The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-06

ChicagO's Unemployed.
In Chicago all sorts and conditions OF
men and women are jumbled together.
Such an ola podrida Of humanity never
saw anywhere else. Smart business men,
fashionable women, rub elbows on every
street with an almost infinite variety Of un-
fortunates. Aud the streets TEEN and pal
pitate so with human beingsl Chicago is
almost terrible in its outward evidence Of
poverty and distress. The streets are liter
ally fun of unfortunate men and women,
who seemingly do not know where thenext
meal is coming from. or where is the bed
they are 10 occupy at night. Mile after mile
Of this restless, surg.ng. in kempt throng-
hungry and foOtsore, hopeless and desperate
-gppnlls one.
IL is easy % believe the published state
ments that Chicago has a greater number
OF unemployed than any other American
city-not because the commerce and indus
tries of Chicago are suffering from stop
page. FOR they are not, but because the
Worlds fair drew to the city hundreds OF
thousands Of the shifting. floating pOpula-
ton of the country, the greater share Of
whom are still there, vainly seeking en-
ployment, and their ranks swollen by thou
sands more who have drifted in from all
y
After Chicago St. Louis is a distinct re-
lief Compared with the city by the lake.
st. Louis is almost villagelibe. The streets
are so quiet; IL is so easy TO get about with
out danger Of being run over, without jos
thing Chicago is a maelstrom; St. Louis a
pleasant bay with quiet waters and gentle
breezrs. -. Louis impresses one as a town
where most OF the people are employed,
where business is conservative, where few
large fortunes are made on the one hand,
or many failures on the other. Its street
scenes are indicative of an easy going. rath-
or comfortable population.
where street Scenes Are National.
But Washington is the ideal. Here the
street scenes are national rather than local
Here the whole United States is typifed
and excmplifed Take, for instance, two
currents Of humanity that move down Penn
sylvania avenue between and o'clock in
the afternoon. About the time the big pub
lie departments are closed congress adj
iourns, and thus from opposite ends Of the
avenue two streams are let loose, gradually
approaching one to the other and finally
blending. IL is difficult to say which Of
these streams is the more interesting. That
from the departments shows by far the
greater number Of women. Some Of them
are women almost any man would want a
7 second lool, at too. They are stylishly at.
| tired. Their gowns and millinery are "ur
1 TO date, " and there are evidences Of the fact
| that when awoman provides for herself she
is better taken care Of than when she de
/ ponds upon husband.
! Most Of these girls Of the treasury" oil
other departments are well behaved. They
are ladies The wicked days Of old, in which
service in the departments often went 10y
| favor dearly bought and not 10y merit. ar,
no more With now and then an exception
nothing Of the sort il known in the great
executive departments Of today. IL tbs
/ civil service law has done nothing else al
value, il has paid for itselfin the protection
which IL has thrown about woman in pub
/ lie Office here AT the capital.
Dressy and Debonair.