New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-25
THE MILLGIRES TALK.
A COTTAGE BY THE SEA.

"Fresh alr?, said a mill hand 10 the writer mo,
II was salt air that after going for this summer.
Last year and the year before went up to our Church
Home among the mountains where didn't have to
r4y nothing for board but now that l running
TWO looms ! afford to have change and leave my
room In the home for some girl that don't earn so
much as | do. The boss gave week of about
the Fourth Of July and by good luck that very week
there happened TO be vacancy IN the Harper Cot
tage at Long Branch. Often girls after applying at
the New-York office for board has 70 walt two or
three weeks before there vacant bed for them. or
a vacant half bed, | had better say. They have TO
leave "A dollar at the office 10 make sure OF this half
bed and the receipt for 1t counts for dollar when
they 60 to pay their board Board is 80 week, or
SO for two weeks, weeks is as long any one
can stay there. You the cottage only holds fifty,
putting 'em two in a bed. and there's hundreds that
want 10 60.
Suppose l had been put I'm room with thief?
Thieves don't get in there, and they would be awful
foolish thieves that tried to 60 to place where there
Is nobody but a set Of workngwomen. all as poor as
Jobs turkey 1t amt no place TO pick mp jewelry
and full purses and such things. Nobody IS allowed
to carry a big trunk Some says this Is because the
rooms are so small. and others say that nobody
wanted dress much because some that goes hasn't
second dress 10 their name, and the boarders are
expected to be sorter free and equal-like Kings
Daughters, you know-while they are down there.
was sorter shamed to go in old gray flannel suit
a
when didn't silks and satins felt better
Every girl has TO give frstcass references at the
Office show that she Is the right sort. There was
a kindergarten teacher in the room with me, and me
and her used 10 have awful nice time going I'm bath
ing together. There IS bathing house belong
ing to the cottage but the girls must
all carry their own suits. / believe somc
Of 'cm lived in their bathing suits nearly half the
time. If they wasn't out among the breakers they
was padding in the shallow water like SO many
children. setting in the sand. Just doinc nothing
enjoying dolchy something the kindergarten
teacher said. Dolce far niene2 Well that might
hsve been IT, Is that the French for loadng?
wasn't paying much attention 10 what she said as she
wasn't talking TO me- but TO old lady who was
fhere with her daughter and granddaughter Thought
tho cottage for young women Well 1t IS for
them mostly. but older ones gets I'm once In awhile
and they awful nice 10 talk TO. though they will
scold the girls for going into deep water
Mind sleeping two in bed Down there I
shouldn't mind sleeping forty in a bed. that bed
made ont Of rocks. At night never knew nothing
from the minute laid my head the pillow till
it was getfingup time the morning. When
working | often brng backache home with me
from the mill. that keeps me awake till late az night
but down at the cottage didn't know had back
| "wed take It day about. my roommate and me. TO
make NJ the bed and put the room in ORDER and I
took care not to mako up the bed extra nice for fear
she might think hal been living out girl We had
breakfast :. dinner in the middle Of the day. and
| tea at o'clock. There was prayers morning and
evening. and most Of attended them, though we
wasn't made TO- When there nothing else to do
| NY roommate used TO read little book called Tho
| Rose and the Ring She said It poetry and
read some Of I, 10 me. but couldn't make head nor
| tail To It, and went to sleep while she was reading.
| IL bad manners, but couldn't help IT, It Is so
awful easy to 90 10 sleep down there that the only
! book 1 could keep awake was The Pirate S
Bride novel that somebody had left In our room
| The old lady found me with II one day, and said
ou.htn't read such trash. and then she brought me
another book. don't remember now II the name OF
wrote IT. anyway II wasn't half Interesting az rhe
| gave II back 10 her.
Sometimes three four OF rs wonld clnb ~
gether and hire carriage. and then we'd start Off
directly after breakfast aud have long drive before
| dinner. When the tide was out we'd walk on the
Leach. lodging the bathing ropes and sometimes
getting into the water. rather having the water
| got around us before knew what we were about
| IFS awful nice 20 spend week IN doing nothing
aud | don't suppose there j. nicer place 10 loaf
around and do nothing In than the IIarner Cottare
The superintendent down there Is real klnd and seems
to want the girls to enjoy themselves ali they can
The old lady said that Mis-. Harper Is now I'm one OF
the many mansions that the Bible tells rs ahonf 7
| only hope she knows ~ there how much solld com
fort poor Girls get out of the cottage that she left
| here belOVh "