The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-09

The scene Wltnln Seen1eu
attractive 1t was so
busy. and, in effect, so quiet, In spite
Of the continual noise of hammers nail"
ing up the full boxes and the various
sounds incident to moving fruit about
an the work progressed. Every one was
steadily at work, and no one seemed
in doubt what to do next.
The shade was inviting too, after a
walk under the strong California sun,
and the great building was well pro-
vided 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
q free movement of air.
Tn newcomer was pleased, and her
1esire to take hand was quickened.
She was stranger there, yet she
eemed to feel no discomfort at the
attention which her arrival had awak-
sned. Her good tempered poise was so
apparent that her credentials were at
once accepted. She was used to NOV
ing through life without much dis
pute over the right of way, and was
blessed with the tact that comes from
unaffected confidence.
She readily discovered the manager,
IHONlHB dDOuL tnt bluS anu
boxes, saying a quiet word here and
there, or pointing out some needed re-
arrangement of the solid-looking but
transient stacks of fruit or of empties.
She went to him without hesitation
and asked for work.
The man looked up and recognized
good material at a glance.
Can you pack?"
httt
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 a notion
of the mechanical verve and swing that
told of exact and rapid work.
There was a rhythm in the motions
of a 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 1t belonged. The
wrapping seemed to do itself, and the
next yellow subjects was taking it's
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
replenishment of will in the effort at
a continual increase of speed. Her
thoughts were free, and evideptly
ranging wide.
II like that" said the girl; "can I
begin now?"
Yes" said the manager. smiling at
her spirit; take that third bin. You
can hang your hat and pail over yon-
der. I'll be around to show you pretty
soon"
In no time she was in her seat beside
the bin with an empty box in position
before her, had fitted a rubber cot on
her left thumb and was experimenting,
aided by frequent glances at her neigh
bors, 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 be-
fore 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 regular pat
tern, by which a certain number fills
the box, without need of counting. A
few more hints of method, supplement-
ed by an occasional visit and comment
put her in the position, In half-days
time, of knowing pretty well how the
work is done, and seeking only to gain
in speed of performance.
This 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 out with fatigue
Whatever Joy the golfer finds in whack,
Ing his little ball must be of the same
essence as is steadily furnished to tho
packers of fruit, and all the toll OF
men could be counted as pastime II
only our hours were kept short of the
limits of exhaustion.
The young man who operated the
grader was in a position of vantage, /.
he cared to observe the girls who were
packing at the bins that his radiating