.
thing to cat, drink and wear Is possible
forh rher, and in these ideas her friends ioin
VINO are willing to aid hor but cannot
ana those who could aid her but will
not. "A general chorus of dismayo1
"lmposslblesl'' would arise from all side,
IL IL should be suggested that she take
u SIDE room in q third-rate boarding
house at $l per week, with table-boari
at Us, wash out all her smaller articles
OF clothing in her hand basin and wear
Them without ironing, and get along
WIN two very cheap dresses Il year.
making them herself in the evenings.
Yet how else do the thousands of
self'supporting girls who have no spe-
clal training III amy branch Of lucrative
labor manage their weekly financial
problem?
VI SUPPOSE" said my partner in the
conversation quoted above, "that there
are very few positions which u young
woman who has no special training Uf
any KIND, can get, which will pay ten
dollars Il week, and that sum would be
ontlrely inadequate to the necessities of
the one Ill question, even if she could
''Icn dollars! L fancy that there arc
D'tC rev even of those who are trained
80 far as II girl Of twenty can be trained,
who can command that sum.n
People who SEQ tho young ladies who
Stand behind The counters at our splen-
old city establishments which yield
royal incomes to the merchant princes
VINO arc ut their head; young fladies of
good education and evidently refined
LaDlts and tastes, neatly and stylishly
dressed, bright and cheerful in manner
,.-people who do not know havo very
llttle Idea OF the salaries which these
girls receive for standing from eight in
the morning til six in the evening, and
goods aid s6llihg 'CiitllirT.t nf showing
wen, Ill one Of our two largest dry
sooas establishments in Boston they
Will rarely engage IL new salesgirl unless
sho Is Il high school graduate and has u
good homo in which to 1.-Two. Tley will
thon make her sign an agreement to
work for them one year at u givon ST.
larry, said salary being 81 per week. At
THIS rate Of payment they by no means
teach her "the business" us BOYS OK
pect to DO taught under similar circum.
stances, nor is there amy possibility OF
rising to really valuable positions. They
are taught merely to sell goods behind
counter, and IL they remain, and be-
come expert and successful, their ST.
iarlcs are very slowly raised after the
nrsC year, but OF tho foW who can stand
the work, and who do not choose rather
to marry the first man who offers, and
VINO are clever enough to bo successful,
worry, very few ever receive dollar
over SG pcr week. And on this they
must live and bo always stylish and
Keep up appearances, for il they arc
not well dressed they cannot keep their
placeBl
All II IS no wonder that we often
hear fearful whisperings Of salesgirls
VINO nave sold that which is far more
precious than tho goods Oh the shelves,
Ill The vain struggle between poverty
and necessity.
And tho question is how can this dire
evil be remedied2 What hand ispower-
flll enough to reach and check it2
Sowing girls, if dcft-handod, clear
Drained, physically strong and devoted
To their work, may earn more--from
eight to ten dollars being the average
salary paid good workers in the great
dress-making establishments, but this
Is only after considerable experience,
and it is difficult, to begin with, to get
into these places at all.
1t is only by greatest good luck, and
through very influential friends, that a
girl can get Il place in any Of our lib
raries; one who was recently added to
the three or four already at tho State
library was very fortunate, but her pay
is but S. per week.
Teachers in the large cities are better
paid, but long training, is necessary,
beside unusual ability, and even then it
is exceedingly difficult to get situations,
as hundreds of normal school graduates
in every State could tell you.
Its indeed a"clear case of negatiyes!'