The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-10-29

Chicago, Oct. 26.-The trials and
tribulations of Nellie, the beautiful
cloak model, are reaching a head in
New York, and the outlook is dark
for Nellie, indeed. Today the calcium
was turned on Chicago's Nellie, and
with all the indignation attendant upon
outraged dignity, she had few things
to say in regard to the latest af-
front that has been offered to her
kind.
To begin with, the industrial en-
ploy's welfare committee of the Ma
tional Civic Federation in New York
decreed this morning that Nellie ought
to and eventually will be forced to
obtain other means of livelihood. Just
what feeling this announcement has
stirred up in New York is not known
but it has provoked an outburst of
feminine wrath in Chicago.
"The Very Ideal" Says One.
That the employing of girls as mod
els has demoralizing effect on the
girls themselves and on the employers
and purchasers as well is the opinion
of New York.
"Why, the ideal" declared one young
lady cloak model today. cts shame
and somebody ought to tell those New
York people the facts of the matter
Cloak models are no more immoral
than any other employees in dry
goods store, and l think anybody who
says they are is perfect cat-so
there, now!'
If ANYBODY thinks a clay figure can
answer the purpose of the cloak model
as the New Workers intimate, the
Chicago models will ably tell him OF
her just in what way it cannot and
how it will be as impossible to abolish
the cloak model in a department store
as it would be to Danish the gentle
manly floor walker or the soda foun-
tain.
Chewing Gum War Next?
81 suppose" hazarded another young
lady, sarcastically, shat they want us
to stop chewing gum and eating bon
bons and going to matinees on Sat.
urday afternoon"
| If I--Were a New York girl
wouldn't submit to it, exclaimed an.
other.
''Why, there hasn't been a man pur.
chaser here since I've been a cloak
model" said one.
The cloak models were backed UP
in this storm of protest by their en-
! ployers, too. All along State street
and in other dry goods store districts
as well the general opinion was that
as far as Chicago is concerned il
would be a difficult matter to find a
more thoroughly lady-like parsonage
than the cloak model
Different in Department Stores.
Il don't know what the conditions
in New York are said manager OF
one big department store, "but l dc
know that as a general thing oul
cloak models are respectable and re-
fined"
'The Civic Federation's protest
against the cloak model in New York,
declared w. G. Powell of Mandel Broth
ers, mentions especially those of fac
tories and showrooms. Now, the con.
ditions in department store are
vastly different from those in a show
room or factory. 1 can assure yor
that our cloak models are respectable
women and any hue and cry against
them is unfounded"
The same statement was made al
Marshall Field & Co., Carson, Pirie
Scott & Co. and other stores.
Prepared for Warm Debate.
What the Civic Federation's move
ment in New York will accomplish is
| of course, matter that only tim,
and Investigations into real condition,
will tell If the body takes up the
matter in Chicago, cloak models her,
are prepared to give it a warm argu
ment.
"Cloak model to go?" is the genera
verdict; mot in 100000 years. TIL,
cloak model is an institution that the
complete department store cannot d.
without. Not only are we cloak mod
els, but in the majority of cases mode
women as well, and the Civic Fed
Grafton will have hard time proving
us otherwise