New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-23
THE SONG OF THE SHIRT
HOW THE FINISHER LIVES.

II don't know what going to do about ~"
said the shrt-fnisher. My rO0m-mates VOW they
won't consent to have the alarmclock 60 of at half
past in the morning. You see all three OF 'em arc
salcsladies, and they afford TO lie abed tiI
nearly Z, while ought to be up soon as can SEQ
to work. though, for the life Of me- cannot wake with
out the alarm I'd rather late at night, so as to
sleep the next morning, but my room mates won'u
agree TO my having candle, as they say the Ighu
keeps them awake; so am sometimes left In the DARK
in the middle OF a buttOn-hole when the gas Is turneq
off at half past 10. l don't sew buttons In my
dreams, that woman done in the Song OF the Snlrv
Il heard it read at club meetng but it would be o.
great saving of time IL could only 'em on In the
dark. BY working early and late can't finish moro
than five shirts day-when they custom SHIRTS r.
do four-and the highest pay at the place where
work is dollar and a half dozen. consider myself
in luck when can pay my board three dollars, at the
end Of the week. For stock shirts get only dollar
a Dozen and when business amt brisk, of course get
more stocks than anything else
q could do awful lot more IL allowed ia
slight work. like girls who finish cheap Jerseys
The buttons drop of my Jerseys the first time fastcn
'em, but such work that is put on shirts. II
amt poor work. poor pay with me- but good work, poor
pay. The 0verlooker at our place. though she wears
glasses has got the of hawk and in the button
holes the stitches has be Just close together and
the hemmng in the gussets has to be almost as nico
as what would be put on pocket handkerchief; the
buttons must be seved on hard and tight; and for
the cyeles, they just the torment OF my Ife they
have 70 be worked awfuy round and smooth. 1
always dread get Of shirts with cyelcts In 'em
because then 10 be found fault with when
hand my work n-somemes / get 'em too large, and
sometimes too small don't have that trouble with
button holes because they are cut for me. 49,
supplied with thread and needles That we aintt
We buy thread and needles. and IL counts up
In the end can tell YOU. That's all do buy now
adays and it often ont Of board money. As
for having my washing DONE told the superintendene
Of the home where live that Just couldn't afford u.
and there has been exception made In my favor
and am allowed 10 20 down into the Laundry ana
wash my own duds. IT'S against the rules for tho
other boarders do il. though they'd all like 10, no
matter how much they may The girls In my
things, aud hanging them behind their washstands
why do work for 50 little Well three dollars
got nobody look for support. have to catch
70 any work that comes along. Relations! Mono
nearer than cousins. and they don't amount TO much
at least mine don't. Why, cousin OF mine, whose
husband his three dollars day as a painter,
invited Inc 10 do my washing AZ her house that was
before | got permission 10 do IL nj the home) ana
arcrward fell ont with me. and made me pay for the
coal had burned in heating my irons.
The girls in my room tell me that could nevey
get a place IN store because am not tall enough;
but il ! could once lay up money enough to pay ny
city till found place where they would take me.
lot OF extra hands needed. and tell you 1t was
satisfaction u bring home my i've dollars every
short when girl has her own living to make: If I
six inches taller I'd be earning almost hall as
much again AZ am now. for amt Of the stuckup
sort who think they put behind counter only
show OFF their bangs and their bangles. ! made
lot, OF sales when worked a. extra, and could
il again regular hand If the store keepers could
only get my being short | get out Of all
patience when | hear a girl whining and saving She
don't see why she has 70 work. Why work is what
want. and the only thing that do want. II could
earn five dollars week at shirt finishing I'D be willing
to keep az il I'll too old to thread needle. It's
only work that doesn't pay enough Ia keep me that
don't like. ON five dollars week | could live like
lady three for my board 10 put aside for dress;
and one for other expenses. Any girl that's got
the knacls Of fixing things dress decent on ffty
dollar year, but It's awful hard 10 do II notlings