The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-30
TEE CHICAGO Girl.
She Is Just Like Any Other,
Only She Wears Large
Enough Shoes.
"MovEs UP" IN THE HORSE CAR.
Intelligent, Well Read and Cheer
fuller Work Among
the Poor.

WV AN ONAA AAtNh AAOoeh bAO
size of the footprints she is supposed
to have left on the sands of time, OBJ
serves the I1te7-Ocedn. ST. Louis and
New York maidens display their
scorn, but to her credit. be it said, the
Chicago girl simply trudges along and
does not endeavor to diminish their
size by crowding No. 5 feet into No. 3
shoes. This display of good n
makes her useful, cheerful unhappy,
and is one reason why she accom-
plishes so much.
Miss Breezy, who is always pitted
against Mr.. Waldo in the pointed
paragraphs of the Eastern papers, is
guilty of misdemeanors of speech and
conduct that are always amusing;
they are likewise untrue to nature.
AS a rule the real Chicago girl is in
telligent, well read and we'll behaved.
Of course perfection has not been at
tanned by her, as it has not by any
living and breathing human being.
There are those who have their lit
tie natural jealousies; who refuse to
introduce the desirable partner to the
other girls; who will, if they can,
~Inonopolize all the attention and the
flowers, and secure for themselves the
most desirable seat at the box party.
But these are the exceptions and not
the rule. You can see a great many
pretty little exhibitions of kindness
and courtesy in the dressing room at
fha raoaDfino on tho nsca1nh1u Mard
cheerfully awaits until Laura pow
ders her nose for the third time and
smoothes out her bang, although it is,
by rights, her own turn. She deity
fastens a loop of ribbon on her rivals
corsage, or straightens out the dis
arranged folds of her train. She rises
that the elder woman may sit. and
finds her wrap and escorts her down
stairs. All these seem small matters,
but it is small matters and not great
ones which constitute the sum of
ordinary experience.
HERE'S A TREASURE.
In the street car she promptly
moves over and congresses herself in
to the smallest possible space to give
the woman with a bundle a place to
sit. She rises and bangles to a strap
that the grand dame may have her
seat. She holds the package for the
dressmaker's apprentice, and does not
complain when~the child of the mother
of 5 wipes its muddy little boots on
the front breadths of her new gown.
Nine out of every ten are engaged
in some special course of study, his
tory, bellies ~lettres. or scientific cook
ing. A good many more than would
be believed cut and make their own
gowns and trim their own hats. They
teach in mission schools by the hun
dred, giving all Of Saturday, or half
days at regular intervals through the
week. One who visits them while so
engaged will see them guiding stubby
little fingers along ''seam and gusset
and band" or training them in the
mysteries of roasting, baking or broil-
ing.
They are the central figures in fair
and bazaar. presiding over booths and
and calmly asking the most extor-
tionate prices for hair-pin holders and
photograph frames, and all in the
name of charity.
CLUBS FOR GIRLS.
There are in active operation here
in Chicago clubs for working girls
stenographers. typewriters and clerks
which are practically carried on by
their more prosperous sisters. Large,
comfortable apartments have been
fitted up. Fine room is supplied with
a piano, rocking chairs, books, news
papers and magazines, and here the
noon hour may be spent in pleasant
.companionship and recreation. Trou-
bles are forgotten, carking care lets
go its hold and the beneficiary goes
her way rested, refreshed and strength
ened for a renewal of the conflict. In
the next room creature comforts are
dispensed. An alert door-keeper
watches the ingoing and outcoming
with business-like Vigilance. Across
the threshold one beholds many small
tables covered with white oilcloth.
At a counter in one end Of the room
are heaps of sandwiches, rolls,
pickles, dear to the palates of girls
the world over; hard boiled eggs, cold
ham and like viands and these are
dispensed at the lowest possible rates.
A few cents will provide all abundant
and wholesome meal. The girl on
one side of the counter receives her
supplies from her sister on the other,
takes her plate, cup and saucer, knife
and fork, and seats herself where she
chooses. When she has finished the
cup and plate are returned to the girl
\ behind the counter, whose assistant
steps briskly forth and brushes away
khe crumbs left by the patrons. Those.
no serve probably led the cotillon
She night before. They were the
osebuds in enchanting gowns, loaded
with favors, and seemingly with no
more serious thought than to dance
4 through life and escape the tabled
\ tragedy of the grasshopper.
There is another type of the
Chicago girl, less fashionable, but not
less prosperous and happy, upon the
bosom of whose tailor-made gown
shines the small silver cross which is
/ the insignia of her order. You nay
meet her pouring tea, receiving
guests. experimenting the literary or
musical part Of the programme at the
entertainment which has been ar
ranged, and which is to yield a cash
return that will replenish a treasury
drawn upon by the increasing de-
mands of want and poverty.
This sort of Chicago girl may be
met regularly going her rounds il
places where sickness and misery
dwell permanently. She knows the
value of the commonest comforts of
life and the little it requires to relieve
and help those who would otherwise
sink and nariShl Her memoranda