The evening times., 1896-02-10
IN THE 'SWflTsA0P"
Continued From First Page. &c.

.'But what difference can it possibly make
to him whether you get big salaries OIL
| small; il doesn't come out OF hrs pOckety'
NO; bur he has TO be economical TO mold
| his position, suppose. He does as he likes
and nouCdy injuries INTO IL. The papers
don't seem to realize it's the money we
want, either. They talk about the dirty
| bags and bad odors.'
Il wish l could get in there once"
"Oh, do get in there. You can get an ap.
| pointmen; IL you try, and then you will see
Just what the trouble isl
! May ask your name?''
l. Il wouldn't dare give you my name. II
| you used my name. should lose my place at
once. Anybody who complains or talks
about the work is discharged
So said goodnight 10 her and left her.
The next day l went down To the repair
shop early to try TO enter with the women
unnoticed; but no opportunity was afforded
| anu l did not want to impress myself upon
| the officials by causing disturbance.
did Join u group OF girls, ana ask them
| II could 20 in with them. but they seemed
| triiie alarmed and said IL would be impos-
sible. as the foreman watched everybody
very closely since The Times had begun the
crusade against the methods OF the place.
| So left them, resolved to try and get an
| appointment.
1 wondered. however, at this persistent
| secrecy. and still wonder, even after hav-
ing worked in the place among these women.
People who have nothing TO conceal should
not act as though they wished to draw a
cloak about their deeds.
GETTING AN APPOINTMENT.
The way l secured my appointment was
this: ! went directly to the Postoffice
Department and asked to see the Post
master General on matters relative to the
mail bag department. / was somewhat
disappointed to have Gen. Nelson come
out To the reception room TO see me, and
say that Mr.. Wilson desired him to talk to
me on the subject. However, Gen. Nelson
treated me with all possible consideration,
and when l made request TO visit the
women's work room he promised to see
Maj. Tyler about it, refusing to act over
that gcntleman's head, which is certainly
very proper official courtesy.
That afternoon when / called at Gen.
Nelson's office he merely spoke to his
assistant through "A tube, and that gentle
man came upstairs and was turned over to
him.
Maj. Tyler is a big. robust man. who ap-
pears to have very kindly instincts, but
VINO nevertheless shows stubborn determi-
nation in every feature. He is n man that
! should think had theories about things
that it would axe all the kings horses and
aiithc king smcn 10 uproOt aftcra tug OF war.
Major Tyler took me to his office and
said he would first show me the books,
which showed what every woman was
earning, and then he would take me over
to the shop ana go through it with me. He
said he thought that The Times might
have made such an investigation before it
began publishing the complaints OF the
women, but nevertheless he was disposed
10 treat me with consideration and let me
get at all the facts in the case
After we had scanned the journal OF ac-
counts l still had an impatient feeling that
this was just the surface OF the question,
mended a certain number OF bags ON GER
tain days was not Il fair test or the wage
matter, so l said tn him
Major Tyler, these women have their
story to tell, ana l want TO talk to them"
TALKING TO THE WOMEN.
Il am going {" give you the opportunity
10 talk Ia any OF them that you wish to.
Wen go over there at once
But they won't talk 10 me freely If
you are with me-
''Oh, yes, they will. They haven't a thing !
to fear from me, and they know it. They
can say whatever they like
But they won't do it, and the public !
won't believe they did in any case. Now.
if you have Nothing whatever to cover up
there, and / am ready To believe You |
haven't, let me go and work a week 81
Go and work on those bags a week2 |
Why do you know that it is very, very |
hard work, something that you are entirely. |
unused to-
I've on idea that it is, but can do what
ever those women can that / saw coming |
Dut of there. They are not all so big and !
strong"
We'll, / haven I the authority to let you"
But If you ask Gen Nelson TO let ME he /
will, aud if you do that there will be nothing |
to conceal from me, and believe the public
Will believe me. Mind. Idon I expect to find |
IN upholstered dra awing-room, and ! am
lot going to write hysterical stuff"
The major looked thoughtful and said we
would go up 10 the generals room and see
ibout il. ] mad no idea that he would reconi-
mend me, Yet when we came before the gem
.ral again he said:
Now this young woman has got another
dea. She wants TO go to the repair shop
nd work a week. Ibelieve I'd let herdoit
General. i think she has good Judgment
APPOINTED AS GRACE HUNTER.
The general also EaZed at me thoughtfully |
nd then said: VERY well. Who are you
oing TO be this timer
Why, just make the appointment for
ace Hunter. and please don't sa anything |
o your officials down there
I'VE will keep faith with you, but we want
o be treated fairly." said the general, and
o he order was given, and in fifteen min
les l was sworn to support the Constitu
ion of the United States and had my ap-
ointment.
heard Ma ior T yler telephone to therepair |
hop o put Miss Ora ce Hunterto work Mon
ay morning on the ma chimes. Then he ex-
lained 10 me that many of the girls were
ma furlough and il would be better to wait
ntil Monday to go TO work.
Accordingly last Monday morning / ap-
cared at the office in an entirely different
was one of The last OF the girls to arrive,
nd was directed TO the superintendent |
ffice. ;
learned that The girls are obliged to ar
We n quarter of an hour earlier than this in |
rder 10 change their dresses and get ready
begin a the very moment the bell rings |
they wish iu go 10 work before 8. Natu-
lily they do wish, as they eau none of |
lem afford 10 lose IN eighth of aday. They |
'onld doubtless be prompt in any case, as
lcre are no moments to be lost when one is {
a piecework.
The superintendent arrived almost i'm
ediately and said: "Oh. you're that Miss
unter. are you? Well, III take you up
I'd have you put TO work"
So we went up two more flights of
airs through similar warerooms to the Q
e on the first floor, although the rooms I
ere darker IL anything. and then we came
10 the wonnan's room. ] looked about | c
e with mich curiosity and found the | j
rst impression of the place to be es- {
ntiaily disa greeable. O.
SENSATION OF PITY.
! think anyone walking in to this big work
ON for the first time would have q SEN
ton OF pity and horror for the lot of '
ese women. And yet here is where one n
apt to make a mistake. The observer | u
Life q loIcnr Strafa thaxa hic L., 1,