St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-23
A WORKERS. XMAS.
The Great Holiday Among
the Girls Who Must
Labor.
Shop Girls Who Are Glad to
Work for a Few
Weeks.
Sacrifices Made by Them I'm
Sacrifices Made by Them i'm
Order to Give Their
Presents.
Humble Homes Made Happy.
by Songs of Love in
Hearts.

The working girls of Minneapolis look
| forward to Christmas day with no less
eager anticipation than do their more
| fortunate sisters, who toll not, nor do
| they spin, and yet wear fine raiment.
| The many thousands of working girls
| in the Flour City hurry along the streets
mornings and evenings, seemingly with.
out the thought that every day brings
us nearer to that one day in the year
when the Christian world rejoices. Yet
| the indifference is only on the surface.
The merchants and manufacturers
could testify with what eagerneSs
they are esieged by hundred of girls,
who anXiouSly seek an opportunity to
earn few dollars with which to buy.
holiday presents. 1t is fortunate for
the working girls that somuch shopping
is done during the few weeks preced-
ing Christmas. The stores all have
extra counters devoted to holiday goods,
and much extra help must be employedJ
10 be sure, the wages are not high; but
many girls will gladly work for So a
week during the two weeks preceding
Christmas. The hours are long, too,
because stores must be kept open until
late every evening in order to
accommodate all classes of customr
erS. But the work has a
spice of novelty about it. The time Is
short, and girls who are new to the
WORK have hardly time TO grow very
weary, and even the girl who works
every day in the year finds the Christi
mas trade making pleasant break in
the ordinary routine of work. Holiday
goods are so dainty and fanciful that
they make the stores seem as If sud-.
denly transformed by stroke of a ma
gician's wand. The clerks are easily
patient with those who spend much
time in selecting gifts; it seems natural
and right to linger long and hesitate as
10 what shall be selected from the be-
wildering array over which the clerks
preside.
CLERKS AT CHRISTMAS.
Although the clerks seem to have the
most pleasant lines, yet the working.
girls of other classes are not far behind.
The servants in the great house are
busy for weeks decorating the parlOrs
and connecting dainty dishes to be con1
sumed during the festive week. Ak
though the dOmesticS have not much
time for themselves. yet in most cases
they are sure to De remembered by
some substantial present from their
mistress, and they need not worry as to
what they shall eat and drink or how
they shall be housed OH Christmas.
They participate to Il great extent in
whatever amusement is going Oh in the
house where they work.
The factories, nearly all, are crowded
with work and the girls rejoice in being
able to earn higher wages than usual,
and thus having the more to spend.
There are many reasons why Christ
mas seems specially happy time tor
the girls who work. OF necessity their
wages must be spent for actual needs
during the greater portion of the year,
so what is laid aside for holiday gifts
seems much more precious to them
than does the same process to girls who
have only to purchase what they wish
and send the bill to papa" Perhaps
only the girls themselves are aware of
the many little personal sacrifices made
in order tha' all their family may be re-
membered by some little gift. Many
girls will sit up until the "wee sma'
hours" night after night so as, to find
time to fashion little gifts that derive
their value from the work bestowed
upon them, rather than the amount of
money expended for them. Several
girls were lately overheard at the w.
G.. L. u. coffee house discussing ways
and means. One said: ''Tye been
eating l0-cent dinners for the last two
weeks, so as to save money for Christ
mas presents" "Ive dropped from
regular neal at % cents to midday
lunch for Is cents" SAID another,
that narrow Persian ribbon; it'll cost
nearly 81, but it does make such lovely
trimming" From such fragments of
conversation, accidentally overheard,
one may infer that Christmas is areality
in more senses than one to our girls.
The
NOON AND SUPPER HOURS
are spent in diligent canvass Of the
stores in order to find the best articles
for the least money. The clerks here
have another advantage; they can Sc
lect what they want at reduced price.
One clerk remarked: ut makes me so
sometimes to stand behind
the counters and see all the pretty arti-
cles that we can't afford strewn around
in prOfusiOn, but on the whole we are
pretty we'll satisfied with what we get.
Some of us take up about months sal
long time to pay it up, but we are happy
at Christmas, so. after all, other times
in the year don't matter so much.
A peep into some of the working
girls homes on Christmas day will
show scenes of happiness fully equal
to that enjoyed in more pretentiOns
homes. Those who have homes of their
own doubtless enjoy themselves the
most. Family reunions are the order.
The different members gather from all
directions, and spend at least one day
N the year together. That one day OF
freedom from toll and care can only be
tightly appreciated by those who have
)ut little time for social recreation.
Those who have been working away
rom home find that mother has been
equally busy preparing feast with
which to celebrate Christmas. The re-
igious Observances are likely to
eceive less attention than the social.
one cannot be sure If
| day spent with ones family
n happiness and peace be not song
# praise in itself; perhaps as accepta-
lie to the Giver of all Good as long
prayers and many religious rites.
The girls who are strangers In the
ity and depending OIL the tender mer-
les Of boarding house, are apt to feel
l0rnesck on Christmas. Visions of
ZONE and loved ones rise and will not
'e cast aside. No matter how good a
Inner is provided, yet on that day more
han any other, a girl feels that board
ng house is dreary desert, aud there's
10 place like home.
The various boarding houses and EN-.
'Ioyers. as we'll, will make special eff
OrtS this year to make Christmas
peasant day TO the girls who work.
IF YOU GEf ANY.
Live, live to-day'' The sage has said;
TfkRsaU - sk.aF ,s.,.S