The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-05-09
GENTEEL POVERTY.
The Trials OF Women Who Have 10
Keep Up Appearances.

-
n large political bureau-I noticed the
entrance OF n stately woman, who
sailed up the room toward the desk Of
my chief as il accustomed to rooms
with long distance. Her whole air in
Dictated culture.
She was evidently well acquainted
with the secretary, and / observed
that he treated her with more than
even his usual courtesy. To my sur
prise she asked for employment-for
writing Of any kind" Her general
air of magniiicence, combined with
her eagerneSs for employment. so ex-
cited my curiosity that after she had
sailed away with a charming old
fashioned couftesy-one quarter Of
which was bestowed upon mel said
to my chief-"Who is she?"
'.She is a niece of -" mentioning
a former grand p~otentate of New York
city.
"Whatn | exclaimed. 'She was
her uncle's adopted daughter; why did
not he leave her some money!
when her uncle died, " replied the
secretary, lit was found that he was
not as wealthy as many supposed. and
she was left with so small an income
that il just keeps her from starving, /
am told.n
Before this incident occurred / had
often been brought into contact with
genteel poverty. and since then many
are the facts which l have gathered
through observation, and because OF
a sympathetic temperament which
makes me the recipient of humanity's
joys and sorrow to a larger degree
49, III e H. - - 80 Ar..A
Having often heard remarks-not
always complimentary-abo eenteel
poverty ms represented by poor
women, l have jotted down the fol-
lowing facts and Impressions
The first thing this class of women
generally consider is their personality.
From bonnet to shoe their constant
endeavor Is to be presentable. We
will begin with the bonnet-which for
the sake of economy they must make,
though it may turn out as ugly as sin
yet, really lovely are many Of their
fabrications. A bit of lace, a piece of
silk that was laid carefully away in
view of an emergency. A rose sub
tracted from a box of artificial flowers
that have seen much service. Silk,
lace and rose deftly put together, and
there appears a bonnet that is often
an object of envy to fortunate
wofnen
These are the women who not only
watch the stores for bargains, but
need to, and they soon learn with the
keen intuitions of womanhood to
make a dollar 60 n great ways. They
find here and there a few yards of
brocade or silk selling far below the
usual price; this, put with some care
fully renewed material, often makes a
pretty gown that surprises both be-
holder and possessor,
But there is always a failure some
where" plaintively remarked a friend;
Il can manage the dress and bonnet,
but my shoes and gloves are never
what they should be" she pouted.
and she thrust out a tiny foot clad in
well fitted but very cheap shoes.
And then she put out for inspection
a little hand covered, alas, with a cot
ton glove my mothers creed /
cannot follow" she poutingly contin-
ues; s'she used to say that q lady could
always be told by the quality of her
shoes and gloves. OF course | am
no longer a lady according to that
creed.n
But, after all, it is the question of
\ getting comfortably lodged for the
smallest rent possible which most
sorely puzzles these women. And the
''hall bedroom" becomes an impor-
tant factor. Landladies have learned
not to be surprised when a finely at
tired lady rents her third or fourth
story hall room. But the dreary little
room is often so transformed that it
becomes a very pretty boudoir. The
bed is replaced by a sofa, cot or fold
ing bed. A screen hides the wash
stand" From her trunk she brings
forth treasures-generaily old, but,
after all, valuable as bric-a-brac and
soon the landlady stands gazing with
admiration amidst all their luxury.
She has such a tiny income that |
will not mention it. But when rent,
ETC., are subtracted there is but a
morsel left for the stomach. so that
her food becomes the least substantial
of all efforts for gentility.
We must not forget the "oil stove.n
What these women would do without
the oil stove | really cannot imagine.
What wonderful puddings, stews,
soups, ETC., are cooked upon stoves
often as small as the owners income,
and the recipes of many of these con-
coctions are not to be found in any
cook book.
/ remember, however, rooming once
next door, to two lovely young
ladies, who did their small cooking
over the gas, though that, of course,
was forbidden. How they ever man
aged to evade that landlady | do not
understand, because she was a hard,
sharp woman, not easily deceived by
womankind. 1t was. perhaps, not
quite moral in me to wink at so much
wickedness, but the wiles OF those two
women to eyade that cross, rich
old landlady were a source of enjoy
ment which abides with me still.
But the dainty women who will not
learn to cook because they cannot en-
dure the odors in their small rooms
have the hardest times. | knew once
one of these helpless gentlewomen
who had drifted to us from foreign
shores. Beautiful as a dream, with
manner half proud and appealing,
she made my heart ache sometimes.
do not suppose that anyone. ex-
cepting myself, ave knew how hun
CRY she often was, because OF her spir-
tied manner. / can imagine that she
was sometimes almost hungry enough
TO have eaten one of her beautiful
white hands. She would live a whole
week upon bread and tea, and when
she could stand it no longer she would