The Washington times., 1894-05-06
NuntEnnily'S

AL Ill AA Il -
There are lot Of fine young women In this
city who find 1t necessary to make their own
way In the world, and they take hold of the
situation as though they were not ashamed Of
it-as why should they be?-and meant to
make a success of It.
These are the store girls and others who
are In offices, such as stenographers, type
writers, bookkeepers, while others are still In
the departments.
Many OF these young women are graduates
Of the commercial. high schools or even COL
| eyes, and they are quite equal to, II not supe-
rior to many Of the men with whom they
| competed.
In no other city in the Union is the grade
OF the woman who works with hand or brain
| SO high, and that Is what makes them go In
teresting, and Washington such delightful
city to come to to get into employment.
The average working woman Of New York
Is ,, on another plane AN that on which s the the
women's clubs and other societies for the pro-
lection and elevation of workiDgmen and shop
| girls are not applicable here, nor are they
needed, since the most OF Washington's g work
ing women have homes to go to, friends to
care for them, and Washington is not more
than half as full OF dangers, deceits, and pit.
falls for the innocent as the larger CONNER
| cial centers.
| Go through any of the large stores and see
| for yourself the fne-looking, well-dressed
women, with intelligent faces, that are the
rule, instead Of the exception, as you are being
waited upon while you shop.
You may start up little chat on almost any
| topic of passing interest with them, and you
will find they have read the morning paper
and are well posted as to what Coxey's men
| did last, and what women went bail FOR
| Browne.
Judging from their looks, behavior. and
diction they would only need party costume
on to make them appear quite as well as
most OF the young women one meets In So
ciety.
The happy thing about it is, fortunes wheel
may turn in the American fashion, and they
in turn will then become those who stand ON
this side the counter instead Of that.
1t is some comfort TO know that In that
event good public school education has
started them on road which they may follow
safely wherever it may lead. They will con-
tinue learning as they climb, until all doors
open to them, these plain, practical. hand
some American born girls, who have been
brought up on the American idea OF the
dignity of being self supporting.
Several of the proprietors OF the larg er
stores have consulted the needs OF these
young women In way that does them Cthe
proprietors) credit, providing lunches at re-
duced rates and physician in daily attend
ance for those who need attention, for where
there are from fifty to one hundred girls in
one building one or moreis apt to be attacked
with headache daily, and 1t is very convenient
to have medical attendance always within call.
But really nothing OF that sort is to be re-
garded as special graiuity. Where women
..af~
health and actual comfort should be part
of the bond, such as a suitable retiring room,
with all the toilet appliances, not too crowded
for room or ventilation, and stools or chairs
to sit upon when they are not actually wait
ing upon customers. Happily, most Of these
things are provided, but there are still some
places where better accommodations ought to
be introduced.
The government departments give their
men and women employees a months leave
with pay. and the Government Printing
Office gives months leave to its employees
OF both sexes with pay after they have been |
on the rolls one year.
Some OF the larger stores and business |
firms give their employees two weeks leave |
with pay, while others are deferred from |
asking for vacation because they fear to |
lose their pay. something they cannot afford |
TO do. Justice would seem to demand that |
who have worked from years end to years |
end. should be entitled to a limited amount |
of annual leave with pay, whether it was in |
the bond or not.
There are some splendid samples of work
ing womens spirit of self-sacrifce and |
womanly spirit to be noted here.
Most OF them contribute to the maintenance
OF their parents housekeeping expenses by |
paying a stated weekly sum for board. and in |
addition meet all their own personal expenses. |
But this is not always enough to satisfy
good daughters filial feeling.
She has been known to devote her two
weeks vacation to Housekeeping cares, that
her mother might take u little run into the
country to see her sister and get out OF her
rut and stave off a ..break-down," which
clear young eyes have been wise enough to
see coming on.
Another girl knew devoted her energies
to making her personal expenses so light for
several years that she had saved enough out OF
$50 month to take trip to Europe which,
with a tourist party, cost her $500. Now, any
school girl can figure out how long it took
her to scrimp and pinch that much enjoy
ment for her head from of expense on |
ephemeral fashions.
That was last Summer, and she came back
SO full of new ideas of what the world is
really like that she says she means to begin
to bank her account again, for she wants to
travel some more.
Another girl know who does clerical work
in i department on a small salary always
manages TO get her new clothes for the year
about vacation time, when she goes TO the
seashore or to the mountains.
Another store girl does not take long trips. |
but goes picnicking with her family TO Mar
shall Hall and Bay Ridge or Luray cave. and
she spends her vacation money principally
on bookseller one extravaganza. 1t is a
good one, tool
1t is the ''25 cent fad' for jewelry hairpins,
or something else equally useless, which runs
away with ones money, she says. And many
a nice book in white and gold can be had fer