The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-09-05
SENSIBLE SHOP GIRLS.
How They Manage to Save Money on Fiv,
Dollars a Week.

How They Manage to Save Money on Five
Dollars a Week.
The question is asked over and over
again, How do girls, who are employed
in stores and shops at small salaries,
live?"
1t would be surprising to know the
number who manage to exist on S. a
week, and who have discovered the art
Of making 81 go as far as So would Or
iinarily.
Save up money on S. week." asks
some incredulous person.
There are not many, il must be ad
mitted, but four poor girls, each one
working from s o'clock in the morning
until at night, three as salesgirls and
the other in shop, have for two years
been trying the plan of cooperative
housekeeping, which promises to be-
come perfect system for working
women who can not afford to board at
the place they prefer, or become dis
satisfied when they undertake to try
cheaper places.
When the store where. three of the
friends work has closed for the day they
three proceed to the nearest corner,
where they are met by the other mem-
Der of the family, and the four walk
home together.
Having heard of the pleasant times
which these girls have at their apart
ments, and being DESTROYS of seeing for
herself how the plans are carried out,
the writer, by special invitation, recent
ly took an evening meal with them.
The house is on side street within
easy walking distance of down town and
the room up two flights. The latter is
large apartment and has three win
1ows, which are prettily draped with
dotted muslin tied back with yellow rib
bons. The walls are tinted with a pale
cream color and the whole interior
showed the good taste of the occupants.
A folding bed of cabinet shape, in the
front of which is long mirror, and
broad couch which is also a bed, two
easy chairs, one rocker, and several
other chairs are all the larger pieces of
furniture.
In front of the door leading to the
side room, which is used as kitchen, is
large screen, evidently of home manu-
facture, but decidedly ornamental.
Two sets of shelves adorn the spaces
between the windows, and these are
filled with books. There are also few
good pictures hung about, and on the
mantelpiece are little ornaments and
pretty things, watched over by small
bust of Dickens on bracket.
While the writer was admiring the
neatness of the room and praising the
general appearance, one of the girls had
set the table.
There was no array of silver, but the
dishes were dainty, although there
were not many of them and the food
was not spoiled by apologies, and every
thing passed off smoothly, for all were
hungry.
After awhile the cost of the meal was
considered, and found to be just4S cents.
This did not include sugar, butter or
coffee, the former costing the girls 20
cents week. the butter about so cents
and the coffee the same. Two cans of
condensed milk at 10 cents each brings
total up to S1.46.
At the end of the week the girls make
up their cash accounts, and the expenses
CT the family amount to about $3.50 on
an average. They hire the room I'M
furnished, with the exception of the
beds, and consequently are able to hire
at the low price of S12 month.
In the side room which has been mem
toned is running water, and many
shelves have been ''built in" to make
things more convenient for the house,
keepers.
The gas-stove, bought at a bargain, is
set on little raised platform in the
corner, which is covered with neat OIL
cloth.
Tinware is hung up all about, and
every thing looks as orderly as possible.
They do not find time for many fancy
dishes, but they have plenty OF whole
some food and appear 10 onioy thorough
ly their manner of living.
Occasionally they are invited out to
spend Sunday or to tea during the week,
but they feel very much at home in
their cosy room which they have occu-
pied together so long, and think their
friends who have such doleful expert
ences in hunting up boarding places and
trying to live on small salaries would
be much more contented if they tried
cooperative housekeeping. - Boston
G1aha