The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-29
UNCLE sAM,S MAiLBAGS.
When wern Dat, They just Begin to Bo
Really of Service.

When Worn Oat, They just Begin to Bo
Really of Service.
To see the government economically
administered. go where they mend mail
bags. When n mailbag is worn out. it
is considered as just fit for service. A
new mailbag is stiff. unyielding. When
it has knocked about the world, had the
starch taken out Of it and its weak
places discovered. it grows pliable, gives
when it can't force its way and Is now
prepared to do business successfully.
Like y human being, the mailbag ha'
had its experience. The most active
mailbags now in the service have scarce
ly . hands breadth of the original fabric
The ordinary jute mailbag is mended
by m This is M of the now few
branches of the public service outside OF
the civil service rules. The women who
mend mailbags are appointed by con
gressmen or public officers In the ole
way. A more democratic gathering can
not he found in Washington. 1t is dirt,
if not difficult work. In the numbers OF
women clad in their worst clothes, their
heads hidden in paper fools caps will
long curtains. their hands guarded by
leather bands and at work on sewing ST
rude that it seems like IA travesty on the
gentle art of the needle. it is difficult t,
detect from another the delicatel,
nurtured woman, the sturdy foreigner
Il the negro. They are all there work
ing in perfect alnity.
Each woman sits on Il low chair. She
has exchanged her street dress for her
working CLOTHES in the commodious
dressing room. She receives every morn.
ing a mailbag holding 10 bags. Five
OF these are comparatively good; fiv,
are more or less bad. 1t is IL mild sor7
OF lottery, which these ON expert
ence twice or three times IL day. and tn.
element of chance is not the less excit-
ing though it lie in lie depths of Il dirty
mailbag.
Bad or good the women are paid 81
cents "A bag. For the woman who can.
not earn at least $40, il day there is NJ
place i'll this room. They earn on al
average about $3.50 II day. and some
women exceed this amount. Each wo-
man works with IA ~larnins needle a1t.
Irvine thread. Her first requirement i
the sailors stitch. With ilia she can.
patch, darn or clnhroider. When si.
has finished the bags. they are carried to
a central table. where On "a bulletin
board her nanue is scheduled. There her
work is examined by one of three mel
and checked off accordingly.
Not all sew. Some string the bags at
the neck and put On the tags and locks.
One of these is Il blind negrcss. She lIas
not seen since il child. but she works
rapidly and deity while she tells with
pride how size can embroider and sew
at home.
These wonien from such varied walks
in life work together III perfect accord.
When TO the foreman the dusty air and
nnsightly work seem to have depressed
the workers. he suggests To some ont
generally IA colored woman. to start up
some music. The wave of sound gath.
ers until the whole room has joined III.
1t is usually IA hymn. for hymns come
most easily TO women's lips.
The government is "A kind taskmaster.
The room j. finely lighted and venti-
lated. The Mushrooms are ~abundantly
and finely equipped with marble mount
ed stationary stands. At noon a tea and
coffee bureau is opened. and the workers
have all the tea and coffee they desire at
the expense of their country. Washing
ton working hours are easy. Vacations
OF "a month are given. and certain sick
leaves are provided for. The sweat
shops of the government, where the new
mailbags are made by contract. are in
this city.-New yor,. Sun.
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