The Louisiana populist., 1897-06-11

IL was large, bare room, white.
washed once, but now cobwebby as to
the ceiling and dingy as to the walls.
A dozen sewing machines stood about,
each in such light as its worker could
best attain. But no part of the room
was dark, for there were large, high
windows and an ample skylight. which
let In noble food of light, even to
dazzling on q clear day, 30 that Miss
Hall, the forewoman OF the shirt fac
tory, petitioned Mr.. Chester for a
curtain.
"Oh. don't shut cut that lovely sun.
light" cried fresh young voice.
''You'll blind yourself some day, and
then You'll know how good it is, re-
piled the unrelenting forewoman.
"Pll send up Peter" said Mr.. Ch es.
ter. Heres an order for six shirts.
They must be just right and made by
hand. The eyelet holes must be big
ger than common, to accommodat the
customers studs. He left it for q
measurement; here it is. Keep it to.
day, and hand it to me when you go
home. Look out for it."
The patentee and manufactures Of,
Chester's Superior Shirts disappeared,
and Miss Hall held up the gem and
looked at it. Two or three girls left
their seats and came, with sewing
dangling over their hands, to inspect
the stud. 1t was q really beautiful
moonstone of unusual size and luster,
set in the narrowest rim of gold.
''I've heard that they are costly
things" said Miss Hall. ''Go back to
your work, girls, and don't idle any
longer"
She glanced again at the pearly
tints OF the moonstcne, and carefully
dropped it into tue lower depths of
her Cuisines pocket, as she desig-
mated small bag which hung from
her waist.
At the extreme end of the room sat
two young women. One was new
hand, who had propitiated Miss Hall
by . sample Of exquisite needlework.
Her name was Floretta Simpson; the
other, Dolly Burr, was older, and had
been in Mr.. Chester's employ ever
since he had patented his handmade |
shirts, which. from the unvarying ex-
cellence OF their manufacture, were
fast making his fortune. She was
now initiating Floretta into certain |
technicalities. They had to change |
their seats, for Peter, general utility |
nan. now appeared and draped a
7khite cloth across the sunny skylight,
DO the darkening of the corner where
the girls had placed themselves.
''Can you get along now, think?"
said Dolly.
Yes; you're awfully good" said
Floretts. II know how to sew, but
! never could put garment together.
/ couldn't do whole shirt to save my
liie."
well, you won't have to here. We
each have separate parts and work on
them all the year round. That girl
over there does all the necks, unless
there are too many; the new hands
try the seams arak Last month we
we're rushed 40 it took all one girls
time just to put in gussets, and she's
5 quick worker, toe. You're in luck
to be set to tucking; ! think its such
pretty work."
'If these arc all handmade gar
ments. what are those machines doing
there?" asked Floretta. /
'sWell, you see there is Q cheaper
garment which is substantially hand
made, all but the seams. and when
work is dull Mr.. Chester gets out al
lot Of them and sells to retailers; but
they are not the patented article and
don't fetch the same price. You'll |
have to run machine sometimes I'd
just as soon; it makes . change. I 4
used to run machine all the time, but
that's hard work. I" !