The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-03-31
uNcLe sAM's MAILeAos.
when Worn Out. Thcy just Begin 70 DO
Really OF Service.


Really OF Service.
To REQ tho government economically
administered. 80 whore they mend mall
bags. When a mailbag Is worn out, it
is considered as inst fit FOR service. a
new mailing Is stiff, unyielding. When
IL has knocked about the world, had the
starch taken out Of It and its weak
places discovered, it grows pliable. gives
when IL can't force its way aud Is now
prepared 10 do business euctcasfully.
Like humnn being tho mailbag hns
had its experience. The most active
,nailbngs now in the service have scarce
~ hands breadth Of thcorigiunl fabric.
Tho ordinary juto mailbag is mended
by women. This Is one Of the now few
branches Of the public service outside Of
the civil service rules. Tho women who
mend mailbug8 arc appointed b. con
grcssmcn or public officers in tho old
way. A moro democratic gathering can
not be found in Washington. IL Is dirty
II not difficult work. In tho numbers Of
women clad In their worst clothes. their
heads hidden in paper fools caps with
long curtains, their hands guarded by
leather bands ard nc work on sewing 60
rudo that IL seems like q travcsty on tho
gentle art Of the needle it 10 difficult TO
detect from ono another the delicatoly
nuriurcd woman, the sturdy foreigner
and the negro. They arc all there work.
ing in perfect amity.
Each woman sits on q low chair. She
has exchanged Lcr street dress for her
working clothes IN tho comniodious
dressing room. Sho receives every morn
INK mailbag holding 10 bags. Five
Of these are comparatively good; ivo
nrc more or less bad. II is a mild sort
Of lottery, which these women expert
cnce twice or three times O day. and tho
element Of chance ID not tho less oxcit-
ing though IL lie in tho depths of dirty
mailbag.
Bad or good tho women nro paid 81
GENTS bag. For tho woman who can
not earn at least Sl.Ol q day there is no
place IN this room. They earn on an
average about $3.50 day, and some
women exceed this amount Each wo-
man works with n darning needle and
Irvine thread. Her first requirement Is
tho sailors stitch. With this she can
patch. darn or cmbroidcr. when she
has finished tho bags they are carried to
q central table, whore on bulletin
board her name is scheduled. There her
work 10 examined by one OF three men
and checked OF accordingly.
Not all sew. Some string the bags at
tho noel, and put on the tags and locks
Ono Of these is u blind ncgross. She has
not seen since child. hut she works
rapidly and dcftly while eho tells with
pride how she can cinbroidcr and sew
ct home.
These women from such varied walks
In life work together in perfect accord.
When to tho foreman the dusty air and
unsightly work seem TO have depressed
tho workers. he suggests TO some one,
generally q cclorcd woman, TO start ND
como music. Tho wave of sound gath
oro until the whole room has joined in.
II is usually hymn, for hymns come
most easily to women'a lips
Tho government Is % kind taskmastor.
Tho room is finely lighted and venti.
lated Tho Mushrooms are abuudantly
and finely equipped with marble mount
cd stationary stands. At noon a tea and
coffee bureau Is opened. and the workers
have all tho tea and coffee they desire at
the expense Of their country. Washing
ton working hours are easy. Vacations
Of month are given, and certain sicl;
leaves arc provided for. The sweat
shops Of tho government. where the new
mailbass arc made by contract. are in
tins city.--Now York Sun.