The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-03-23
THE ORANGE PACKERS.
AN IDYL. OF THE WORKERS.

the wide door OF the packing house as
a girls straight fgdre paused q mo
ment on the threshold before entering.
The scene within seemed attractive.
1t was 90 busy and. in effect, so quiet,
In spite Of the continual noise Of ham
mers mailing mp the full boxes and
the various sounds incident to moving
fruit about as the work progressed
Every one was steadily at work, and
no one seemed IN doubt what to do
next.
Tue shade was inviting, too, after a
walk under the strong California sun,
and the great building was well pro
vIdedwith generous openings under its
far projecting roof, and was spacious
enough not only TO avoid the crowd
ing Of work and material, bnt also to
allow free movement Of air.
The newcomer was pleased, and her
desire to take a hand was quickened.
She was a stranger there, yet she seem
ed to feel no discomfort at the atten-
ton which her arrival had awakened.
Her good tempered poise was so ap-
pareJt that her credentials were at
once accepted. She was used to NOV
ing through life without much dispute
over the right of way and was blessed
with the tact that comes from unatfect
Ell confidence.
She readily discovered the manager
moving about among the bins and
boxes, saying quiet word here and
there, OF 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 a glauce,
Can You pack
Il reckon [ can, but | never did. -
You won't earn very much at first -
'All right. let me tryi | siould like
to learn
As she spoke she looked kseniy 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 nerve aud swing that
told of exact and rapid work.
There was & rhythm in the motions
of good packer. The paper came up
from the pile of sheets with the regu-
larity Of a balance wheel and fell upon
the orange in the other hand with an
air Of knowing where II belonged.
The wrapping seemed to do itself, and
the next yellow subject was taking IFS
treatment almost before the former
had settled itself into It's precise posi-
ton 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
req -}is!l,zaa-s OF w;ll ir tho effort Fl
a continual increase OF speed. Her
thoughts were free. and evidently
ranging wide.
Il like that" said the girl; "can l
begin now!"
Yes" said the manager, smiling at
her spirit; take that third bin. You
can hang your hat and pail over yon,
der. III be around TO show you pref
ty soon."
In no time she was in her seat re
side the bin with an empty box IN pc
sitiou before her. had fitted a rubber
cot on her left thumb and was expert
mentDg, aided by frequent gIances at
her neighbors, on the proper move
ments to make the sheets rise singly
and spread wide to cover tine fruit, and
she placed some rows of oranges IN her
box before the manager came to-show
her how.
She laughed as be made her take
them out again, and explained how
each size Is packed after a regular pat
tern. by which certain numbers fill the
box, without need of counting. A few
more hints of method, supplemented
by an occasional visit and comment.
put her in the position IN halliday 5
time Of knowing pretty well how the
work is done, and seeking only to gain
in speed of performance.
Tins endeavor, the pursuit of an
ideal that can never be run TO earth,
gives delight to all labor, SO long as
/ the nerves are not worn ont with ia
ugue. Whatever joy the golfer finds
in whacking his little ball must be Of
| the same essence as Is steadily furnish
ed to the packers of fruit. and all the
| toll of men could be counted as pas
! time if only our hours We're kept short
/ of the limits Of exhaustion;
The young man who operated the
! grader was in a position OF vantage,
| if he cared to observe the girls who
were packing at the bins that his radl
ating spouts supplied. He stood high
beside the wide, shallow hoppers that
received the dumped boxes of ungrad
ed fruit, and from which the oranges
| distributed themselves through the
discriminating functions of the ma
| chine INTO various rolling PROFESSIONS
| in which each memher was just as big
as his neighbJr. Some manipulation
was needed to keep the fruit moving
| evenly to the distribution. but the Op
| eTatoI ; eyes were not 80 confined
as TO prevent frequent excursions
among the workers below and about
| him [ believe he had mentally pho
/ tlgrapled all the hands that, each in
its own was exhibiting that wonderful
Individuality that woman 5 hands pos
sess, were moving gracefully or heavily
/ through their countless repetItions.
And other things he took note of and
speculated on. after the manner of
men. Nor was the toll Of the others
20 absorbing that he was unobsOrhed
| by tnem Generally, Of course, the
| glances that fell direct on his face
merely called in passing, having as
their ostensible object some high win
dow beyond or some interesting con
structive features in corner Of tbs
ROOF. But however incidentally, be-
had made, with all these peighhors a
least. - much acquaintance rs lies il
the interchange Of vision. And tha
is not to be sneezed at.
He was from Kansas manly look
ing. rather handsome fellow. who's
black eyes showed self reliance, borl
of thoughtful and energetic dealn.
with the DrGblems of 2 v eStern farm