The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-11-11

From Tuesdays Daily
That any bright young man, with no
funds to begin with, may, by dint of
pluck, grit and a willingness to work,
earn his way through the university is
proved by this years statistics, says
The Minneapolis Journal. Those who
have interested themselves in obtain
ing employment for deserving students
admit that it is advisable for the
young man to attempt to earn only
part of his expenses while attending
school. There are some, however, who
are earning their entire way through
school, who had only the funds to pay
tuition fees when they entered 1t is
estimated by Secretary Thomas Ora
ham of the Y. NJ c. A. that 20 per
cent of the men students earn part of
their way and SO per cent of those
their whole way. OF this 33 per cent
many, of course, earn part, at least,
out of school.
First Aid to Students.
The Athletic association, some pri-
vate agencies and several generous
hearted men and women living near
the university have interested them
selves in obtaining work for students.
The great bulk of the jobs, however,
are handled by the Young Mems Chris
tian association, which has stepped in
as the medium between supply and de-
mand. The statistics gathered by this
| organization cover the ground. TO
date for the year work has been given
to $50 men. These by the end of the
year will earn $4,000. Last year men
obtaining work through the Y. NJ.
C. a. earned more than $1,000. a sum
which, at the present rate, will be
equalled if not exceeded this year.
In the Ranks of Unskilled
The great number of students apply
ing for work belong to the ranks of
unskiled labor. Only few have any
vocation which will earn them money
while attending college. Several young
men have obtained positions as stenog
raphers One has a job which brings
him $40 a month, working half the
time and nine months in the year. Two
boys are working in a downtown
shop, manufacturing picture frames.
One is drawing cards for an advcrtis-
/ ing firm. Another. who had worked as
I a janitor before he started TO the uni
versity, is doing the same work while
attending school, earning $50 month
for the year.
Some Sample Positions.
The greater number are doing UNI
skilled work, the limit to which is de-
termined only by the work which can
not be obtained. Every job offered, no
matter what it may be, is snapped up
| by some energetic, ambitious boy. A
law student, marked for his brightness
in class, is working nights at a tee
| phone exchange in distant part of
the city. The regular operator fell
! sick, and the student, with an eye to
the practical things, stepped into the
gap. He is kept busy answering calls
during the earlier part of the evening,
but after midnight finds plenty of time
to study. Having learned his lessons,
he fixes the alarm and goes to bed. He
goes to classes in the morning and
sleeps in the afternoon. Many arc
| tending furnaces for their room, board
or both. Some have been fortunate
enough to obtain several furnaces, and
cover their routes at different times
each day like a newsboy. There are
! some waiting on tables in the frater-
nifty houses, clubs, restaurants and
hotels, some also washing dishes. For
this they generally get their board,
working an hour for each meal.
Some Act as Stewards.
With several years experience some
are able to get jobs acting as stewards
for clubs, taking i'll the cash and tend
| ing to books. Collecting is common,
but not SO popular, as it takes the
| student to all parts of the city and u
regular income cannot be depended up
on, payment being made in commits
| sions. Juniors and seniors, ranking
! high in their work, do tutoring in La
tin, Greek, German, English, French,
/ engineering, mathematics, sciences, and
every line of study. For this they are
paid by the hour or class.
! One young man watches during the
-! night at an undertaking shop, and the
! fear of ghosts has not prevented him
/ from earning tidy sum each month.
| Washing windows. hOusecleaning NOV
| ing lawns, tending to COWS, horses and
even goats, saving wood. addressing
envelopes, scattering advertising, and
| acting as chaufleurs are few of the
common modes of employment.
Others Act as Nurses.
/ a man and wife with family, liv-
! ing near the university, like to 90 call
ing or shopping two or three evenings
week. Not wishing to leave the chill
dren alone, they have hired young
! man to watch them while they are abb
1 sent, and as there is u goodly sum in
! the bargain, the young man has not
hesitated to turn it to his advantage,
! He has proved to be responsible
nurse. The political campaign has
/ been rich source of revenue to the
| ambitious student. More than l25 men
have been hired to bring in election
returns for the city papers This and
the distribution of campaign literature
for the different parties and candidates
has brought them in hundreds of dol
lars. Many are working as clerks in
downtown stores, and the holidays will
open many positions behind the coun-