Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-16

Their Lives Are Not ~ Picturesque as
We Would Hike to uriicvc.

Their Lives Ave- Not nn Picturesque as
We Would like to uriicsc.
''ln tho nrst place We mus, dlsabuse our
selves OF any iies picturesque or roeucal
with which s,e-s and aong have contrlved
to envlron the agurS OF a fower glrl." said
an hngllshnan recently. "she IA very free
with her tongue and has a holy awe Of moth
Ing eui--a policeman. Her homo nearly
alwaya Is sGuaild room In squalid quar-
ter At the top q some dark, rlcke,iy stalrs
with drunken ueighhor each side Of hor
and squaillng children all around, Her out.
look "a on TO white-washcd wallis or grlmy
roofs; halt washed clothes nap abeu, tn
the yari below; stray ray OF aunthine
may At raro intervals slant into the court
and warm tho Nckly leaves OF p.unted
soranlnm in a brekon Cover pot,or illumine
the wrinkled face ot an old hNldame as she
peters along the days on her way to the
gIu shop nut It COMES and II goes, and
only roema 70 Intensity the poverty and tho
gloom.
For furniture tho flower glri has bod
stead on witch rrpeso AZ night herself. hus-
band baby. another little one, and some.
times a third while on mat In a corner
by h1 hre sleep any older children or aged
relations. who depend on her for support
a f>N kitchen u,onslls waHhlpg arrange
menta and cracked mirror complete The
list q belongings. The window IL never
opened from ono Christmas day to another.
and tho atmosphere Ia better Imagined than
described Fof this sumpmoun abode three
shilllngs week IL charged. The food ls
principally tea and bread. klppora arc tho
great delleacy and pin In any shape or
form Is luxury hungered after A. say.
Ing o. labor Ia always OF Importance, aud
wafer has to bo carried from the bottom to
the TOP Of tho house. tho pail In which
tho dishes arc washed. after meal OF
sausage. or nsh, docs Tor bAby's bath. aud
ne same water Sttcr Is used to wash tho
clothes.
Clergymen otton despair about this class
OF women and think their love OF the streets
aigu OF abandonment, They do not take
into account the depressing surroundings
of their daily lie. II IL a pleasure, not a
pain. to turn out into tho freih air. TO gut
away from Tho sights and sounds Of home.
TO have elbow room on the pavement, to
have tho eyes dlatraotcd by the Wow Of
pretty dresses. and the ears h0oihed by
tho harmonious hustle OF London streets.
Even the enforced cloenlnesa keepa alive
her spirit OF nnit-iospecl, aud few are the
ilower-Eirls who do not eNpcnd penny In
""'3 NNaHs AhNit ~ MMsNn llN'il1
az to who has tho whltrst apron. and per.
sonh vanity peeps out In BIZ OF throat
ribbon or oolorod shawl,
So. contrary 10 sacordotai advice the
flower.sirl Will pinch and Hayo TO give a
noiEhb0r Sixponco day 10 mind The
babies" and with a heart relieved from do,
nestle cares sally forth with her basket Il
Try her tuck,
For Il must bs owned that tho wave o.
emancipation which has caught tho fcmi
nine fancy ot tho world has eddicd fnuni
tho fowcr-E girl, too, ana swept her on he
feet 20 bo ewirled hliher aud thithcr N
some strong and kindly hand drawa hel
safely into port
The London poor are not naturally yer,
domestic. aud they arr growing less no
Take this class "a an example, Whom N,
gr gopl home, fhe tldlos up aud makos d
bit of a meal Tor her husband. Then he
II an Intelligent man. goes TO club where
he henra lectures aud roads the papers
more frequently ho goes to tho public house
whrrn he gets warmth and shelter aud con
genial conversation. II he has no money b,
loafs about the doors TN "a pal" treats HIN
anything but remaining al home.
And Eho II there Is a philanthrOpo club
In tho nnlghbofhood zoos there. u IN warm
II ia cosy. aud she can Eoasip with the
fower-glrl friends. and perhaps eHehang,
a few words with the lady manager. Night
clasaea she does not care 10 attend. she
has 10 wish 10 improve herself hor en0rgy
IA all expended. nor do cheap pork chops and
htrwod tea conduco 10 mental yigor. II tho
club IA above her. thore in hlre to be some
nelFhbnr near home who VIII bear her
company IN glass 10 keep tho cold out
20 they huddle over tho apology for IRE
and talk scandal to tholr hearts content
Poor thlnNui