Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-25
JANITOR FOR WOMEN.
ALBRIGHT IDEAiN THE HOUSEKEEPING
LINE OF WORK.
Another Avcnue by whIchw omen Can Earn
Comfortable Living Opened by u
Clever New York Woman.
,correspondencc Of the Dltpatch.)


NEW YORK, February 2s.-While Work.
ing women's Relief Societies aud women
philanthropists are at work persuading
girls and women to enter domestic ser
vice. there has sprung up of itself a kind
of work directly In this class, yet so mo-
dified and arranged that it has all the ad-
vantages of working at domestic service
without most OF its disadvantages.
This work Is the position Of trained jani-
tress to the large nat-houses and sets OF
apartments to fill the large cities. The
line OF work has grown, as all really good
and efficient lines must grow. directly
from the demand, and not In any other
way. Sometimes all the talking and all
the lecturing possible accomplishes little.
But when a bright woman sees path
open and runs along II successfully there
will be others to follow, and that without
any persuasion.
In New York there are now probably
twenty OF what may be called trained
janitresses." They earn from 500 year
upward. This sum Is not great. But It
must be remembered that the profession OF
janitress is to be filled by women who
could do nothing else that would give
them half the sum, and whose alternative
Is the shop at 50 per week or kitchen at
sli month and less, without independ-
ence. freedom. or even identity.
The first trained janitress began her
work about two years ago, and as she
had TO train herself, besides establishing
rules for others, she may we'll be called
not only the pioneer in her business. but
it's discoverer and it's protector as well.
for no one has ever thought of lifting so
humble an occupation to the dignity of
well-paid work, let alone trying to do 1t,
or encouraging others to try IL.
The way 1t happened was this-"happen-
ings" are always interesting. because from
these others get hints that help them over
hard places and out Of pitfalls.
IL happened" that n clever widow of
middle age was left "alone In the world
with a son of about 10 and daughter OF
%. Both had been taught TO work. and
the son was learning a trade. But there
was no rent-money in the house, and the
COdi-Dil was 10 De Hltu
4 GOOD IDEA.
"If we only had the rent and the coal
we could get along all right, mother,
said the daughter, because 1 can crochet
nicely; and you could take In sewing"
II have an idea" Haid the mother. IF
II would not be foreign to your pride
Helen. why could we not cake charge OF
a fat-house? There are some nee ones
on the next block. l think the owner
would be glad TO get nea.-looking. ie;ia-
BILE women TO care for them. We would
b. furnished a real fiat on the ground
floor and have our coal supplie'i. we
would only have to keep tho house clean,
show people over the empty flats, and
lock up and open ;he house night and
morning.
The owner was Ind eed glad to get two
such nice-looking women - take charge
OF his flats. But said he, "'he salary
Is only 81 month"
"And so q month" sti1 Helen. thought
fully, Isn't much more than - cents n
day, especially on the lDn3 months with
thirty-one days in them"
But let us take the house anyway "
said Mrs. Farnham.
IL was taken. and the h1ugnter and
mother set to work upOn H.
For nearly two weeks it required the
constant work OF both to get the halls,
the stairs. the cellar and the empty flats
In presentable shape II do not wonder
the owner discharged his last Jantress
with days warning" was the comment
as the work of scrubblng and sweeping
and brushing went on.
Mother" said the daughter one eve
ming. what are we going to do for
money? We have little left. We can't
eat the stove or the coal our month
will not be up for two weeks and more.
There isn't minute TO earn money with
sewing. We are too tired anyway. /
don't wonder that clean. decent. women
look at janitress work = the last thing
I'm the world, know / never felt so
Inundated in my life as I did when Mrs.
A. upstairs offered me cents for posting
a letter. But / took it. 1t meant a loaf
OF bread"
"Helen," said the mother, after n
minutes thought, 81 have an idea. Your
father used to say that my ideas were
worth something. and | expect to get
money out Of this one. I'm going out"
ANOTHER BRILLIANT ONE.
An hour later there appeared at the
door of the rear fat, first floor. a woman
with a radiant face. I've done it, she
said.
Done what. mother?'
swell, listen. When I went out | went