Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-20

}cWs~"S ~ .tet.li ha'l that Oh he
Map(ANN, WIS, believes that in
lU taking the wolf,
Care. sway with him as he goes sailing
mt TO the west, he leaves "wifie and wee
onesn in peace and comfort. II the wife
he brave he never suspects that he left
the sbe-Wolf, more savage than her mate,
n possession of the ingle. side.
r. helps the husband support his
snare of the load to imagine that
he cSrries by 50 much the heapler
shHre that the "women at home have an
EASY time Of it." A wise helpmeet is
Iosth TO rob him of the stimulus that Is
in itself reward, while she revolvee
cesselesslY ways and means, not for get
ting rid of the burden, but for distribu-
ting It more equally. Sharing her solicit
tude with "the girls" she inspires them
with her ambitions, quickened by the
restlessness thst comes to young, growing
creatures cooped in narrow nest. They
coyet pretty things worn and possessed
by other girls, and admired as accessories
TO their charms by young men. In q
change of place and occupation they hope
20 help their parents and to "better"
themselves.
These are, briefly, some Of the motives
that impel throngs of "girls" Of various
ages and conditions to enter the many
avenues Of labor open and opening to our
sex in city and town. Action upon these
motives is draining young blood from
hamlet and farm, where work does not
command wages in hard cash. Betty's
slow hoardipgs of butter and egg money
1nffhIa Union 10 hnayc
how much her cousin, who went to town
three yesrs age. is making in q
lace factory for fancy store. The
isght Of the cousins cheap fnery which
regsles Betty's eyes during the others
vacation is FIRE to the kerosene stepped
cotton of discomfort. Before another
spring trebles the tale Of farm work Betty
mss a "place" IN town and calls herself
nLizzie."
friend Of mine, whose Office is In the
lsrger city, meets her and hundreds Of
her comrades every day on the Brook
Ign bridge. he tells me, with
shade Of IN elfsh concern on his.
Ilntelligent young face, that he doss'
"not quite know what to think Of
them" They are decent girls, according
to him, but loud and forward, with q,
smack Of defiance In their manner which
is bis most serious puzzle. "Shopgirl" Is
stamped oil over them, however well they
may be dressed. They return the familiar
stare Of rude men fearlessly, although not
always boldly, get up sham flirtatiens on
slight provocAtion, and talk among them
selves in utter disregard Of possible and
certain listeners, gigglipg continuously,
and often giving way to slight shrieks.
Betty Lizzie and her kinswoman con-
mont you in nearly every store resorted
10 oY women for the purchase of articles
Tor their own and children's wear. In
the departments of infants wsrdrobes,
ready made gowns, and lingerie they
reign supreme. You are subject to the
Infection Of their peryssive personality
81 the glove counter, where they "fit"
The meek customer with reluctant strok-
ings and with noses set well up; you are
certain to dnd them where laces, ruch-
ingS, and collars are vended. The family
resemblance is too strong to be mistaken
All nave the trick Of regarding your timid1
approach as If you we're lamp-post of
somewhat peculiar design, not, however,
50 interesting and respectable as q cat OF
monkey but rather curious to looKstd
when they have nothing else to do. "
You lose even this slight hold upon
Iaer regard when they discover that your
esfAnd is to inspect their employers
wares with the Interior motive Of buying
suea IS may suit you. The Sphinx,
Staring right on with calm, eternal eyes,,
night have been modelled from village
gossip on tiptoe for the lstest scandal
Eaen one sets her in Imagination along
slae OF our stolidly disdainful whilon
nfm-maiden, now the supercilious sales |
tsuy Of the city store. Were the business
" Which she earns her wages the duty of
lettering rash customers from examining |
VI selecting the goods she guards, she |
would be worth ten times the sum she |
draws every Saturday evening. In her
most aDisble mood it is always apparent |
NAT she does you favor by suffering |
you to buy what she gracefully
displays, and that the darkest sin on th6
eoae Of her morals and manners Is obEe- |
quiousness. She knows more about ths7
sonlents Of shelves, drawers snd boxes
aAn you ever can, and as to the .caba- 1
Euc price-mark, she Is, to quote MI
megg, "eeual to eolaring ana throVtAg |
L." Be you Rose Cleveland, Princess
oestrice, or Maria Mitchell, she cutrankf1
Tou. ~
Betty,L'zz coolIy overlooked my
saoulder while wrote check in heel
employers ~ establishment last MOL
say, and startled me by observing, Win
Agggling sniff or smiling giggle:
You amt dom that right! The num-
1st OF your check had oughter be at the
.stnand Top, and how much your bill Ii
"tne left-hsnd bottom"
enjoyed her naivete SO immensely and
vas SO far from being displeased by her
assurance that was sorry to hear the
. cashier tell her In furious undertone to
aoto her tongue and mind her own busi-
mat is one thing she does not consider
.etsen paid to do. She gossips with her
associates while you turn over her goods
oialueo, or while she leisurelY and ungre-
s ssY drsgs down Others you insist upon
sseeing, CHATS the floor. walker over your
ss s0, and makes you wait for change
ca a she has finished 8 whispered
conversation with the girl at the
ss N counter. When tired or cross,
S SIs is actually impairment, and the
~ cuitles Of getting satisfactory view
Anu sae stolk in hand are quintupled. Th6,
nn.uscious Indifference OF her STARE the
ss sSe insolence of her inertia SIea
, m,lot 10 the boldest shopper. You would
h rus, salesman who thus comments
~taisslt nor WOuld his 0ffenca ha f<1n<.