The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1906-08-03

BY MARGARET E. SANGSTER
Copyright 1906. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
Whatever YOU do, don't. pity your
self. = . :,
Don't spend time in wishing you
were better off, that you had more
money, an easier position, longer vaca-
lions, and a better time. Nobody has
SO good time as the person who has
work to do that is necessary in the
great scheme of things, and that she
thoroughly understands. Your work
may pc obscure, but if it is we'll done,
it counts for just as much as the
work CT the greatest man or woman
on this earth.
The chief trouble is with some of us
that we are too ready to think of our
selves before we think of our work.
This IS the most wasteful blunder that
can be made. Put the work first and
yourself second, and make up your
mind that il you are taking wages
from anybody, you will earn every
| dollar of them to the last cent.
One morning some months ago
stood by an open window in dense
| ly crowded section of New York city.
1t was away down town where the
toilers live, and 1 watched with great
interest the procession of people who
were going to their places of business.
Although it was early, they had beer
at breakfast and were walking stead
lily forward toward the Offices, shops
and factories where each had his and
her place. In that throng l noticed
great many girls. Some were alone,
others were IN pairs or groups, but all
had the intent, eager appearance of
| those who were straining toward a
Egoa1.2oi
| They had The advantage over the idle
rich of being the busy poor. But
they did not look in the least as though
poverty were burden or handicap.
Most Of them were comfortably dressed
with short skirts and jackets, trim
little sailor hats and well-shod feet;
their eyes were bright, they wore the
air of those who had a pleasant day
before them. After all, what is wealth
except good deal of luggage to carry
on the road? What is poverty except
marching without too much weight to
cucumber ones steps? Nobody is poor
who can pay her way and save little
for the day of sickness. or the day
when the works may shut down No
body is rich who has more desires than
she has dollars to crafty them.
If one is a poor girl who must work,
the wise course for her is to try to
advance her own worth in the mar
ket. For example, one should not be
contented to be mediocre saleswom-
an or slovenly stenographer, or a
mere drudge who watches the clock
to ascertain when her day will end
SO that she may drop her work at the
first stroke that sets her free. Be-
cause one has not much money
there is no reason why her work
should be rated low in the scale. A
girl who is an expert in what she un-
dertakes. who is responsible, punctual
and accommodating will surely. forge
ahead.
One girl think Of whose early home
was i'll a rear tenement, in great
city, whose educational advantages
were extremely limited, and who
learned her art of stenography anG
typewriting in a working girls club
in the evenings of a winter when she
was serving in the daytime as a CAST
girl in department store. She found
employment in publishing house. Al
first her lack of vocabulary and of gen
eral intormation told against her, bu
she was quick witted and watchfui
and neglected no detail Very soo1
she mastered all that she needed t.
make her. valuable. Before long sh'