The morning call., 1893-06-21
HOPE AND ADVICE.
Melted Out to the Dive
Mattresses.
LEWIS THE LIGHT SHINES.
Philantfropic Ladies end SociaIistic
Theorists Strive to Solve the
Employment Question.

Between thirty and forty dive wait
resses, belonging to the Women Walters
Benevolent and Protective Union, met
yesterday afternoon in Union Hall on
Mission street to confer with the COM
mittee of ladies appointed by the Woman s
Alliance.
A more quiet and subdued collection of
girls than the Mattresses it would be diff
cult to imagine. Most of them were brave
in outward finery, but the consciousness of
good clothes did not give one the courage
to raise her voice, or take more than n
passive part in the proceedings.
The committee of the Woman's Alliance
consisted of Mrs. n. G. Ballentine. Mrs.
II. II. Bruins, Mrs. Y. C. Mason. There
were other persons present, however. who
nearly all had decided and conflicting views
upon the dim question under consideration.
The expression OF their vie VS. appeared al
times to pnzzle the girls considerably.
Mrs. Bailentine, being called upon for
an expression of her views, said 1--WE
want 10 learn from the women themselves
what they desire US 20 do. We have met
this afternoon to express our desire to
help them out under present circum-
stances" and the girls turned toward her,
as though they lntuitiyely recognized
friend.
The facts of the Woman's Alliance
work, as stated by Mrs. Ballentine and
o;hert ladies of the committee, are to some
extent encouraging.
"Applications for women workers are
coming In from people who have read in
The CALL that the Woman's Alliance is
trying to find employment for dive wait
resses," they said.
'All do not require domestic help. Some
want women to sew; one asks for wait
ress. In order to bring employers and
girls together the alliance will open an
employment bureau at 132 MeAIlister
street" said Mrs. Ballentine.
This is TO remain open daily till further
notice, the hours being from 10 till II
A. NJ"
"1he sympathy of the women of this
city can help us TO achieve much" said
another member of the committee. "rhe
finding of work in domestic families is not
perhaps the real solution of the problem.
Opening the room is simply to tide over
the present emergency"
Then lady who was not a member of
the Woman's Alliance arose and delivere
an imprisoned address. She sternly con-
demned those misguided philanthropists
who advise dive girls 10 scrub, cook ana
perform mental labor to earn an honest
living.
us it not the duty of society 10 provide
for you and see that you have as good pay
for any work you do as you had in the
dives" she asked. "Organize. and do not
take lower wages than before"
The girls apDiauded her sentiments to
the echo. The theory was beautiful and
suited their case exactly. In their mo-
mentary enthusiasm. however, the women
forgot that the speaker lef. the floor with
out telling them how 10 put her plan into
practice.
An individual then delivered an Grafton
on the labor question. The poor mattresses
listened and tried hard 10 understand. but
then comprehension. 1t was no comfort
for them to be told that machinery lessons
the demand for workmeu. They could
not grasp the distinction between capital
ist and cooperative enterprise. What
they wanled was bread, and to give them
tatsucS was like giving them stone.
go before the Supervisors and demand
that some step be TAKEN" continued the
speaker. And the women understood that,
though they did not seem inspired to act
upon the advice.
1--WE must see light step by step" said
Mrs. Ballentine. "One gentleman, who
owns large ranch, writes to propose tina
company OF these girls shall go together
to the country to gather fruit. He would
pay from 70 cents 10 81 day. Others.
might employ them. too, if the girls liked
the idea"
uC WIZ IlppI0 Ul amusement IN the
whole proceedings was caused by the ad.
dress of a man known as Lewis the Lig ut.
He unexpectedly bounded uuon the ri at
form and consigned the whole assembly to
regions more noted for warmth than for
salubrity. He was called to order by the
chair, and, after hurting back defiances,
withdrew from the room amid general
litter.
The ladies Of the alliance bore all inter-
ruDtlGns with patience and a determine
ton to act from the stand ONT of finding
work This organization has enabled us
to reach the girls" said Mrs. Bellentine,
and 1t was evident that having reached
them she meant TO find employment for
them to the best of her ability
After the meeting the committee Of
ladies' vigorously discussed plans for pro-
viding labor other than domestic service.
a cooperative laundry and cotton-s pin
ming factory were both proposed. Money
will be needed for executing either of the
schemes. and the committee OF ladies is
prepared 10 inaugurate vigorous begging
campaign.
1t Is stated upon good authority that
there are more than eight hundred women
VINO work in dives.
WITHOUT FIRE PROTECTION.