Morris tribune., 1884-03-05

than workingmen. If he asks himself
"Whyg it is easy for reflection to give
answer. They are paid less for their labor
than men. Their expenses are equal, often
greater. There are, too, numerous places for
the exclusive patronage Of men where
nutritious food can be obtained for small
sum.
There are no like places open to women in
this city. In the eating-houses they can
frequent for a small amount they may APP
pease hunger; they cannot satisfy it, Men
will confide in acquaintance, appeal to
strangers, resort to trickery to get enough to
eat. There is no silence prouder than that Of
a hungry woman who desires to keep posi-
ton Of respectability.
zone can be hungry and no one know it,"
said young girl to the writer one day, "but
if ones clothes are shabby every one knows
it." This is the feeling that actuates SO many
women in the natural and laudable effort to
appear in garments that shall not evince their
poverty to the world to deprive themselves of
enough to eat.
Entering q Dearborn street restaurant
largely patronized ct the noon hour by
women employed down town, reporter
whose modesty was ruthlessly destroyed in
youth, with his usual sang froid seated him
self in the department especially allotted to
ladies. He ordered a repast and proceeded
leisurely to scan the appearance Of the women
at the tables and the food before them. They
were uniformly well dressed.
There was one pretty, pale-faced girl near
him whose lunch consisted of two slices of
Vienna bread, watery boiled potato and a
piece Of pie. By reference to the menu it
was found that this meal cost Is cents.
Across the table sat q young woman with
crow-feet tracks about her eyes that time
alone would not have planted there till she
was As. A glance at the food with which she
sustained herself explained their existence.
They were the way marks of exhaustion. The
fuel with which she was feeding her physical
machinery to keep it in running order con-
sisted of the regulation two slices Of Vienna
bread, small dish of stewed tomatoes, and a
cup of tea. This meal also cost Is cents
Not one in ten of the women eating in this
place were served with meat. There were
few whose outlay exceeded 20 cents. The
bill of fare showed that for this sum fish or
several kinds of meat under the head of
"entrees" could be obtained, these orders, &C
cording to custom, being accompanied with
bread, butter and potatoes. Few of the
women who expended 20 cents awaited them
selves of this list, but ordered dishes far less
nutritious.
do think the girls that work here have
enough to eat?" snapped the harp-featured,
black-eyed foreman of factory where girls
are exclusively employed. II don't think
nothin' bout it. just know there's lots of
| 'em that don't. Some live at home, and of
course they do. The most Of the others just
rent rooms They don't board nowhere.
They run out at noon and get bite. Lots
of 'em don't have no stoves in their rooms,
winter in, winter out. Some have little oil
stoves that they cook bit on. Others just
buy something at the bakers and sometimes
bologna or the like. That's just how they
| lives, if you want to know. I wish some OF
| the folks that go bout exhorting poor girls
| bout the beauty Of honest toll an the ter
rors of sinful idleness would have to live an
work as some of these girls do. There'd be
less tall1in' and more doin'."
"Do you think there are any girls working
in this store who do not have enough to eatg
The question was asked of young sales
woman in one Of the w-priced State street
establishments. She arose to answer the in
quiry from her seat on luxurious and invit
ing nail key that the thoughtfulness of hel
employers had placed behind the counter fol
her to rest upon in her idle moments.
II often think that some do not"
"Do they say so!'
"Bless you, no. Do you suppose a CIR
would tell that of all thingss live at home
I know I'd starve if didn't have any more
to eat than some of these girls. Actually,
know girls who just rent rooms and board
themselves, who, I believe, don't have vegeta
bles or meat once week. There comes tn,
f1oor-walker" and she busted herself with hel
stock.
Numerous young girls employed in State
street stores eat at the noon hour in res
taurant advertised as lunch-housef for ladies
"Their checks, !" divulged one of the mattresses
@never exceed IL cents. They have the sam,
things every day"
"What are theyp
"a cup of tea, bread, butter and piece O
pie"
"Please bring me those things" requested
the reporter.
The spread" was brought. There was
small cup partly filed with a decoction tn
color of tea. Itpossessed a faint fragrance sug
gestive of tea. There were two slices of brea'
thin enough to have been grudgingly Gu
during famine. The plate of suppose'
butter had the circumference of a 25-cen
piece and q trifle more thickness. The size o
the triangle of apple pie was proof agains
its injury to digestion. This constitutes tn
food of many growing girls whose work an
atmospheric surroundings are enough to i'm
pair health if they were amply sustaine'
with wholesome food. Every one knows tina
hunger has wonderful faculty for magnify
ing life's ills
A satisfying meals often removes detection
that is almost desperation or despair. TIL
undeveloped girl, with her uniformed MINI
and growing body, craving hearty food wit
the hunger of youth, deprived of it is pre-.
to allurements and phantasies she woult
never be subjected to if her physical system
was properly nurtured. Is it any wonde
that virtue, Sitting at her scanty meals
looks askant at the plethoric repast Of vice
and sometimes reasons immortality less indie
cent than hunger? Is it any wonder if tn
road of dishonor seems filed with plenty ant
preferable to the path of chastity, with wan
as companion? This is not an epoch o
ELUSIVE and demonstrative martyrdom. ]
is an age when daily, in this productive LAM
where markets and warehouses are crowdea
with provisions, woman go about their hon
est toll lacking proper and sufficient food.
A Theatre Trap.
| Interview with Manager.l