The Labor enquirer., 1886-01-30
JANET POWERS.
How Perseverance,, Patience,
Industry Have Failed to
Bring Contentment,
Twenty-Five Years Of Economy
Brings Only Intensified
Poverty and Want.
Private Ownership in the Means Of
Life Must be Abolished, and
Natural Law Enthroned.

Natural Law Enthroned.
For The Enquirer. "a
Contentment is blessed gift to the
sorrow-laden and the toiler. Perserver-
ance, patience, industry and economy
are sure to lead to success, prosperity
and happiness. Whoever is willing to
work and wait. no matter how hard
their lot or how long the road, may be
sure Of rest. enjoyment, triumph in the
end" 1T al
Janet Powers. sitting in secluded
nook in quiet church, in the city,tried
to feel comforted by these. words, but
failed. She was little old maid work
ing in shirt factory, in the center Of
the city, and living in one little room by
herself, as far out as she could walk, to
save rent. .r,., s,.,rs...,. e. .,.,.ny ~
. She had worked and saved and plod-
ded patiently along, as a meek ,dlsposi-
ton inclined her to do; for twenty five
years, since she was twelve wears old,
in fact She had never missed in all
that time half a dozen days from the
shop when there was work. All her house
work was performed by her own hands
every garment she wore was made or
fixed over" by herself between the
hours of nine and twelve or one at night,
Was not that industry? And she had
turned her dresses and trimmed her
own hats. and patched her shoes. kin
died her fire anew twice a day to save
fuel, drank weak tea and eaten warmed
over scraps of meat, and walked four
miles day to avoid paving car fare.
Wasn't that economy? o.. r>..
And she had never complained or
grumbled or talked back" to the fore
lady, never joined strike or remon-
strated at lowering of wages. Wasn't
that patience? And she had waited ST.
lentlv, and had crushed down envious,
tired, miserable thoughts. Was not that
as near contentment as possible? And
how much nearer to-day was she to sue
cess, prosperity and happiness than
when she first began Not jot. She
had not $40 in the world should illness
or sickness overtake her, she had few
friends and they were poor as herself.
The little education she once received
was almost forgotten. Her love of
books and fondness for scientific sub
iects had died out for lack of opportuni-
ties to cultivate them. The one little
romance of her life had been forced to
die because of poverty; she was not
likely noaO to meet congenial soul in
the monotonous walk to and from work
or in the noisy factory. and the congen-
ial soul would not have recognized its
mate in the little humble, withered
body dressed in rusty black if she had.
What chance for happiness was there for
her? A few years OF toll, of frugal liv-
ing, of loneliness and then the hospital
and an unknown grave in the potter's
feld-this was all the reward she could
possibly expect for her long waiting and
patience and industry. A beautiful,
lady passed her ON the
pavement. 1t was the daughter of her
employer; young, petted, beloved and
happy. She had never been industrious
or patient or economical in her life, yet
all the rewards of these virtues seemed
to be hers.
Two other young ladies passed her
well-dressed, self assured and prosper
Once they had worked
with her in the factory. Chance threw
better positions in their wsv before
wears of drudgerv had crushed their en-
ergv and ambition. She remembered
another of her co-workers whom she
had seen driving in an elegant carriage
dashingly7 dressed. only tie day before.
She sighed thinking of her; after all,
perhaps her own plain face alone had
saved her from escaping her hard lot in
that way. Perhaps in some way she
had been to.blame for not directing her
efforts in different direction. Perhaps
she ought to have studied and worked to
enter some higher sphere. But alas,
when one is likely to starve without
work the first thing offered Is the one
most likely to be tried. And then, when
one is tired body, heart and soul with
the lowly struggle, there is little strenth
left with which to climb to higher
places. And the "higher places" are
crowded. and the struggling class still
exists, no matter what individual sue
ceeds in reaching them. - .rr'f4.
Industry, patience and perseverance
ought to bring success. Truth, honesty,
generosity, kindness ought to carry one
through the world happily. 81 Natural
morality ought naturally TO bring sue
cess and enjoyment; that it does not
must be owing to unnatural systems and
conditions. To be sure there are indi-
vidual cases where indomitable will and
energy have overcome every obstacle
but with the growth of the systems and
private ownership of all new inventions
every day the chances for success grow
less and less. And '.indomitable en-.
ergyn is as apt to end in a suicides grave
as on thetop round of the ladder.
To the Janet Powers and her SISTER