The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-09-29
UNCLE SANS MAiLBAGa.
When Worn Out, They Just Begin 70 I
Really of Service.


when Worn Out. They Just Begin .. h
r. Really of Service.
To see the government economically
administered, 60 where they mend mail.
bags. When q mailbag is worn out, it
Is considered as just 6t for service. A
new mailbag is stiff, unyielding. When
it has knocked about the world, had the
starch taken out Of It and it's weak
places discovered, it grows pliable, gives
when it can't force it's way and Is now
prepared to do business successfully.
Like a human being, the mailbag has
had its experience. The most active
mailbags now In the service have scarce.
" a hands breadth Of the original fabric.
The ordinary jute mailbag is rnended
by women. This Is one 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 old
way. A more democratic gathering can
not be found in Washington. It is dirty
il not difficult work. In the numbers OF
women clad in their worst clothes, thei,
heads hidden in paper fools caps with
long curtains, their hands guarded by
leather bands and at work on sewing go
ruGs that it seems like travesty ON tho
gentle art of the needle, it is difficult to
detect from one another the delicately
nurtured woman, the sturdy foreigner
and the negro. They are all there work
ing in perfect amity.
rool ~xro,,,os, ,:ks 40 a CIo~
has exchanged her street dress for her
working clothes in the commodious
dressing room. She receives every morn
ing mailbag holding 10 bags. Five
Of these are comparatively good; Ave
are more or less bad. It is q mild sort
Of lottery, which these women expert.
ence twice or three times day, and the
element Of chance is not the less excit-
ing though it lie in the depths Of dirty
mailbag.
Bad or good the women are paid r
cents bag. For the woman who can
not earn at least SLOT day there is no
place in this room. They earn on an
average about $3.50 a day. and some
women exceed this amount. Each wo.
man works with darning needle and
twine thread Her first requirement il
the sailors stitch. With this she car
patch, darn or embroider. When she
has finished the bags, they are carried tc
q central table, where on q bulletin
board her name is scheduled. There he1
work is examined by one of three me1
and checked off accordingly.
Not all sew. Some string the bags a
the neck and put on the tags and locks
One of these is blind negress. She ha
not seen since child, but she work
rapidly and deftly while she tells will
pride how she can embroider and sew
at home.
These women from such varied walk
in life work together in perfect accord
I When to the foreman the dusty air ant
unsightly work seem to have depressed
the workers, he suggests to some one
generally colored woman, to start u.
some music. The wave of sound gath
ers until the whole room has joined in
: It is usually hymn, for hymns con
most easily to women's lips.
; The government is kind taskmaste,
The room is finely lighted and vent
lated. The washrooms are abundantl
and finely equipped with marble mount
ed stationary stands. At noon a tea an
coffee bureau ia opened, and the worke,
have all the tea and coffee they desire q
the expense Of their country. Washing
ton working hours are easy. Vacation
of a month are given, and certain sic
leaves are provided for. The sweat
shops of the government, where the ne,
: mailbags are made by contract. are L
this city.-New York Sun. .&