Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-04-07
THE ORANGE PACKERS.
An Idyl of the Workers.

WIue uOOT OF the packing mouse as
girls straight figure paused a momen
ON the threshold before entering.
The scene within seemed attractive.
was so busy, and In effect, so quiet. il
spite of the continual noise of hammers
mailing UP the full boxes and the variou.
sounds incident to moving fruit about u:
the work progressed. Every one wa:
steadily at work, and no one seemed ir
doubt what to do next
The shade was inviting, too, after a
walk under the strong California sun
and the great building was well provided
with generous openings under Its FAR
projecting roof, and was spacious enough
not only to avoid the crowding Of work
and material, but also to allow free
movement of air.
The newcomer was pleased, and her de-
sire to take hand was qulckened. She
was a stranger there, yet she seemed
to feel no discomfort at the attention
which her arrival had awakened. Her
good-tempered polse was so apparent that
her credentials were at once accepted.
She was used to moving through life
without much dispute over the right OF
way, and was blessed with tbs tact that
comes from unaffected confidence.
She readily discovered the manager,
moving about among the bins and boxes,
saying a quiet word here and there, or
pointing out some needed arrangement
Of the solid-looking but transient stacks
Of fruits or of empties. She went to him
without hesitation and asked for work.
The man looked up and recognized good
material at glance.
Can you pack?"
II reckon / can, but I never did"
"You won't earn very much at first"
"All right, let me try; 1 should like to
learn
AS she spoke she looked keenly at the
rows OF girls sitting beside the bins into
which the various spouts from the grader
were delivering the several sizes. At once
she picked out the better workers. and
got notion Of the mechanical verve and
swing that told of exact and rapid work
There was a rhythm in the motions Of
O good packer The paper came up from
the pile Of sheets with the regularity of a
balance-wheel and feel upon the orange
in the other hand with an air of knowing
where 1t belonged. The wrapping seemed
to do itself, and the next yellow subject
was taking its treatment almost before
the former had settled itself into Its
precise position in the box. The process
had been adopted by the automatic nerves
of the packer. and required no other at
tention from her than an occasional re-
punishment of will in the effort at a
continual increase Of speed. Her thoughts
were free, and evidently ranging wide.
II like that" said the girl; ''can begin
now?"
Yes" said the manager, smiling at her
spirit; take that third bin. You can
hang you hat and pail over yonder I'll
be round to show you pretty soon."
In no time she was In her seat beside
the bin with an empty box in position be-
fore her. had fitted rubber cot on her
left thumb and was experimenting, aided
by frequent glances at her neighbors, on
the proper movements to make the sheets
rise singly and spread wide to cover the
fruit, and she had placed some rows of
oranges in her box before the manager
came to show her how.
She laughed as he made her take them
out again. and explained how each size
Is packed after a regular pattern, by
which certain numbers fill the box. with
out need of counting A few more hints
Of method, supplemented by an occasional
visit and comment, put her in the posi-
ton. in half-days time. Of knowing
pretty well how the work Is DONE and
seeking only to gain in speed of perform
ance
This endeavor, the pursuit of an ideal
hat can never be run to earth, gives de-
light to all labor, 20 long as the nerves
ire not worn out with fatigue. Whatever
oy the golfer finds IN whacking his little
,all nest be of the same essence as is
teadily furnished to the packers of fruit,
md all the toll of men could be counted
Is pastime If only our hours were kept
hort of the limits of exhaustion;
The young man who operated the grader
vas in position of vantage, if he cared |
o observe the girls who were packing ,
Vt the bins that his radiating spouts sup |
'lied. He stood high beside the wide. |
hallow hoppers that received the dumped |
'oxes Of ungraded fruit, and from which |
he oranges distributed themselves
through the discriminating functions of |
he machine into various rolling process
ions in which each member was just as
ig as his neighbor. Some manipulation |
vas needed to keep the fruit moving
venly to the distribution, but the oper-
tors eyes were not SO confined as to
revent frequent excursions among the
workers below and about him. l believe
e had mentally photographed all the
ands that, each in its own was exhibiting
hat wonderful individuality that woman's
ands possess, were moving gracefully
r heavily through their countless repeti-
ions. And other things he took note of
nd speculated on, after the manner of
len. N, was the toll of the others so
hsorbing that he was unobserved by
hem. Generally, of course, the glances
hat fell direct on his face merely called
1 passing, having as their ostensble OBJ
sct some high window beyond or some
lteresting constructive feature in a cor
or Of the roof, But however incident
lly he had made with ali these neigh
ors at least, so much acquaintance as
es In the interchange of vision. And
nat Is not to be sneezed at.
He was from Kansas-a manly looking |
lther handsome fellow, whose black eyes
moved sslf-reliance, born of Thoughtful
nd energetic dealing with the problems
a Western farmer. And that judgment
ccustomed to exercise on everything
thin range, good at discerning the
romise of horses and cattle, and, under
mple conditions, of men and women
so, did not hesitate before a fresh and
Wiling problem, when the new packer
It down under his inspection.
She Is from Missouri" He guessed
Chilly, as a first clearing of the ground.
She Is used to horses" he added, land
think they like her. Let's see how she
kes hold of her WORK" He quit for S
ating comments, ana dropped into
lssive observation, his quick hands all
10 while passing lightly over the bright /
anges and herding them evenly for
ard.
1t were useless to deny that the straight !
I'd graceful back of the girl from Mis- t
uri grew cramped and tired as the noon
,ur approached. and her nervous en-
,avor at speed, while 1t did not relax, I
emed to be costing her something She '