Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-05-06
GIRLS IN A RIG CITY.
esFficuLrlEs THEY ENCOUNTER IN
GETTING A LIVING.

Hard Tim. Hseause They Are Unable
10 civ. Satisfactory nefsrenees--Advics
% Those ut Home.
OF the 10000 females engrrvi In various
occupations IN New York city very large
suinbcr consists Of young women who
have come here from tho county near and
far 10 seek their fortunes. The constantly
widening field Of employment for females.
combined with tho allurements Of city life,
causes perpetual stream Of applicants
from those who are country born. The
numbers Of such applicants are Tar greater
than can lie supplied with work.
The story Of tho various employment
agencies aud Of tho societies that seek 10
furnish employment TO women IL the same
that the Held Ia overcrowded. The mum.
Der Of applicants IL 40 many and the necss.
sIty for refusal 10 frequent that the Young
wSncn's Christian association has been
compelled to adopt md print n circular.
which says
Almost every attempt 10 aid those who
reside out Of the city has ended IN ,lsap.
polntment TO tho applicant, and often
saused the loss Of the situation 10 another
young woman. to whom II might otherwise
have been given. Tho reasons for this are;
First, that employers greatly prefer to hire
young women who havo references from
places In New York city. where they have
been recently employed. In order that en-.
ployers may bc able at once TO assure them.
selve. Of the capabilities Of the applicants;
and second. that employers will not walt
for persons TO be sent for who reside out OF
town. When tho endeavor has been made,
the places have generally been allied b,forc
the applicants could reach mere, and DO
sides tho disappointment to the applicants,
the expenses OF che journey arr all lost.
And even II young women take board IN
New York, the probabilities are that they
will use up all their money before they
succeed In obtaining employment, and per.
baps not even Secure place In the end,
because Of the prfercnco given by employ.
rrs 10 those who have city references as to
their capability. The experience Of yean
proves that young women eau do better
where they reside and are known than 70
take chances In this overcrowded city"
one Of the greatest disadvantages for
country girls seeking employment in the
city Is tho cost Of living Wages which
seem largo TO tho country girl nj home
dwindlo very much when compared with
city expenses. There arc never enough
boarding houses for these poor girls, for
the prices they arc able to pay are often
not such rs will secure decent accommodate
ton. The Young womcn's Christian ~.
ISOLATION has started a special home for
such girls, with accommodation for about
= hundred, but II has been found necessary
70 make Il temporary residence and TO
limltthe time tho occupants are allowed 10
remain.
WHAT TngY DO.
IL L. ..ftt. e,l.Ia ,aeA.u. ,.a.. st..,, ,..f.l
men that tho ranks OF unskillci labor arc
oyercrowdcd. While there arc thousands
upon thousands Of thcpo country girls who
can sew. the number Of experts Is quite
limited. Many OF them have no definite
idea Of doing any particular kind OF work,
but have merely general notion Of beeom.
ing nclf supporting In some way II II
almost the rule that thcy have neither tho
capital nor tho disposition 10 serve a proper
apprenticeship To anything. They want to
40 TO work and earn good wages nj once,
unmindful Of the strong competition for
rcmuneratiye places
There are many country alfls Of good
families who apply for work In the city for
the winter, intending only to earn pocket
money for the summer. Some OF them
have artistic accomplishments that they
turn TO advantage In one way aud another
A wide field for the work ofcountry girls
has been opened by the comparatively mod.
srn method Of Exchanges for women 4 work,
where products may be sent for sale; but
BY far the larger part Of country girls look
TO tho city, aud they almost unanimously
prefer almost any work. however poorly
paid, rather than domestic service. Among
the occupations represented at a woman's
meeting wore thcsei Artists, bookfoldcrs,
bookkecpers, boxmnkers. candy makers,
carpet sewers. carpet weayen, cashiers,
Chair soaiers. oigarmakerH, clerks. COM
pAnions. copylsts. dresSmakors. engraycrs
wood aud metall, feather makers. flower
makers, fur sewers. gold polishers, hair
drcssers, housokccpers. mattresses, ladies'
maids. medical nurses, milllners, mission
aries, musicians, nurses. passementerie
makers. photo colorists. proofrcadcrs,
saleswomcn. scarfmakcrs. seamstrcSyes,
silk wcavers. spectacle case makers, sten0g.
raphera, straw workers, students, tailor
csscs, teachers, telegraph and telephone
operators, typesctters. typewriters and up
holsterers.
Many Of these country girls get imposed
upon and have 10 20 10 the Working Won.
ems Protective union to get their wages
collected. Tho lady superintendent says
that many country girls arc constantly APP
plying there for work, and the stcreotypcd
reply by tho society Is "Stay ut home II
possible" One of tho latest claims placed
In the hands Of the society for collection
was that Of poor country girl who had
bcen engaged rs u typewriter aud stcnog-
rapher by u clergyman who failed 10 pay.
There Is undoubtedly considerable mum.
Der OF plucky, clever, hard working young
women who come TO New York and make
their way by patient ploddlng under din.
culties to profitable employment. They 20
shout IL In a business way. They have no
time for frivollty. They join various socie-
ties for mutual improvement. They know
how TO study. They take advantage ofthe
public libraries and art exhibitions. They
arc not afraid to go out unattended by men.
They may h. seen In couples going TO the
concert or lecture or church or theatre.
They 20 along about their business, aud
are unmolested. II Is a great credit TO tho
city that NJ many women are able 10 20
about tbs city In the evening without es-
sorts, no long as their demeanor Ia decorous.
New York Sun.