The Washington herald., 1907-09-15
FROM WOMAPS
POINT OF VIEW

A tramp who proved himself 4 hero by
saving the lives OF TWO small boys was
offered good paying work and refused it
because ne preferred the idle life to which
he was accustomed. With a new suit Of
clothes. a modest sum Of money, and q
fun stomach, he passed onward 70 join
an ever-increasing band Of men Of his
own class. And they say there is cry
ing need for work.
There probably is a lack Of opportunity
IN certain lines. but there is q deal Of
work going 10 waste simply from lack Of
workers. The number OF abandoned farms
IS increasing daily on account Of the
inability to secure farm hands, and tie
farmers who are able 10 hire Italian
women FOR the fields count themselves
exceedingly fortunate, as they are good.
conscientious workers. They are not
numerous. more's the pity, or we should
not be facing a milk famine with famine
prices before the supply runs out Farm
ers are selling off their herds because
they can find nobody 70 do the milking.
And in the cities there are hungry fami-
lies without number. They prefer hunger
and other privations 20 decent living with
steady work Farming IS not easy, and
neither is street digging. AS q matter OF
fact have yet 20 see real work that IS
easy and living in stuny tenement rooms
Is an affection quite enough TO be borne
alone The fact that misery IN tenement
districts has plenty Of company must
make il bearable or families would jump
at the chance Of @ country home and
some degree ot comfort IN return FOR
work that is healthy, even when exhaust
ing.
We all want the easy side OF Hfe-thai
IS human nature-and when We cannot
have It In whole We take IT in whatever
parts we find IT, one is not 10 be blamed
for preferring easy and congenial tasks
bat lacking those the work nearest al
hand is the thing 20 take There art
many worse things than hard work-colt
and hunger for exsmple-yet We fms
plenty OF misery that seems 20 be q mat
Ter OF choice, since workers in certain
lines are scarce.
Oh, the blessing OF & training for use
fulness! The boys and girls who ar,
taught 20 use hands and brain 10 the bes
advantage may go wrong. but there &:
less danger Of their doing Il because o.
good habits. The working habit cling.
Ike others. good and bad Some peopl,
are ashamed 10 be idle. ashamed to b,
dependent, and Il would be exceptions
bad luck that would force them 90 It. T,
them tramping IN search Of lodging anC
food would be the hardest kind OF work
because il IS tainted with humiliation.
The future Of the working class Is
puzzle. II there Is 20 be an increasing
distaste for certain lines Of work condi
tions are going 10 be decidedly uncom
Portable with milk scarce and high
what is 10 become Of the problem OF sup
plying milk products, cream, butter. anS
/ cheese? What is there 70 take the pIac.
Of these foods? A butter dealer recent!
told me that he would not be surprised q
see butter rise 10 a dollar a pound fl
price next winter, and that would take
out Of the reach Of al but the rich.
The lure Of the city is potent Tn
wealthy class Is glad TO escape Il for tn
better part Of the year, but the masses
are yielding TO II, 20 their serious disad
vantage. There is need Of more abundan
and consequently cheaper food, and il cal
only be filled by work in the proper direc
ton. We have got 10 check the growth
OF our love for ease and pleasure If W
ere 70 supply the remedy for existinl
evils, have got % get 90 work in earnes
and create q class OF good farmers, good
plain workers in the humble fields OF III
before poverty can be conquered
pETTY BRADETN