The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-08-24
GIRLS PACK TRUNKS FOR A LIV-
INC

packing trunks for a living is not an
original idea with me, said Miss
Blanche Minton, looking up from her
seat on the floor beside huge Saratoga
which she was busy filling.
"Of course the incentive was the
necessity OF making some money, and
I was casting about in my mind how to
begin, when | read newspaper article
about girl who earned a good living
as a bride assistant. One of her
duties was packing trunks and her meth
cd was such good one that | thought
what fine thing it would be ii every
body would pack as she did Then |
remembered how the majority of people
disliked to pack, and in some way my
thoughts travelled to the people in a
palatial hotel just down the street from
where | was boarding, and in less than
half an hour after reading the article
about the brides assistant | had de-
cided as to a profession.
Having made up my mind ] at once
set out to offer my services to the man
ager of the hotel. told him my plans
about packing trunks for guests Of the
hotel and asked him to recommend me.
He advised me to have some cards
engraved, stating my terms, and SAID
he would see that they were kept in the
office and distributed among the guests
who would most probably need my ser
vices.
TO make long story short, fol-
lowed the manager 5 advice and in less
than an hour after having my cards in
the office bellboy from the hotel called
at my boarding house and gave me my
first order for packing the trunks of
party who had been called away unex-
pectedly. They hadn't time to wait, it
seems. and left. directing to have their.
trunks sent after them. There were
seven trunks in all. huge affairs, and it
took me the entire afternoon to pack
them and schedule their contents in the
little books after the method OF the
brides assistant But when it was fin
ished and received $3.50 for my after
moons work you may be sure | was
pleased
The next day had some more or
ders and by the end of the first week
counted my work a success, for the
manager not only advised me to secure
an assistant, but insisted on my coming
to live in tlc hotel, where | could be
more easily reached. 1t is needless to
say again followed his advice and am
now living at the hotel with a younger
sister as my assistant
Il pack the trunks while she sits be.
side me and jots down in the little books
Gene of which attach to each key and
deliver to the owner) the contents Of
the various compartments. | not only
tell in what division of the trunk each
article is, but l locate it as clearly as
possible. | make a point of packing
all trunks very nearly alike, so that any
one who has once unpacked one of my
trunks will be able to Judge about the To-
cality of various belongings in other
trunks | may handle for them.
Il have earned as much as SIS day,
but it was hard work. and do not care
to be 50 rushed very often. OF course.
with my sisters assistance, | can work
more rapidly, and consequently we are
in greater demand than ever. for when
a person wants trunks packed he wishes
it done as quickly as possible. Every
one of my Customers who has spoken OF
my work to the hotel managers has COM
mended my celerity. Another thing, | al
ways use quantities. Of light blue and
pink tissue paper; it tends to give the
of care and daintness that
every one finds agreeable in connection
with his belongings. These two points
are about all have added to the method
of trunk packing described in the news
paper article to which | have referred.
Il see no reason why every large hotel
should not need the services OF a trunk
packer. Comparatively few men and
women travel with their servants while
| am yet to meet the individual who
uoc not Ioath To oack his ou,o trI,uk -