The sun., 1908-12-27


soak Ia different tubs. while this poals-
ling was going on cleaned up the Kitchen
and began In the dining room Before
this second room was hnished my en- :
ployer became nervous for feafI / wouldn'
have time TO finish the oldlhea To set
her mind at rest began my first experi- :
ment as a washerwoman.
by the time the last batch was ready
to hang out the first batch was dry enough
TO starch. When this was disposed OF
finished the dining room and served the
woman with a cold lunch. 1t was while
was doing this that I got my first chance
TO talk to her about getting work.
"She was sympathetic and made several
very helpful suggestions. though she
frankly admitted that she was disap-
pointed because she was already think
ing of trying to get me To. take the place
Of her maid Of all/work,
while she was out looking for o maid
that afternoon did all that could find
10 do In the apartment and there was
plenty Of 1t. When O'Clock came sne
insisted on my taking $3.50. She said
had accomplished moro than any worker
she had ever had, and from my knowledge
OF housekeeping agreed with her
"The next morning / went back and
finished the ironing. As the new maid
put in her appearance In time to got
luncheon filed in the rest OF my tune
mending what-not, 1t really was what
not for that woman turned over 70 me
everything that she hadin the apartment
that needed repairing
Il spent three days In that apartment.
earning $3.50 each day and one meal
The woman said she had several friends
who she knew would be glad Of my SER
vices for few hours every once in while
and she took the trouble TO call them up
over the telephone and make three engage
ments for me at 50 cents an hour, or $S fol-
an eight hour day.
| From that time on it has been pretty
plain sailing for me. have usually gone
from one engagement TO another. There
are few. weeks in the year that l. do not
I earn my eighteen a week.
mo, have never been called on to wash
since that first day. but l feel that If
| hadn't taken the job then / would have
missed my opportunity. So far as | car
see the trouble with women coming to
New York to earn living is that they make
up their minds TO do one particular thing
regardless of the demand. II they would
be willing to take the work offered them
and push toward the goal Of their ambi-
ton there would be fewer failures,
Another point is that so many women
are not oontented unless they can boast
Of having the very wealthy as patrons
The greatest opening is not among the
wealthy class but among the people Win
comfortable income only.
"They are not able to pay exoroitan,
prices. and for that reason do not succeed
| in getting the most competent servants
1t is this incompetence among the servants
that gives me my living. One careless
servant will break and nick surprising
| amount OF good china. not 10 mention the
/ naper they scrape of the walls and the
\ furniture they abuse by rough handling.
| All this puts money in my pocket.
! Il have now been what-not mender
for four years. My son is paying ms
own way by working in the AFTERNOON.
and as we find time between US 10 90 our
| own household work wekeep our expenses
down and save money.
1T isn't the materials mean the food
| and fuel and such necessaries-thatoo cost
| 40 much in New York. II is the rent and
labor. l pay SIS a moQth for this little
fat Of three rooms with kitohenette at
tachment. That seems high untu you
recall that l earn that amount py nve
days work.
fThe cost Of our food averages ss q
weak the wear around. While don't
trv TO get fruit or vegetables out OF sea-
son. / keen a good table and am never
skirnped. My son invites his boy, friends
In whenever he feels 90 inclined and
often have guests at dinner. Ihey are
friends Of my more prosperous cay; ana
over. but don't think many Of them ever
sit down TO more tasty little dinners than
they get in my little dining room. cooked
and served by myself.
aThe secret OF my success has been
taking what could get TO do and work
ing toward what wanted. now devote
called fancy mending, but when piece
Of rough work offers itself do It, IL u
INV theory that work is degrading only
when done in a degrading manner.
sWhere the worker IL incompetent or
coarse then she degrades the work; not
the work her didn't feel the slightest
bit degraded by my two Gays washing
+ worked think Of me In that way. ]
now 90 10 her once month, and whenever
am there at lunch time we take the meal
together. She and[her husband have
taken dinner here with my son and me
on several occasions.
sSpeaking TO women who may think
OF undertaking such work would advise
them to begin by demanding socla, equaI- "
| ity. Indeed I would not advise them TO
demand anything but spot cash for their
work from unintroduced customers. Let
a worker prove herself a woman OF re-
finement and she Is pretty apt 70 be
treated as such. One OF the first evidences
OF refinement is TO do conscientious work
and give her patrons the worth OF their