The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-12-07

work and money getting, ! think we
have" she said, "but l can see that
a farm home need not be that way.
We have enjoyed good books and
good music here and We could have
had that on the farm If we had under
stood. We are not sorry we came,
though, for we have had a good time
and our work does not seem hard
now we have gotten used to it.. l
make $tS a week as stenographer in
a gentleman's clothing store and l
also help with the books. Florence
was more ambitious, worked harder,
did not 20 out so much and she re-
ceiyed $25 a week as stenographer
in a lumber company's Office with a
promise of a raise soon. There are
lots of stenographers, but there are
always good places for good work
men or workwomen either. We were
remember l wore a pink organdy
dress and lace hat to the office the
first summer ! worked there. l know
now that a clean shirt waist every
8 day, worn with a moderately short
walking skirt, and a plain street hat,
is the proper attire for a business
girl. We blushed, too, when the men
in the Office spoke to us. We now
pay no attention to the men who
come to the office except to be cour-
teous, and when a girl conducts her
self that way the men usually keep
their place.
Let me say right here that the
country girl who thinks to improve
her matrimonial chances by going to
the city makes a mistake, for most
Of the men have hard work to take
care Of themselves. If a girl on the
farm went out among her neighbors
and tried to make herself half as
agreeable as she does when she gets
to town, she would find a good many
eligible young farmers. A girl work
ing in an Office has more temptations,
l think, than in any other kind of
work. My sister and l have learned
that the world is very wicked, and
though We have not been seriously
harmed, We know and understand
things that We never would have
known had we stayed at home. We
have not disgraced the old folks,
though, and can look mother in the
eyes. All of the girls cannot. There
is a pretty girl Of nineteen who works
in the next office. She only makes
SO a week, but her clothes are love
ly and she wears jewelry that it
would take years of work to pay for.
Most of the girls will not speak to
her, but l always smile and say,
Good morning. for she, too, was a
country girl who came to the city to
work"
Sadie, the sewing girl, gave her ex-
perience in evry few words. "Misun-
derstanding on all sides made me
come" she said, "but l am going to
have a heart-to-heart talk with moth
er and then we will understand each
other better. Sewing at 81 a day for
six days in the week is slavery, and
| am going to be a slave no longer,
but am going home as soon as 1 can
get there"
When the grain-belt farmer mother
heard that, she knew that for the
seven year old at home the problem
was solved. She outlines a policy to
which she has strictly lived up to
this day. When the last daughter
was out Of school the father and
mother paid her $3.50 a week for
staying at home and helping her
mother around the house. With this
money the girl bought the pretty
things which the other sisters had
been denied. she went to town to at
tend lectures and theatres; she had
the good, innocent girlhood which
youth Graves and needs.
The sixth girl stayed by the old
farm, married a farmer and "lived
happily ever after"
This is a true story and the moral
is not hard to find.