The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-16

HAY + so lately written a paper on
the woman who lunches alone that
this article may seem to be along
the same lines, but the former
dealt especially with the woman who
goes TO her home TO take her solitary
meal.
This has to do with the woman or
girl who must get her midday repast
at her place OF business or in a nearby
restaurant
After 1 had been asked To treat this
s,soject I made a point Of inquiring Of
several working girls with regard to the
matter and style of the luncheons with
which they were supposed TO revive
fainting nature and strengthen weary
bodies.
One Of the girls whom 1 questioned
is so fortunate as to be in the employ
OF a large and fashionable department
store.
She has the usual hour for luncheon
and recreation, and her employers have
had fitted up In their building com
Portable restaurant, where the girls and
women may eat. Attached to this is a
rest room or "lOung1ng ROOM con-
tanning couches, comfortable armchairs,
a few good magazines, and an abund-
ance of fresh, although warmed, air.
Near it is "a lavatory in which soiied
hands and faces may be washed and
disordered hair arranged. After the pro-
cess of eating has been dispatched al
ways. I fear, too quickly, the partaker
thereof may take her weary self 10 this
rest room and there lie or sit and relax
S nerves and nuIscles until the time of
her incoming has expired
Would that more employers were as
. humane as the man Cor whom this girl
works!
Another young woman 1 consulted
tells a different tale.
To be sure. there is in connection with
the emporium for which she labors a
lunch room, but so i'll ventilated, poorly
: lighted, and wretchedly served that, un-
: less a girl is too weary TO leave the
: building, she viii not attempt to eat
? there.
This particular employe told me shud-
; deFlngly that the dishes were so dirty
in this place she simply could not sum
mon up courage to use them.
Hunger vs.. Business.
There is much said of the need of
regular intervals between the times OF
eating, but some girls find it im2ossi-
( BILE to regulate their times TO suit the
! dictates Of physicians and dietitians.
For instance, the young woman whom
I have just quoted says that her turn"
ito 90 10 luncheon does not arrive until
5S o'clock in the afternoon.
( She comes in to business from sub
urban town, and this fact necessitates
! her leaving the breakfast table at if
she would not be late to work.
, From Z a. N. until 3 p. m. is des-
7 perateIy long stretch and she tells me
that. at first, she thought she could
never stand or overcome the faintness
! that seized her at ] o'clock, but that
after years Of training, she has drilled
her stomachT into keeping patient until
the time set aside for satisfying its
I needs.
other young girls in the same store
60 10 luncheon at II, and this leaves
: their long fasting period at the other
end of the day, that is. from 1879 or i.
. until they reach their homes after at
/ night. But" adds my philosophical in
formant, "of course, ali of US cannot
] be SCARED between the hours of i and 2,
! so some must go early and some late.
Some OF these evils the working won-
: an is powerless TO overcome. others
( she can remedy.