The Atlanta constitution., 1896-06-01

of all cities This folly Is mainly a fem
mime one; the men are not given to II; no
man dares to snub another because OF his
poverty, or his humble origin. With men
there is no arstocracy except that OF IN
tellect. 1t is related that when Douglas
and Lincoln met for the first time on the
hustings Douglas, who was great aris-
tocrat. said he had not had the honor of
an acquaintance with his opponent, and,
in fact, had seen seen him but once, and
that was when he was selling whisky be-
hind the bar i'm crossroads saloon.
When old Abe rose to reply, he smiled
from ear 10 ear, he remarked. "Thats
so, my fellow citizens. That is the Only
time | ever saw him until now. lie was
on one side of the bar and l was on tie
other. lie took drink and l took the
money. We are about even on that score.
What's the difference? a nice, sweet, we'll
hammered girl or young woman VINO waits
on the customers i'm large dry goods
house is on one side of the counter and a
rich a1istocratic lady is on the other. one
had money, the other had goods and they
exchangcd-thats all. Which is ahead in
the comedy of life and which Will be ahead
when the play is ended and final Judgment
IS rendered? With one life is n fashionable
farce. with The other a struggle for bread.
"Give us this day our daily bread IS her
morning prayer.
The position of these working girls is
hard one at best, but kind words and fair
wages soften it down greatly. They beg
for these places and get them, but why
women should not he paid much AZ men
for similar service / cannot understand.
My information is that they are paid about
half and the employers excuse is that com
petition is very great and as others cut
rates they must do so. too. for labor is
worth only what il Will brng-and a wo-
mans labor he had cheaper than a
mans. That is not gooi excuse. 1t is
not to the interest of the employer to get
labor on such terms. Twenty dollars a
month will not keep a young woman in
good health and good clothes ana leave any
thing for a sick mother or child. or for a
doctors bill. 4 big-heartcd. generous man
Will inquire into the condition of every fc-
male employe he has and as far as pos
slble make il his own concern. They are
as IL We're, his wards for the time. and he
cannot escape the responsibility.
Before the war there were no shop girls
but for thirty years this great transition
has been going on. and now the south
like the north. is fun of working girls. The
children and grandchildren of those
who once were proud and indepen-
dent are now forced to become their own
bread winners. There is no perception for
them. II is daily food for daily labor. The
rich are growing richer by short cuts and
questionable means. al Of which in their
last ANALYSIS come from the earnings OF the
toilers and grind the faces of the poor
Widows and orphans whose husbands and
fathers left them stock or bonds in a
great railroad nave lived to see it wrecked
by unscrupulous schemcrs and by the
time the wreckcrs had done with it their
stock ana their bonds were worthless.
Daniel Webster got fee Of $1,000 for max
ing a speech i'm the Nyra Clark Gaines case
and it was nosed by the press as an enor-
nous fee. but now n common lawyer gets
$4,000 Cor bringing the money of a wrecked
railroad into court An incorporated com
pany accumulates n million dollars sur
Plus and asks the court what TO do with
81. There was hght, no contest, but
the lawyers who took the decree are
awarded S1J.Ce0 for bringing the money into
court. Receivers ana lawyers prey upon
the carcases Of corporations like buZzards
upon the corcases of brutes, and but little
Is left for creditors or stockholders. These
are the things chat iii the people with dis
trust ana disgust and paralyze industry and
intmilata capital. ! know lady and she
Is sitting near me now whose father LEFT
her $4,000 dollars Of stock IN railroad
in Alabama. II was good stock and had
good prospects but the schemers got it
into court and had n receiver appointed
and 70 was wrecked and sold to tho bond
holders Tor song ana she lost everything
but the certificate. When she comes across
it now among her archives hear her hum
ming that sweet old song, '"Ihi5 world Is
all "a fleetipg show" But let the working
girls cheer up and always look on the bright
side II they can't get married let them
look around aud see how much misery mar
riagc briugs-how few wcmen are happily
mated. Encourage a cheerful disposition
and If YOU can't he happy be as happy as
YOU can. Trust IN the Lord aud do good.
II is not al Of life to live ror an of death
TO die There are many blessings that
cost as nothing. I never pass BY neigh
bor Mrs. F.elds's front yard that is radi-
ant with beautiful flowers but what
think how cheap they are 10 me 1t is q
good idea to sometimes think of that poor
little boy whose mother covered him with
straw ono ter night and put an old win
dow shutter on the straw to hold il down.