The morning call., 1893-01-08
MUTTON STEW ON MONDAY.
How the MONDAY Appetites of Work.
ing Girls Are StilIed Down
on Davis Street.

evident appreciation.
The lunchrooms have not been in exist
ence much more than two months, and
already the average daily attendance is con-
siderably over 100 girls.
A lady who works downtown in an office
herself first started the Idea.
1t was seeing the factory girls going into
the saloons for coffee and soup that made
me realize how much lunchroom WAS
needed" she said.
over three hundred girls work in this
vicinity, and even for those who could
| afford to go TO restaurant for lunch IL was
| necessary TO walk four blocks. and factory
girls are only allowed half an hours fecrea-
ton in the middle of the day."
| The lady was eating her OWN lunch hur-
! riedly. for none OF the girls work harder
! tran she does, but she was very willing to
| give few more details about her pet
| scheme that has proved such a success.
You could not realize the need OF lunch
| rOnm," she went on, unless you had seen,
| as | constantly have. little factory girls OF
| II or 10 coming out of saloons with I'VE and
six pals of coffee in their arms. The older
| girls shraDk from going themselves, ana
! the children were obliglng, but think what
| associations it threw them into
Certainly the association rooms al 116 Davis
street are all that could be desired, and the
! girls know aud appreciate the fact, they are
1--WE are so at home here" explained one
typewriter. that it is net bit like going 70
public dining-parlor. We began by being
| comfortable. but now we are launching out
into elegance" and she point ted to q number
of really good eRgrayings and photographs
that had lately been donated.
The lunehroOm is large and sunny, with
light-colored mating on the floor. Japanese
screens to break the monotonY, and the
painted walls and little tables covered with
white cloths and furnished with as good
knives forks and chinaware as could be
found in better class restaurant. One
portion of the room is dignitled with the
name of the library. Books and magazines
that have been donated are eagerly read by
the girls. from such works as Harper's and
the Graphic 10 books OF holy writ.
"A gentleman on California street always
sends us the Deineator." observed the lady
superintendent. And ! could not help
thinking what discerning man ne must
be. for where Is the girl who does not take
an interest in dress, even il she cannot
afford TO keep mp with the latest styles her.
self2
The lady superintendent Ia just as much
interested In the rOOm as the lady who
started il, but for the matter Of that every
one is enthusiastic, even TO the cook. who
works as hard as any OF them. and who
likes her kitchen TO be Inspected and ad-
mired by visitors.
"The beginning was the hardest part,
explained the superintendent, because we
had nothing 10 start in on"
1t appears that when the Y. w. C. A. first
heard of Tie scheme it gladly offered to take
the charge of lunchroom OF which the
rent was secured and the furniture donated,
but the founder had TO battle with first
difficulties alone.
That she did so very successfully is
demonstrated by the present appearance of
the room.
'Such lovely things have been done for
u.s." she said enthusiastically. The land
lord had refused 500 month for this room,
but he gives IL to us for $40 One man
donated all the mating. several others gave
ia chairs and tables. china and groceries.
The scheme has appealed TO the business
men in his part Of town and they have been
very willing to help, both with subscrip-
tons and with donations OF the goods in
which they deal. Now one firm of three
members gives Us q subscription and in adj
dillon To that each member gives private
subscription.
at is agreeable enough" my informant
went on. when people respond TO an APP
peal, but many people have come forward
and offered Us things that ws require The
girls niekeis about pay the first cost OF the
food; rent. coal and all extra expenses are
covered by the subscriptions. OF course
donations are always acceptable. fester-
day sugar refinery sent barrel OF sugar,
a thing that is always useful to us. 4 piano
is about 10 be given to Us and we can never
have too much good reading matter
Several OF the girls, typewrters and
stenographers. who are earning good sala-
res. are among our customers.
I'VE cannot make distinction and charge
them more than the others for their meals.
On the oIher hand while they enjoy coming
here they feel they have no right to profit
by subscriptions that are intended TO benefit
a poorer class of girls, so they solve the
difficulty By subscribing, just as the business
firms DO"
While all this information was being
given, streams of girls were coming ia and
taking lunch. The stenOgraphers and type
writers eisurely. as beftted girls with
whole hour before them, and few minutes
over that If necessary; the factOry-wofk-
ers huiriedly. knowing they had farther to
go than the others, and that the half hour
allowed them knew no extension.
Some OF the factOry-girls were children Of
Il or -, who earn 81 q week by trimming
bags. Nest of them have TO pay 10 cents
day for carfare. so that the daily nickel for
lunch Is quite serious drain upon their
limited purses. But they enjoy the lunch;
that was plainly demonstrated by the smll-
ing way in which they entered the room and
glanced round for the cook or the matrop,
knowing that their wants would be at
tended to before those of the more leisured
stenographers.
1--WE make no distinctions between the
intendent "Ali can sit where they please.
and all are friendly together. but l notice
that those who follow the same occupation
naturally seem 10 grayitate to one an other"
She pointed out ore table occupied eHtirely
By typewriters and stenographers. who were
evidently on the best OF terms aud were
carrying on rafting fire Of fun and re-
parte. Indeed, there was not one girl there
who did not seem able to talk and eat at the
same time. for q hum of animated CONVEX
satiln filed the room.
Are you going to have lunch with usp"
asked a misunderstanding girl at one Of
the tables, where | sat down. You must
not go away with the impression that we
have beans and bacon every day"
I'VE have quite varied bill Of fare" in
terrupted bright little blonde. Now,
Just listen: Monday, mutton stew
"Oh. call it lamb" exclaimed a dark-eyed
girl; that sounds so much better"
81 call mutton mutton" replied the
blonde. with the nir of one whose convic-
tions were not easily shaken, and she con-
tinued:
'Dan't forget that tea, coffee and bread
aud butter belong to the daily routine"
remarked quiet girl who had not spoken
before.
"Oh. of course. that is understood" re-
piled the blonde. anxious to finish her bill
Of fare.
Thursday, stew"
Spanish stew" put in another girl.
Don't forget the Spanish-it gives a sort
OF distinction to Thursdays lunch"
Spanish stew" corrected my informant,
who seemed doomed 10 interruptions. Fri
day. fish, and Saturday the meal you see
before YOU"
AT the other end Of the table some girls
were talking what is popularity known as
SHOP" and seemed thoroughly to enjoy
airing and comparing their various expert
ences.
eve find this luuchroom so central" one
of the girls remarked to me- Before it
was opened we had TO eat our meals in the
Office, where we could have nothing hot. or
else We were obliged to rush up town, and
find that all our lunch time was gone on the
journey and We had none left for taking our
meal"
Tine To hla ~ hara tho nnst liualu cnn YER