The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-17
Plncky Ella Dakin Left Dress
making and Became Bootblack
to Earn Money Quickly.
BY ADRLINE STANLEY cARRIcK.

Energy and independence are ex-
pressed in every line of Miss Ella
Dakin's bright face and trim figure.
She is a woman who, when she believes
herself right, is not afraid to go ahead.
To her the shining of shoes, and shin
ing them we'll, is as honorable as any
profession you could name.
She believes that one must work for
what one gets, and, having found that
the making of dresses could never
bring her the things she wanted, she
racked her brains for the next best
thing. and found it in the unique pro-
fession which she has adopted with
srch great success.
my ambition is TO procure sufficient
money to purchase a home for my
mother and myself. She is rs years old
too old to have to live with strangers
and | want her last days to be spent
in peace and happiness. She is an in
valid. and needs a great deal of atten-
tion," said this sinner of shoes to city
officials to me yesterday afternoon in
explanation of her occupation.
my mother is in Madalin, New York,
and / have not seen her for two years.
1t costs so much to go back and forth.
I would rather use the amount of my
fare in buying her something she needs.
1t is hard to make money in New
York. l used to sew. going u by the
day and working for dressmakers, and
the most l could make was eight or
ten dollars a week." and the speaker
gave a sigh, highly expressive of the
reality of her problems.
How sh@ Evolved Plan.
az found it hard enough to pay my
board II keep myself sufficiently
clothed. let alone sending mother the
money she needed for medicine and
other things. One day l just stopped
and began to rack my brains for a
way to make money-and make it
quickly. Suddenly 7 remembered read
ing of a girl who came TO New York
OH a wager and polished shoes. She
made eight dollars in one day. 1
thought that if she could do it for fun
/ could do it for money, and here | am,
kit and ALL"
aren't the men extremely astonished
when you walk up TO them and present
Your card ?" asked /. fairly lost in adj
miration at her self-reliance.
Yes, they generally do look sur
prised, but they are always fine to me.
Many men will not let me shine their
shoes. They do not like to see a
woman do such a thing. But they offer
ME dimes, and In return l give them
shoe laces, for | will not accept their
charity. Many ave an idea that l am
a fakir until they see me work. ! do
not pretend to be a professional, u
I'll wager that l can give as good a
shine as most men," and Miss Dakin
gave a decidedly independent toss of
her head. 1t is evident that she IS
capable of taking care Of herself and
fighting her own battles.
II am not ashamed of my work. she
continued, II am trying to get a home
for my mother. So far | have done
we'll, making an average of 81 a day.
The highest | ever made was IS. ]
started In Trenton. February 10, and
after shining the shoes of city officials.
tiremen, policemen and office clerks. l
went to Camden. where l received the
same courtesy and Kindness
wants only Modest Home.
what kind of a home are you plan
ming to purchaser"
Just big enough for mother and l."
was the prompt reply. my ideas arc
not great. and the home Will not cost
very much. You sec, ! want it right
away A Trenton maj told me | might
get a little place and put a mortgage on
it. / could buy one that way in about
a year. ] think"
"Will YOU continue to shine shoes
after that?"
NO. indeed! I shall take 10 dress
making again. Our home will be in