Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-17
LIVES OF WORKING WOMEN.
Some Inside Points About the Struggles
of Girl Wage Farmers.

of Girl Wage Farmers.
How few realize, as they meet IN the streets
or cars girls going and coming from factory
or shop, that they are passing heroines-
young women who are brayely taking up the
burden Of self support, and who with patient
courage are meeting trials, hardships and
temptations, such as can never come to those
more favored Within the last fifty years
the working woman has become a power Ii
the community. The cities could not do
without her. Go into any great store and
see the fruit Of ner labors. Every counter
shows the work OF some group OF girls or
women; brocades, silks, lsces, exnbroadsries,
musiins, wooens, notions, fancy arGcies-aH
represent the toll of womens fingers Very
few think of the workers and the lives they
lead.
A most valuable report has recently been
issued by the department Of labor at Wash
ington, which gives personal statistics OF
II, EFT wage earning girls engaged In 34S dis
tinct industries out of many now open to wo-
men, and comprising the result OF study IN
twenty-five different cities. The tables bring
out very telling facts The average age for
beginning work appears to be 10 years ana
months but i29out of the number commenced
under years OF age, AID the largest pro-
portion, 3,50o, began to support themselves
at Ia. For years they continue the weary
round OF labor, rising at or 8, and shortly
after going to the factory or shop, where
they remain, with but little recess. for ten or
more hours Often their work does not end
when they leave the place Of their day labor,
for out Of the whole number questioned by
the agent OF the department. 9,S13 not only
work at their regular occupations, but also
assist in the homework at home. More than
half give their earnings to the head of the
family, while very many have to care en-
tirely for several Others beside themselves.
The average wages of the II, 427 was found
to be 1924, and vet with this small amount
6,6l4 do none of their own sewing, and in
variably the girls present respectable ap-
pearance.
These wage earners are women with ideas,
high impulses ambitions and desires such as
all other women have One of the ladies
who collected the above statistics, and who
personally met and learned to know about
the lives of over II 900 of the girls, was asked:
''How many of them have ambitions ard an
inner life of desire for better things, and how
many, if aided in the development, would
turn out earnest, true womenT Quickly
came the answer: Every one / have yet
to meet with working girl who could not
be lifted to higher level" Instance after
instance was given by her Of the heroic lives
hundreds of them are now leading, and of the
pleasant cooperative homes she had found.
Many of US who have been honored by be-
coming the friends of our grand working sis
ters could echo her sentiments. Nowhere else
can be found in greater degree the noble inn
p,,lc of calf
cheerfulness and aspiration.
All over the city, after hard days work,
thousands are gathered in evening schools,
working girls societies, or other ROOMS opened
to them, where they can study and improve
themselves. A lady visiting a down town
evening school saw a tired, sickly looking
girl busily engaged with a copy book. The
teacher of the class said: THAT girl comes
regularly each night after eleven hours of
work, and without any supper. The lady
paused by the girls desk with the remark:
why do you come to school; are you not
too tired" She looked up with a smile, soy
ing: "Why, must work, and must also be
educated, so what else can l dol By and
by, though, am going to rest" How few
girls in sheltered homes would have shown
such courage aud ambition.
Here is another instance: A girl was left
as the sole support and care taker of an in
firm father, and she bravely assumed the re-
sponsibility. Rising each morning between
and 5, she made the fire, did the household
work Including washing), prepared break
fast, and after buying paper for her father
and making him comfortable began her days
work at the loom before 2 O'Clock. She
worked in silk factory, and when the IL
o'clock whistle released her she hurried home
to prepare dinner, stopping at the butchers
and grocer's on the way. The dishes were
left to be washed up at night, for l O'Clock
must find her again at her loom. At night,
after preparing supper and clearing up the
house, she had to get her father to bed, and
it was after before she was free. On GER
tain nights of the week she would be found at
a class where she could improve her mind, and
on other evenings she was busy caring for
sick and tired Deighbors.
One worker in a factory had legacy Of
5000 left her by a relative, but, while ls-
gally it was hers, she felt it did not belong to
her, as she was not the nearest of kin, and so
she reiinquished it and went bravely back to
her drudgery. These women and girls, with
their heroism and bravery, have hard lives
and few opportunities. They crave outside
interests, fun and means for self improve
meut. Some years ago one OF them went TO
a friend, saying: How can working girls i'm !
prove themselves and have a good time in
the evening"" by cooperation, self help
and mutual interest," was the answer. The |
result has been that all over the city rooms |
have been opened by the working girls soci- |
cites, where groups Of from 30 to 800 wage
earners find bright companionship, books, |
music, etc. Classes are Also formed in useful
studies and industries. Musical drills, or !
gymnastics to develop the body, are held !
weekly, physicians are engaged TO treat menu |
bers, experienced friends are there to give |
advice in case Of perplexi0ies, and even |
woman lawyer has been found to give In !
struetioa on personal rights.
But this is not all. A fundamental priDG- |
pie at the beginning of the movement was |
that through the club girls should become |
better fitted for the vifehood and mother /
hood that would probably como to them; |
therefore much Is done TO educate and tram /
them for practical home duties
The president of one of the societies, har-
self working girl, in a recent speech, said:
My idea of club hfe contained in three
education, ce-operassnnE
rousing ourselves to reaAze our needs and con-
dition, educating ourselves to the best of
our abilities and helping others by co-opera-
ton" Nobly have the giriA with the gentle
women who are their advisers and ce-Abor-
ers, carried ont taese ideas, and today there /
is a vast mum Der ot them " DO haSe risen to |
higher plane, and who are going On into ear
nest, helpful womanhood by the force Of edu- |
cation secured through co-operatseA--Gsses |
Dodge in Harperis Bazar
Breathe Properly.
If mothers and all the dear geis Who may |