The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-21


was the same. So I walked into tbs store
and, asking for the proprietor. was hand
ed over to Mr. Klingenstein himself He
was one Of the store-keepers that treated
me deeeHtly. ana a feeling Of gratitude
springs up insmy heart At the thought Of
him. Il was plainly evident 20 me- THAI he
did not need saleswoman IN the least.
Yet In the goodness Of his heart Mr..
klingenstein told me that II woald come
back AT 5 O'Clock with q references Be
would consider the matter.
] hurried away and pFaettsed an inno-
cent deception on my prospective employ
er. went TO chemists and wrote nay
own reference II still wanted some hours
to 5, and was not sure Mr. Knngenstsln
would really take me. For three hours I
went from shop to shop. was turned
down numerically.
Promptly ht o'clock presented mysa'.
with my reference for Mr.. Rllngenstesn .
inspection. He told me might come IeSt
morning. and he would fix place Ger me
in the store at from 3 to $ week
Tired but triumphant. wended nv way
toward my clearinghouse. Ny FIRST Cay
In New York was over. ] had obtaine
work through sheer persistency at the
dlnlest season Of the year.
/ went directly from Klingensslsa's to
my room. which shared In common With
I'VE other women 1t was a shabby apart
ment. furnished with six single Iron Gets.
one solitary rocking-chair. a straight
backed chair. a looking-glass and wash
stand and small table. One closet had to
suffice for the six occupants.
There were only three drawers, In Witch
the two irst-comers kept their belongings.
These drawers did not lock. and ihete was
no way to keep ones small belongings
away from ones felloW-roomers' inspec-
ton Fortunately. each room Represented
a CLIQUE. and It was the duty Of the last
legitimate occupant OF our apartment
when she left the room to lock the closet
door and hide the key In the table orswer.
This was In order 10 keep temptation
away from those who did not room with
US.
At dinner I had q little opportunity 60
study my companions in misery. fC- such
I Judged them to be by the dishsartened
expression of their countenances. In fact
through all the time spent at :he house
] never heard any one laugh except little
girl who was boarding there while her
mother worked out earning the money to
take care Of her. She had q large doll
which seemed to afford her much happi-
ness and pleasure. and she was tho young
TO feel the depressing atmosphere of the
house.
The dinner gong sounded and there was
a general focking to the dinlns-room be-
low. Late corners had to wait their turn,
and so. Of course, we all made haste % be
first The dining-room resembled I'm detail
a cheap lunch counter.
There was no light in the dinlng-room
and no one ever spoke at meals. We ate
stealthily and rapidly.
For dinner that first night. and every
other. with slight variation as to meat.
we had roast veal. boiled potatoes. bread,
butter. tea and rice pudding. Water we
could have IL wanted. but there was no
ice-water
After dinner beat a hasty retreat 20
my room. or rather 10 our room. for only
one-sjxth Of 10 was mine. There found
total darkness. The small giObeless lamp
which belongs TO each room did not APP
pear to be used for anything else than 60
heat curlIng-irons. discovered that the
gas had been turned or the entire house
SINCE one OF the boarders had tried 20
commit suicide by asphyxiation.
We spent all our evening hours In semi
or total darkness. Each time lighted the
little lamp In order 20 find some toilet ar
ticles II was promptly extingulshed b. one
Of the borders.
I slept in spite Of the strangers. I had
scarcely closed my eyes. IL seemed 10 me.
before was awakened by a woman IN the
further cot discovered II was nearly 3
o'clock, and out OF the horde of hol:ders
this was the only woman who TOOK daily
bath, Others being satisfied with che a
week and still others with none a. all.
There was no bathroom. bat II tie eel
lar q tub was provided Cor those who
would fetch water from che kitchen for
It.
The breakfast bell was followed ir1medi-
ately By a general rush for the stairs.
Breakfast had many charncteri ,iics of the
preceding meal. partook Of hon'iny.
coffee and biscuits. refusing bacon ard
eggs which ! might have mad. preferrins
instead an extra biscuit. This was cen.ed
me without explanation.
Now for my FIRST days work IN the thop.
was 50 afraid OF being late that reach
ed the store at half-past :. At I'VE Anin-
utes to 5 the other employees began - ar
rive. They all stared at me and fn'de
whispered compliments Af.es the shop
was opened I reported 90 the floor y alker.
and ne assigned me to work in the s''rt
department There were two other giils
already there. one OF whom wal told 70
instruct me in my work. s1e showed re
how to arrange the stock. part 81 which
was to be In my care. ] was also tid
that in making sales Sould o.sy have
third chance. that Is. the two o;h"r girls
were allowed 10 take customers ahead OF
me and had 10 content mvseif N'th 'he
third customer. The kin.iliness end "a
thence OF the girls employed ~ Kfngtn-
STEMS and their endsavors "a help each
ether felt worthy Of all adinIratioa.
At n o'clock luncheon hours were given
out and received the time from 2 90 1
When I; came my turn I went Gu, o. n
restaurant and spent for my nIn ;neon ten
cents This bought me coffee ans = lsrge
plate Of pala;able ice-cream. o. 10 &c lit
eral. frozen milk.
In the afternoon had my first eSaace
az a customer. She was an indifferent
looking little woman with 4 chi'i. au5 I
sold her a skirt Ny sale made M fairly
radiant After this sales came hsoEs ire
quently.
Six o'clock was my dinner hour AM J
hurried hack 20 ny boarding -k"ise q |
oartske n that meal A. ;hs store ke-i |
open evenings Z % cour-e. haI - e. back /
there. The eveaing trade vas Cur b.4zs-
sEt
Ats O'Clock vas a. liberty - 70 M /