New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-30
EARNING A LIVING.
EXPERIENCES SAD AND OTHERWISE.

woman In London wrote thus to the secretary OF an
employment bureau. The secretary replied at once
advising the friends MT to come to strange city
with such insufficient provlsion informing them OF
the great competition for all desirable positions. OF
the possibility that they might be weeks or months
without employment. and OF the high cost or Nv
ing in New-York. Under the circumstances they
wisely decided not to leave their native country
Yet under the impression that II Is easy TO IND
pleasant positions with large salaries in New-York.
young women from abroad and from the Western
and Southern States continue to arrive here without
knowledge OF the difficulties which await them In
the Margaret Louisa Home. whose main purpose Is
TO afford temporary residence for those seeking
employment and where many applicants congre-
gate, one often hears pathetic tales of disappointed
hopes In warm summer evenings chance acquant-
ances exchange condolences the roof of the build
ing chilly days they tell their stories IN their
comfortable bedrooms which they must soon eX-
change for such lodglngsoftcn dreary ones-as their
purses permit.
An English girl who came to NewYork seeking
n position nursery governess. was thankful
when her purse almost empty, to accept n
place chambermaid. Another came from his-
tant State. She had been educated nj home by gov
ernesses. and called accomplished. hut she
had not been trained to teach or TO do any prac-
teal work She had references az to character and
social position. but when questioned about her eX-
perience in teaching In office work she had TO an
swer that she had none. Disappointment followed
disappointment. and her money was almost gone
To pay the rent of her small. unheated room. she
sold OF her clothing for fraction or It's value
For weeks she lived on broken crackers, which she
bought from a baking company at about cents
pound. little cheese and stale bread. at 3 cents
a loaf. OF course she lost strength. and. conse-
quently her natural hopefulness and determine
tion yet she had resolution enough to continue her
efforts to find work. and at last was temporarily
employed by a business house in folding and ad-
,l~A Los ,nnth
occasional work. and her income averaged about
81 week She lodged In poor ROOM was insult
fcienty fed and unable to replenish her clothing.
But after continued search she obtained a position
in Office on stated salary. This place led the
way to a better one and when she told her story
In the Home to encourage respondent seeker
for employment she In receipt OF good in
come.
But one shouldn't go out OF ones class and set
aside all educational advantages. and take any
kind OF work." said girl who had sought vsinly
FOR the position she desired.
II agree with you in part" said a slender. SOFT
voiced woman AS rule. what call wel-edu-
Gated women should not take positions that can be
filled by those who have little education. But II
II Is necessary. In order TO maintain herseli, n
woman should be willing 10 do any kind OF honest
work. once when was In great need In strange
city took place as charwoman. and by chance,
a man who had known me elsewhere under very
was washing windows ~ course. IT was little
awkward FOR both butt don't mind now. The diii-
Guilty that my physique was untitled for such
hard manual labor and my HANDS were In an
awful state. ones muscles require training Never
theless kept at II TIL found something better.
once when l could ind nothing else To do. said
another Il had a place as inspector ~ gas meters.
Would you like To see my badge? keep II as
memento."
1T makes me heari-sck." said dcspondent girl.
when watch the ptiless struggle. the ccasciess
competition for the bare existence. am tempted
sometimes to end IT all one could 10 II 80 easily
oh don't say that. don't lose heart" said one
who had been silent your bright days viii come
again"
IT'S the old story OF Live horse ana you'll eat
grass" remarked the despondcnt one.
Listen. ana viii tell you my story" SAID the
other Il had advertised ana answered advertise
ments had paid fees IN employment bureaus. but
could find no work that able to do My
money almos; gone and was In debt for my
board had a relative or near friend IN the
country Nv husband had died soon after our ar
rival here. The one SPOT that belonged TO me was
his grave. and / could no sin in fastening 70
my place beside 1t. gave my last cen, TO mes
sencer whom / sent for ohloroform Then | went
to my ROOM threw myself the bed and covered
my face with handkerchief saturated with chloro-
form At last. I thought. / snail sleep Many
nights had lain with wide-open eycs was sink
ing into happy inconsistencies. when. through
my duei senses. ! heard loud rapping al the
door: but | could not have answered 1t even had
I wished to- / did no, remember that had not
turned the key In the lock. Presently | heard the
sound OF many voices. but they seemed dull ana
FAR away When my consciousness Returned tho
landlady and doctor were beside me- she had
heard OF my sending for choroform. ana mad
come in alarm TO my room was III ior Gays
but while lay there I told the landlady my story
har f,in
employment and must never think Of my bill I'LL
| was well able to pay H. II not long before
had good place and able 10 repay her In
the years that have passed since then nave han
my dark hours but I've had bright ones too; and
many many times I've been thankful that was
arrested on my. way 10 sclf-iestruc;ion
For the most part. the women one meets In the
Home are brave and checrfulooking. Some have
come - The city seek employment and have
found It, Some are scf-supporting women from
other places and spending vacation at the
Home. Some have come to attend meetings or
lectures Others. VINO have positions IN New-Norh,
avail themselves OF the accommodations OF the
Home while they look Tor boaring-places. one
made \ long Journey 10 seek errng brother and
found him sick and remorsciul The unit OF UNI
i'm any one year In thirty-iye days All vacancies
are filled Immediately. and applicants are ot'eh
necessarily sent away because there Is no room
for them Therefore, II Is advisable TO make APP
pIicatiOns some time before me room is iclulcu.
'Oh for "A permanent home Ike TINS: ~ the cry
OF those who have come 10 inc enn o 'e'i a,i,,
Al the luncheon hour the restaurant ~ always
crowded At that time many women who are n1t
.aIfsunnoriIng and who are shopping In the neigh
borhood find IL "A convenience. large number or
Girls from the shops and busin 'ss PAGES IN the
nrip hborhood also lunch there. But, with the cN
ccntjon OF the dodgers I'm the Home. the women VINO
breakfast and dine In the restaurant are usually
clf-supporting women who live In furnished rooms
In the neighborhood. Some cook their breakfasts
In their rooms over gas or OIL stoves ana .ahr
dinner only at the restaurant Before the dinner
hour there Is n line OF waiting women In The ha
from the street door the door OF the restaurant
As n rule hey wcll-mannered and agreeable
and the spirit Of good fellowship ~ evident. but
"cc. sinnnIiv an Ilnderbrcd woman elbows her way
through the crowd. regardless OF the rights o,
others who have before her. and takes a
positIon close by the door. 80 that when II rs
opened she may hasten TO secure the seat she
desires it,, - o,,o
One{sees pretty women and plain women; young
ones and old ones merry faces and sad. But the
Greater number are bright and brave. One who