The Indianapolis journal., 1903-10-04
ALWAYS INSIST ON GETTING A

of exchange and received them in such
abundance that they could not dispose of
them readily. BY force they were compelled
to turn them into mittens and gloves TO
realize upon them Thus the glove industry
was begun. From such beginnings in 1909
it has grown to its present proportions,
while the tin vessel industry has passed
out of sight. To-day the surrounding coun-
try does not furnish the pelts from which
to make the desired leather from which
the gloves are made. They come from
abroad in a more or less advanced stage
from the raw pelt.
The thriftiness and prosperity of the town
is due to this industry, which has given its
name to the city. 1t is, in most of its
branches, peculiarly womens work. Hence,
many women work at it. Indeed, ii is hard
to find a woman in GlOversvile or there
about who is not skillful in some branch of
1t. If you find one be sure she came a
stranger to the town after growth TO wom-
anhood. One-third of the material produced
is finished in the private houses of the
town. Few of the surrounding farmers
houses are found without the peculiar sew
ing machine used in glovemaking. 1t is said
that the native woman takes to glOvemak-
ing as naturally as a duck does TO water;
that it is noticeably fact that native at
tains skill in the work more rapidly than
incoming persons from other places. and of
a higher degree. Is this another evidence of
the truth of the theories eff heredity? AT all
events, in the fact lies largely the security
of the trade to Gloversville. Every effort to
establish the Industry elsewhere in the
United States has ended in a raid on GlOv-
erSVllle Tor workers and not always sue
cessfully. 1t is here that the glove factory
of Congressman Littaur, who is under
charges as participating in government con-
tracts, is located. His father was one of the
pioneers in the glove Industry and built up
the large business now conducted by his
sons.
WOMEN MAKE GOOD WAGES.
And out of this condition have come many
things which individualize Gloversville.
Employment for all and service in demand,
the wages are good. Probably there is no
place in the country where the average
level of wages for women is SO high as it
is in Gloversville. 1t is the same as to
men, of whom fewer are employed 1t is
not an uncommon thing for the young men
Of Gloversville to drift away from the city
into employment abroad. 1t is, however.
a most uncommon thing for the young wo-
men to do so. The general air OF prosperity
that strikes the visitor is to be accounted
Tor on this ground 1t is a rare thing TO
see person on the streets not we'll dressed.
Poverty does not show its face anywhere
there. 1t would seem, looking at the wo-
men on their way to work, that they go to
1t dressed as in many another place they
go to evening social gathering. Out of
this conditions grows the fact that strikes
the visiting shopper so strongly-the high
grades of goods in the dry goods stores,
evidently in demand, since they are there
| to the exclusion Of the lower ones. AS the
women earners are largely in excess of the
in excess. The pursestrings in the hands
of women IL is not astonishing that the
city is organized for their favor. Perhaps
! Gloverville whole would not be WILL
| ing to admit this The government and
politics of the place are in the hands of the
men. The women are content that II should
be- No woman's suffrage movement agi-
tates or troubles them. They are too busy
earning good money and enjoying the fruits
| of their industry to have yearnings for the
| unattainable the bettering of a condi-
| ton which is wholly satisfactory to them.
| But while they may not be consulted as to
| politics and municipal government. yet in
| all other matters Ii is their taste and their
wishes and their judgment which is con-
| suited first and If the merchant did not fol-
| low such course he would be very apt to
| find himself without business
| So ii goes In other social relations such
| as churches. Womens wishes dominant.
| There are few women in the place who are
| not independent In thus being self-support-
| ing. This is seen in certain habits and
! customs-right, absolutely right in Glovers-
| vile, but which In other places INDUCED In,
would lead to comment. censure and con-
| demnation. it may be to loss of reputation
| The walking OF streets in groups and pairs
| or singly, unaccompanied by the male brute
| is the rule. The exception is the woman or
| women under male escort. Indeed there is
| a sort of suggestion when you do meet the
| exception as IL IL were the man who was
| being escorted. Strangers are told that when
! a young woman finds an evening on her
| hands and coincidental desire TO witness
| theatrical performance she does not hest
| tate to secure two seats with her own
money and then invites the young man
| whom she wishes to honor. to be her escort;
! that she not infrequently attends alone.
| escorting herself or as the escort OF another
| girl she has invited. There are funny
| stories to tell the unwary stranger about
| the beleaguered. eligible and presentable
young man. who has to take to the woods