New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-02
COUNTRY GIRLS IN NETWORK.
strictly Speaking, They Are Rare-The IN
adaptable Worker

Is the f-tendless country girl a feature q New
York Ifea The sort Of girl who leaves q home on
farm. perhaps. OF in q small village. and comes
10 Nev-York with few dollars in her pocket 20
look for position
The country boy in New-York has been a figure
in American literature for TWO generations He is
q tradition Of he metropolis. Is there now q coun-
try girl in Network 10 match him? II 80. is she
often found without money. friends, position or
horne2
The superintendent OF the Alliance Employment
Bureau. affiliated with the New-Tork Association
Of Working Girls Societies. No. 81 West Twen-
ry-sixta-st. IS Of the opinion that the farmers
girl" IS rarely found in Network.
The so-called country girl in New-York," she
said. usually comes from the smaller cities. like
New-Haven, Bridgeport. Troy and the like. have
known them come from Chicago and smaller
cities OF the Middle West; but generally speaking
they from cities and towns within radius OF
nifty miles OF New-York.
They mainly factory workers. but occasion
ally Office workers There Is almost moving
from place 10 place q domestic workers. Servant
girls mainly foreign and almos. invariably re-
main in the place where they first settle: not where
they land, but where the friends live 10 whom they
are going.
The country girls coming 70 New-York are
mainly American born factory workers from
smaller cities. They are drawn 70 New-York by the
same magnet that pulls all here-the mysterious
attraction q great city. They want 10 see what
rent Or, perhaps they think they can get higher
wages. which they can Only the profit Sc all
swallowed Up IN the higher cost OF living Or II
they get OUT % job anywhere within fifty miles
of Network. they think that in a city so immense
Win such an f-c-lOUs output o. work. there Will
surely b. room FOR one more. They don't reflect
that when ii IS lack times IN one place It IS apt to
be in another
Then there is steady. small percentage Of those
VINO have unpleasant homes PERHAPS there Is
q her
Parents are dead. and they are forced TO make a
nome WITH some uucong@nial relative or perhaps
hey cant ger alo-E with their own father or
mother The self-supporting girl % to-day viii not
put I'D with things like The one who cannot earn
q collar she feels that she pavs her own way. and
mas right 10 control he- own actions some
uines she IS 70 blame, and sometimes II IS ne
otn~r people who are 10 blame. PeYzS7s in A far
oiIIerent station IN life come 10 NeW-York for ex-
a0ty The same reason. the freedom and indepeud-
'iof Afforded boy life IN great city I don't know
as they have any right 70 blame the working girl
because she has the same feelings
NOT GREEN OR UNsoPHIsTICATED
Vow. this country girl is certainly no green
and unsophtsticated being from the backwoods she
Is used 10 city LIE and knows how 70 take care Of
herself IL II fairly well. But IL isn't New-Yorz
Cty NE There are a good many more snares
eno pitfalls waiting for strangers in New-Yorz
than IN smaller cities. There are more people max
Ing business OF leading girls sstray. Directing
9-~l girls 10 good, cheap boarding houses and
keeping them from answering doubtful advertise
ments useful things 70 Co
But, after all the most insidious form OF temp
tation 10 such girls, all working girls n New
YORK. is the display OF luxury They get RIimpsee
@. "a style, a grade OF living and expenditure Of
money that are almost overwhelming. L makes
fhem restless. dissatisfied and pessiuistio FsDe-
clally is This with regard 70 dress I believe
'he excessive dressing OF New-YOrk women Is re-
spOnsible for many many doVnfalls among work.
Ing girls IN city that have ever seen do tbe
women dress they do IN New-York Nobosv
hss a Sunday dress any more and "a oontent ~
60 IN plain clothes when .bav dor'1 ba,,a 4, On
everybody wears the best she has e.erv rsr,a .bo
eoNNloNn- There Is spck and spanness a
style trimness. about rre d-ess ~ ~. -, :.
Ne~-fork a whole thar ,o,, 5o,.+ g -.
where, and Il All nesus e,r,.r.a -. -
"Ho i've much IN Florence. That is the most Cor
t-sn cry IN Italy. with large American and
EngIsh contingent Yet they tell me thew e.
al the time there clothes which tbe,, -,,s -.
care appear IN Sew-York ''O'
Ano Then rich women constantly xv,a.n .t--,.
Tie shopping district gOTned like queens s-v.-o-
md oegg2ring the appearance OF an or6,,..,
dressed women Al these effects car b -. -
cheaper materials, but the cheaper materials 80 -