The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-08
The Shop Girls on
 The Women Shoppers

and looks, and musses up the couri- ters and pretends-like she's busy l tell you this cry about early shopping is running the business. I'm Just as busy as if I were working. and I'm not doing a thing Yes. you are" said Sadie, You're growing a grouchT
 And she returned to Jennie. who was telling a man that music box was just the thing to give his deaf mother for Christmas.
 Name sat down on little wooden stool to think about 1t. Work Is no fun to Name. Work downtown is no fun for any woman. Women aren't built for wrestling-even If the op- ponent Is only @s job. Her back ached, and her head hurt way down deep underneath the coils of the cheap switch that covered the few wisps of her own hair She had read the vari- ous calls to the shoppers that the papers print each day, sometimes on the front page. sometimes in the ad- vertising columns. often in the ed-i itoriat paragraphs. She didn't quite understand the feelings she had. Why was she cross and disgruntled? What mattered if the peach did ask her what she intended to give to her young man? Why couldn't she take things easier. and regard life more light? Why? Maybe because she was and her mind was weary.
 What sort of a day Is hers?
 Up so early in the morning that 1t looks like the night before. A quick breakfast with the other toilers of the family, each one fussy. hurried and tired Name looks at her shabby gar ments and is wretched for she sees grand raiment parade before her eys all the day long. Why wasn't she born lucky? Why can't she have new shoes every four weeks and give the old ones to the janitors daughter? Ha! It wasn't in the stars, that's all.
 The only way she can be half happy. Is to put up a blum at legrance-so is to put up bluff at eiegance--so money for false hair that looks like a bale of hay She knows 1t is not good quantity hair like that the ladies wear. but 1t Is certain form of stylishness and Name must have style When the yodel of fashion goes forth. saying this and that must change, Names ears catch the cry as quickly
 
 tions of the wealthy dame on the Lake Shore drive Name is in touch with all that Is doing. And the yearning to keep in the procession is keen and lively.
 When she takes her elevated train or street car those whom she envies are not on board. They toddie and loiter down later. wearing weary faces because shopping Is so much trouble. Name would be only too happy to have the wherewithaIJ at tached to the trouble. should some one give her good cash money she'd never complain about the annoyance and discomfort of it's investment Sometimes, when she looks about the car. she sees other working girls with out even the baied hay. That, of course. places her degree higher than many of her class who must go about shy and ashamed because their own tresslocks are exposed to an inquisi- tive and curious world Name has tremendous advantages over the fac- tory girl who never catches glimpse of the velvet and the chiffon of wealth. There Is always that consolation.
 She darts into the store breathless and cleans up the stock and dusts the counters. At the noon. hour she goes to girls club andvspends seven cents for coffee and pie and has the few precious restfuf moments of the day. When 5:30 arrives she is glad to es- cape again into the open air. The re- turn journey Is even more crowded than the trip down town and some times she hangs to strap or is in crush on a car platform.
 At home she comes again into the family complaints. Perhaps there is q younger child to be cared for. and always there are the dishes to wash, her little mending to do and a Sunday shirtwaist to toll over. We can well afford to overlook Mame's unfiattering opinion of life and the universe. Her lot Is not planted with violets and roses.
 "They stand in grieving groups in the aisles and discuss woman's suff- rage" she continued when Sadie came