White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-10
We
KNOW LITTLE Of
LITTLE STORY THAT REFLECTS
ACCURATELY THE LIFE OF
MANY IN LARGE CITIES OF
THE EAST.

After one has stood for many long
weary hours, at a machine that never
wearies and never makes allowances
for the tired muscles and the ach-
ing head; when one has walked at
evening thirty blocks, to save what
represents an hour of ~tireless work
and watching; when one is a girl of
an & when nature institutes her
wonderful transformation of the
female sex and demands the open
air and freedom of mind and body;
when such is true and the exhausted
frame has sought the couch of rest
and oblivion, it is hardly to be won
dered at that the morning ) o'clock
whistle and the shaking Ct a moth
er's gentle but insistent hand is the
eruelest thing of all.
Maize Holloway, press feeder at
the big shop of Banner Bros, opened
her eyes and sat up on the edge of
the bed, %drugged for lack Of rest but
as much awake as she usually was
that period of every week day.
All right, mother" she said, q
guess I'm up"
Mrs. Holloway. only 80, but worn
and stopped from four years labor as
a scrub in a down town Office
building, gazed compassionately down
on her daughters tousled head as
she answered.
Il wish | could let you sleep,
Maizie, but the Lord only knows
what I'd do if | did. ] had extra
work last night and I've got Mrs.
Browns bundle to do today, and
with that and your weeks wages
well just be able to pay the rent"
We'll" returned Maize, it's up to
us to do it and I'm not going to kick
about my part"
Seven o'clock found Maize at her
machine, a power press, geared to
high speed and requiring the quick
ness which modern industry has dis
covered in women and girls. Two
thousand impressions every hour it
made, twenty thousand each work
ing day and every day alike, nothing
to look forward to but the intermin-
able put in, pull out; put in, pull
out; and fifty cents a day for pay!
No time to look about and rest the
eye; an instant's pause or careless
ness might mean a crushed hand, or
at best, ruined stock and a stern look
from the foreman.
So Maize fed press, looked neither
to left nor right and needed not the
occasional spasm of weakness which
passed over her fragile frame. Such
spasms had been frequent of late and
when she had time, which was
seldom, she had pondered over their
meaning. But today they were
more frequent and lasted longer and
finally, near 10 o'clock of the morn
ing, one came and stayed so long
that Maize was forced to pull the
throw off, and wait for it to pass.
1t did not pass and SO Maize.
thinking at last about mother and
the rent that had to be paid. finally
forgot to think at all and sank down
to the floor in blissful forgetfulness
of everything. which seemed too good
to be true.
The foreman's quick eye saw her
as she fell and he hurried to her
side. What's the matter?" he
said, but Maize made no answer.
The foreman had children of his
own, as well as a heart-for special
oceasions-and he instinctively knew
what Maize herself did not know.
He picked her up and carried her to
a bench by an an open window. then
stood regarding her for a moment.
THE poor kids overworked, worn
out" he said t%houghtfully to him
self. lit don't seem hardly right for
such as her to have to work like
this"
An excited voice sounded behind
him. 1t was that of j. Banner, the
older member of the firm.
Just tainted" replied the foreman,
she's coming to now"
Maize opened her eyes and,
recognizing the two authorities,
started to raise, but fell back, as yet
too weak.
"Sick?" queried the boss. you
oughtn't to come If you're not able
to work"
But the rent protested Maize
mother needs it and ! couldn'
stop"