St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-06

we get. If she found out all there was
to say it would make better reading
than anything she told yet"
A German girl spoke up and said:
$3.50 last week." Here the girls moved
away from the table and l failed to
catch any more of their conversation,
but my curiosity was aroused to see
what other advantages the place could
offer to make $3.50 per week
SEEM LIKE GOOD PAY.
I reflected that perhaps knitting by
machinery was very easy work: that
working hours were unusually short,
the factory extra neat and pleasant, or
som ething of that sort. At any rate, i
determined to take the first leisure
afternoon that occurred and look in On
my friends at the knitting factory, and,
on second thought, l remembered to
have seen their display at the exposition
last fall, and heard many of the favora-
bic comments that it gained. Finding
that the factory was located at II and 10
Third street north, was passing there
one day just at noon, and, seeing some
of the girls coming out, | said:
"Girls, how do you get up to the fac
tory?"
sup two flights to the Office or three
flights to the factory" went up as
ullCStSN. oIlo Dull VII Liz
third floor of substantial red brick
building. The floor or work-room in
question is quite long and narrow; it
| evidently lacks proper means of ventila-
ton. / noticed the air seemed close
and unwholesome, and while the place
is no dirtier than many other factories,
it looks as if thorough cleaning would
! be a much-needed improvement. A
large number of girls were busy with
their lunches. Not wishing to disturb
them in this pleasant occupation. L
about the room until the
girls had finished their dinners
DURING THE NOON HOUR
of course the machinery was not in OPP
Grafton, but in most factories the girls
tongues make more noise at noon hour
than any machinery ever invented. l
wondered if they were so quiet from
choice or from habit, induced by disci-
pline. l noticed very pretty, we'll
dressed little lady fitting around here
and there amongst the girls, stopping
now and then to accept bit of pie or
| cake, or perhaps a generous half of
some girls apple or orange. From ex-
| perience [ know a specimen of the
genus ''forelady'' as far off as l can see
her, and Immediately placed this little
lady in that class. ''Still," thought L,
ssthis forelady must be better than the
average, for she isn't too proud to eat
her dinner with the girls, seeming to be
very companionable." Soon she put on
a jacket and jaunty little wrap and
passed out. Now for my opportunity !!
'Girls, was that the forelady who just
went out?"
eyes," was the reply from several.
"Isn't she sweet" | continued, 81 see
she is very friendly with the girls and
shares her lunch with some of you.''
The girls didn't smile at all; they looked
as though they had something to say.
but felt a little doubtful of saying it..
| Noticing the looks and remembering
hadn't seen her give anything in return
for favors received, l said, Surely,
| girls, she doesn't ask you to furnish her
| any herself?" The girls seemed to see
| the ride llous side of the question as
| they smiled at each other, saying:
SThat's what she does ;she doesn't ever
say please, but takes what she fancies,
seeming to think that the compliment is
| all on our SIDE"
| 81 had Just as soon give Miss NJ
| part of my dinners any time if she was
hungry" said a good-hearted little girl
All said they had just as soon divide with
anybody that was needy, and know by
| IlldU SlIlS are S6HcT-
| Gus, but it seemed to be the opinion, all
around, that it was rather small on the
part of the forelady, whose earnings
were comparatively large, to exact a
| portion of her board off others in less
fortunate circumstances.
l didn't say anything but mentally
resolved that if ever forelady should
| become a self-invited boarder of nv
lunch basket that would make her up
little dinner that would probably
SPOIL HER APPETITE
for week or so. By this time the girls
had become somewhat noisy, and said,
SHOW is it, girls, can you talk here in
working hours?"
mo, there is rule against it," "And
what's more, we are not allowed to sing,
| or laugh, or eat, or look out the Win
dowS burning working hours" chimed
in a chorus of voices.
"How do they make such rules
work?"
80, we have kind of overseer here,
| just as they used to have over the Mig
gers down south; he keeps his little
| book and when he catches a girl break
ing one of those rules he just marks it
down."
''Well, what happens then?"
CATER a girl gets the right number of
| marks either he makes it so disagreeabIe
for her that she leaves or else dis
charges her."
found that the girls were not agreed
as to the number of marks necessary for
dismissal, but they gave me plenty of
evidence to verify the above assertions.
A number of the girls limited, however,
that it made quite difference whether
the offending girl was favorite or not.
Said one: HE threatens to paint the
windows so as to take away the tempta-
ton of looking out.'
just at this moment the 1 o'clock
whistle blew.
The machinery started and every one
settled down to work. ! saw the over