New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-29
IN EMPLOYMENT OFFICES.
TRIALS OF WOMEN WHO LOOK THERE FOR
WORK.
SITTING FOR WEEKS WAITING FOR SOMETHING

Is IL difficult for a girl TO find work in New
York? There are many Of them sitting In So
called intelligence offices who will tell you that
il is, AMI that wher woman gets an offer OF
employment in many OF these places, she is unable
TO seize the chance for the reason that she cannot
live on the wages offered TO her. But almost all
of them will tell you that even opportunities en-
failing the hardest work and the smallest re-
muneraiion rarely come TO many Of these employ
ment bureaus. What is the experience OF n
woman who looks for work at these Offices III
you can stand close room packed full OF dis
couraged humanity. red-hot stove blazing in the
middle Of the floor hard wooden benches, alb
solute lack Of ventilation, and sitting mac
tivity for half day, you will have no trouble
in finding place where you may see for yourself.
But YOU will not enjoy your investigation. An
employment office is not cheerful place at any
time Often il is worse-dirty, greasy. foulaired
and dispirting.
PAY YOUR DOLLAR FIRST.
A Young woman who wanted to find employ
ment as nurse went to one of these places. which
is not block away from Forty-third-st
nor yet mile away from Sixth-ave. There was
one large room, with long benches arranged
around the walls. a glowing stove in the centre
and desk in one corner, behind which stood a
short. fat man, with an oily face. He was not
we'll dressed. but he had a sleek, comfortable
look. as if the world treated him fairly WE'LL how
ever it dealt out its favors TO the
women who sat listlessly around on the benches
These women paid little attention to the new
conner In fact, they seemed to notice notplne
in particular. unless it the dust on the walls
the ashes about the stove or the faint tracings
Of cobwebs on the ceiling. They were simply
waiting. A good many. of them had been walt
ing lust that way for several weeks
"Can I get work ?" asked the girl
"You must register and pay your dollar first"
said the fat man. looking mp from his desk
At don't want TO register until know whether
I can get my place
And YOU can't know till you pay your dollar
there
"Can 7 get nv place If pay my dollar
"You must register first
81 want TO know. honestly
81 won't talk to you till You pay your dollar"
So the girl tried another place in Thirty-fourth-
ST. This Office was more imposing. III had TWO
entrances and two desks. There were even lew
chairs in il. But the air was quite as foul as III
the other one. There were more women waiting
here tall slim young man with darK mus
tache answered her questions. lie was goou
talller, and conveyed the impression that ne too.
personal interest in the applicant ana thaV nS
could easily secure work for =" his customers. lie
assured the girl that he could get her work
just register, pease-and now one uoiiar'
he added. politely. -,
Now he went on, smoothly, II you VIII
step in this room ! will soon get you someVniuS'
This afternoon"
"Oh. undoubtedly
~ 1uXnrlOiS
rocontion-room. II was adorned with the Gus
tomary benches and the everlasting stove piusneu
deeplv. The windows were closed tightly. Three
women were talking loudly in corner one was
stout. with rcd face. sharp black eye ana h"ii
nuSbcd STRAIGHT pack Fl ola her forehead.
~Wclln Sic sald Il had place with young
married woman who didn't know anything about
kcen,nr house. on Thanksgiving Day l had
some brandy Tor pudding end drank it, had
To drin, IT, for / was sick and needed it,
@Of course nut in a sympathetic chorus.
@wbep my voung mistress scolded / got UP
ord loft her with her company on her hands
That will teach her how to treat her servants
rbo,,s nav way she added, her eyes swapping
~ wanted TO I've boss of my own kitchen,
said another. and / haven't had place since
left the last one on that account
| ~Nor. Bradv.n bawled loud voice, as head
| Mary Dl""Nf
came ND over the partition.
Tbrce pirls got up to answer the call Each
| ono insisted that she was wanted. Finally a
| sbool, haired man came in and picked out one.
Tho other TWO got into dispute with him, each
doclarinr that he had promised that she was the
one 70 have the first place. The one selected went
| out but came back in few minutes
! They only get us places we can take, she
said in disappointed tones. SooNlhs. nouse,
work and washing - om'n Sn% ne won'an to
! the yirl I've been sitting here SIX weeks
Her dress was shabby, and her collars and cuffs
| were badly s0iled. 49, - -
| took better care of your dress, said the young
| girl looking at her own cuffs scrupulOdSy whlte
Wait TIL you've been sitting III mus dlrtHy
| room six weeks without money, and see how You ii
| he dressed" answered the woman Ana you
| have to pay dollar every four weeks 100
OFFERING SYMPATHY.
ouiet little woman with white face came
| over and sat down beside the girl
81 hone you've got enough money TO get along
with for n while she said I'm afraid you'll
have TO wait long time. I've beer here several
weeks They don't pay much attention to us
after we pay our dolar-until it gets time to pay
| the next one Then we get plenty OF promises
| but no work.
| a hotel There were not less than sixty in the
room. and all seemed eager, with, perhaps, the en-
| ception of the woman who drank brandy for her
! health and one two others, 10 get anything to
| do which would afford them decent living.
day spent in another agency in F0urth-ave
showed the same condition OF AFFAIRS Inc lroh'
| Office n room Just big enough for desk, was
presided over by bustling young man with O
red beard who made himself very familiar with
every one who came IN Behind his office was
long waiting-room, filled with women OF al,
natiOnalities. The room, as usual, was stuny anu
the air depressing. Ill, =
neatly dressed girl came in and applied for
work After she had registered her name tho
Young man said Now, Annie give me dollar
and | will have work for you as soon as possible
The Girl ,ook her seat on one OF the benches
when n Young woman beside her began to hum
" Where Did You Get That IIat?'
What kind of work do YOU want?' said the
Girl biting off her song suddenly.
Il am a nurse; take care Of children
You won't get anything here consolinRly
| " Resides Won aren't strong enough 70 tag around
after children and carry them. No one will
oh yes 7 can could take care OF two
for I had three before; but it was too hard