The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-12-15

lkNGxNeN6t PIE indeed, IL may bt
lsXSsXsa2Sl taken for granted that this
III our eleventh census, is tn,
only one in the history of nation,
which permitted women to act in the
capacity.
1t CHANGED that in great Southern
city | was the only woman enumerator
and after two weeks of hard labor, came
to have high respect for the vast work
involved in the taking of the census Of
this great country. "As dull as the
census record" goes the saying. IT.
however, one could but read between
the lines, that same record would be
Illuminated with pathos and melo-
drama, tragedy and comedy.
At first blush, the work of the emu
merator seems to present no special
difficulty. Given certain power OF
endurance, a fair amount of intell-
gence, an address which does not seem
to demand "your age and country or
your life," fountain pen and blank
schedule, his ways ought to be ways of
pleasantness, and all his paths be peace.
But the general public has to be reck-
oned with-its Indifference, it's physi-
cal and mental inertia, it's amazing ig-
norance upon topics that have been
done to death in the public prints II
have bought a yoke of oxen" or "a
piece OF ground pray thee have me
excused" is today as much the point
OF view of the soul engrossed In its own
affairs as when it was first uttered.
Between the nations census-taker
and the canvasser of a city directory,
the average woman sees no difference
in results sought, except that the first
asks more tiresome and searching ques-
tions than the other. To the house
keeper the census-taker looks SUSPECT
ously like canvassing agent, and to
the housekeeper the canvassing agent
is as smoke to the eyes and vinegar to
the teeth.
In the houses of the rich, the serv-
ants, who stand as buffers between
their masters and rude, insistent
world, look upon the enumerator as a
reptile-new and therefore the more
dangerous. In the words, Give
come to take the census" he hears
to the person and goods of his
master. When, at last, the message,
by medium of the servant chain, does
reach his employer, it is SO distorted
as to make even the god of hlunders
weep. I
We're | autOcrat, an DESTROYS of anus
ng myself with new census, should
ssue ukase in the society column and
elsewhere, that upon certain date the
amily bibles must be busted and
searched for ages, the family tree
limbed, and the ancestors birthplaces
,lucked therefron, and all be put in
old storage against the coming of my
ervants, the enumerators. Age and
birthplace are the two rocks on which
IL conditions go to pieces.
No, to take the census is not as easy
s to ttake a city," and the govern
lent, when it supplied it's enumerators
18th overgrown portfolios, might have
lken thought to send them patent,
adjustable knees for their
lpport.
One finds out divers things when she I
.kes the census. For instance, had
ways thought that only in comic
ewspaperdom did there exist among .
omen any disposition to conceal or to q
II tarradiddles about their age. q
low now that this is not legendary.
ores of women. young, middle-aged d.
d aged, refused to number their o'
ars, but babe me guess" To the
nsus bureau 6 guess" is anathema 10
Lranatha and not bit of playfulness. ce
others averred that if the govern CT
mt found out how old they were, they OF
ght not be able to get employment w
it's service. A spinster of fifty, who, al
wever, lives as one not without hope, Ill
lie me set her down as "about thir- ue
five." A lady of the old regime, a.
dressed and handsome, re- WI
ed resolutely to crafty "Mr. Nc NJ
1ley's impertinent curiosity about TO
age" Neither would she ascend ~
: family tree to please an unreason- WI
e whim of McKinley's. A little pc
king, however, won her over, and ISL
Kinley's emissary was even treated
and cream. 10
! is amazing how many people took COZ
point of view. They were aston me
ID that Mckinley should be so in pa
sitive about them. In their minds Oh
, they beheld the president gloat- yo'
over the census returns, with fiend- $40
glee feeding a ghoulish curiosity. len
r Mckinley! Whatever may be nao
to his account, he surely could !
or deserve such hideous retribution SIN
he torture of census record. cou
Single or married?" l asked a tno
ng woman. We'll, single que
It now, but I'm to be married very OF
/. Couldn't you get that in some Olct
?" she asked palpitatingly. I as ous
d her, with deep regret for the rals
,sion, that the government had for wh'
en- to provide for such an emer- swe
-. / pivt