The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-27
!; POVERTY IN GLOVES :
From the CULVER.

their lives, for no other reason that that
they have put themselves. or been thrust
into the wrong place. And, once there,
how few have the chance or energy to
eYtricate themselves from a false en-
vironment, which cramps their talents
and deadens their moral powers.
There were only too many examples
OF this sort at Claverton boarding house
but the most striking, think, was that
OF beautiful Maud Melville. She was
the daughter of a Scotch county squire,
who, having got into money difficulties,
feared to face his creditors, and shot
himself in his own grounds one fateful
Christmas morn. His wife did not long
survive the shock, and at 20 Maud Mel
Vile had to confront the world-hand-
some penniless and equipped only with
high spirits and a fearless ignorance Of
the terrible battle of life.
A poor relation, hitherto ignored, in
vited Maud at this juncture to come to
London, where she would put her in the
way OF earning her living. Only too
thankfully the girl accepted and arrived
one day al Claverton house, creating
quite a sensation by her magnificent
and healthy physique. her elegant
mourning, and the power. vigor and
dash she exhibited in every movement.
Her cousin, Mrs. Latmer, sighed as she
looked at her. She herself was a clergy
mans widow who for fifteen long years
had battled with genteel poverty for the
sake of her six children, and having
got them into homes and in various
foundations, meekly subsidized into "a
post at thirty shllngs a week waiting
for the time when they in their turn
could contribute to her support. She
had meek-looking face. it's expression
marred by the constant necessity of
pairing down expenses till it had pared
the half Of a beautiful soul away.
In moment Of motherly warmth she
had offered to adopt her lovely young
relative. and was now rather over
whelmed at her responsibility. Maud
lived in a state of rebellion, vehemently
and constantly expressed. She fumed
at her splendid proportions, which
made rest thing impossible to her in
our narrow, space-stinted abode She
inveighed at her healthy appetite, which
left her always hungry after her
meagre meals.
Meanwhile, Maud had elected type
writing as a profession, and feverishly
worked, breaking her back and wear
ing out her eyes at an occupation
about as unsuited to her as a prob
lem in Euclid to a wild colt.
When tolerahly competent. she was
lucky enough to get through advertis-
ing, a situation as typewriter in a
Fleet street Office at fifteen shillings a
week.
Then her discipline began. She had
to rise at a. m. from her three-and-
six-penny cubicle, breakfasted at eight
on tea and bread and butter walk to
her destination, work from Q a. m.
to l p. m: spent Cd. on her lunch, and
work again TIL p. m, when she walk
ed home to a fourpenny tea; and had
to spend the rest of the evening in A
room so dingy that only the fcw who
huddled round the lamp could see to
do anything.
Such life is depressing to those
who have passed girlhood and have
well-regulatcd minds. What. then,
must 1t be TO girls of the age to have
an over-mastering capacity for pleas
ure, a rebelious desire for comfort.
and vino learn only too soon that by
saying Just one word they can obtain
all that eager youth demands. forgetful
of the bitter ashes into which the fruits
of pleasure turn?
Some people acclimate quickly: not
so Maud and her make. Each night
she laid her head, with more dStaste,
on the coarse hard pillow; each day
made her turn with more disgust from
the cheap, unpalatable food. For the
very reason that she was so full of
physical vitality did the sedentary life
prey on her nerves. Nor had she mem
tai resources to balance this animal
restlessness.
| began to fear when, after a time,
! noticed fits of broodng and the al
most sullen manner with which she re-
ceived any overtures to friendship, and
when Mrs. Latimer said cheerily, one
day, Dear Maud was settling down,
At last" l only breathed a hope that
this was not a calm before storm.
Yet little did any Of US guess how
the lowering tempest was to break.
One afternoon Mrs. Latimer was in
my room warming herself by the stove,
when the door burst open and Maud
walked in, pale and dishevelled, with
white Quivering lips and a Wild hunt
ed look in her eyes.
She flung herself on her knees be-
around her fingers.
IT'S all over! they've sacked me, -
she said, in low defiant tone.
Mrs. Lattimer uttered a little cry
OF terror.
Why child" she said, trembling all
over, what is to become of you IL
you throw away your chances like
that?"
ONT
she muttered sullenly, and got up and
went to the window.
Didn't the manager give a reason"
! asked, seeing that Mrs. Lattimer was
too much afraid of her tempestuous
cousin to proceed.
"Oh, yes, he found me out"
"In what?"
Il stole a shilling" and the girl
turned round and faced us with fam
ing face.
Mrs. Lattimer burst out crying and
began to rock herself to and fro.
"Oh. Maud, you've dsgraced the
family" she sobbed. "How shall we
ever hold up our heads again?"
Tell us why you did it?" I asked
az calmly as / could.
Yes, | will tell you" said Maud
Il cid 1t because / was hungry, and
could stand being hungry no more
You people may live on tea. and bread
ana butter, but, tell you. | can't-and
won't. 1t Keeps me awake at night
II gives me headache all day. And
have to do my work all the same
sick and starving though l felt. You
don't know the pain Of it, and it lasts
so long"
she threw herself on her knees by
my side and putting her arm in my
Ian q a.