The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-01-18

" DeS-Ior Work III TINS great CITY. But
presto, the snug little sum and the as
sured income vanished into thin air.
But who cared? Did | not have tai
ents?
l had not been in New York long
enough to feel the full force of such
disaster as loss of income and so did not
know that here money is your best
friend"
And | still had my letters too, Oh.
those letters from high state and church
dignitalies We're sure to be telling things
were sure to bring me lots of friends
and great influence.
Armed with these couldn't fall to the
ground. | couldn't fail to secure Il posi-
ton of some kind.
In my own home | had passed for
woman of more than ordinary intelli-
gcnce-had gained modest reputation
in a literary way, had written accepta-
Bile stories and articles for different mag
azines and periodicals and had been paid
for them.
Gathering up my letters, | set out to
call upon prominent clergyman. He
read them. looked severely at me and
said sterny:
"Now, what did you come to New
York for?'
AS this was the first time had ever
been spoken to harshly by man, felt
more bewildered than hurt and faltcred
out:
"Why-why, for the musical advan-
tages and-and thingsn
Leave me your address. I'll do what
| can to introduce you to musical people.
l can't help you otherwise"
Nothing ever came of that.
Another clergyman was visited. | was
courtcously received, my letters read. and
| confded to him that | had lost my bit
of income and wanted work. A panied
look came into his eyes
oh" he said. Il have so many cases
like yours brought to me. | am in de-
spair"
But he wrote me a letter of introduc-
ton to the head Of an employment hui
reau, who received me alfably and who
said he would do his best to secure me a
place. | have never had an offer from
him.
| went to a prominent magazine man
and showed him some printed sketches
and articles cut from the periodicals
had written for and told him that had
and in newspaper work
IF you have done newspaper work. a
magazine office is no place for your
wares" he answered roughly.
| have answered countless advertise
ments, walking sometimes miles in the
singing snow and acknowledgements
that seemed to apply to my needs-but
the majority of them proved to be
ala a.
hours and big pay, if capable" The saa-
ries and commissions offered were most
generous-if you could earn them. | tried
and failed. was either incapable, or
no one ever earned the salaries.
| come of a long line of fighting ances-
tors, but needed all the accumulated
courage of those ancestors in my trial eff
forts to earn that generous salary. | even
tried to sell books in Jersey City!
Next | applied for a situation as clerk
in dry goods store, one Of the largest in
the city. The day applied there was
double line Of sad faced applicants, mid
die aged men and women, young men and
girls, negroes and japanese.
Sorry. very sorry, but we have no
room, absolutely no vacancies of any
kind for any one" said the man in
charge.
| sought a church mission society and
told them | must have work; that | was
pennieSs. | didn't want charity. but
work, work!
Work of any kind-oflice work, writing,
any kind Of mission work. church visit
ing-oh. anything.
II am very sorry. my dear madam"
the man kindly answered. but we cant
create vacancies, and we are now strain
ing every nerve to get the money to pay
those already employed. wish | could
do something, but | can't" and he really
did look regretful and pitiful as he bow
ed me out.
Being told OF place where they en-
ployed persons to address envelopes. |
hurried there
I'VE never employ girls" the superin-
tendent informed me courtcouSly
But | am not a girl" retorted.
81 mean that we never employ women
in our addressing department We found
that girls, young women. were too care
less. so we have made it Il rule to employ
only men"
But | can do n mans work." per
sisted. II can do any kind of writing.
IL
do" said, desperately.
IF you will leave your name and ad-
dress | will put your case before the
board. We will let you know" he added.
as he opened the door for me.
"Please remember that | need work,
that am begging for work. that | can't
live without work" ! urged as | backed
down the steps. But | have never
heard from him.
In my desperation | sought the Sal
Walton Army and asked for employment.
st is a heartbreal;ing fact" they as
sured me, "but we can't get work of
any kind for women. The only call we
have is for servants, and they must be
strong young women"
Everywhere | went my name and adj
dress were carefully taken down. but
never once was | written to. never once
asked to return, never once were my
efforts to secure situation crowned with
success.
Perhaps | JAILED because am no lon
ger young.-New York Tribune.
Cat Rides ~ Miles on Flywhcei.
Every one familiar with western liter
aturc remembers Bret Harte's white
r. q -