Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-10

nIHE women OF Paris are working
i ceaselessly with all their strength to
fill the places OF the men who are fight
ing so bravely for them at the front
They are acting as railway porters'
chauffSurs, ticket collectors, car con-
ductors. they are nlling Government posi-
tions formerly occupied by men, they
are sweeping the streets and managing
the stations, and in fact doing everything
which It has always been considered inn
possible for a woman to do!
The underground stations of Paris are
all more or less run by women. At each
little iron gate close TO the platform slts
n cheerful damsel, her figure enveloped
in a large black apron and an ever-ready
smile upon her lips. She Is always polite
more than polite, she Is charming! Ihe
variety of questions and inquiries which
the passengers hurl at her pretty head DO
not perplex her nor cause her any annoy
ance whatever. She answers readily ana
with a very high degree of intelligence
Certainly. I shall be delighted to di-
rect you" she invariably answers. Ana
her directions are always accurate, clear
and concise. For the Frenchwoman OF
this terrible war time Is calm, level
headed, thoroughly efficient being VINO
seldom gets out of temper is never 'ilus-
tered" and to whom any consideration
of the word fatigue" is unknown. She
may-in fact considering her strenuous
occupations, she must-feel many time
utterly exhausted. But she never viii adj
init It, nor will she permit her trim figure
for a moment to droop under the strain
of her arduous day.
have talked with many of the tram
car conductors after they have put In 10
hours hard work. Yet not one of them
would admit that she felt tired.
WOMEN SCoFF AT FATIGUE.
"Fatigue?" they say incredulously.
"How can our patty little work tire us
when we think of the sufferings of our
husbands and brothers in the trenches,
who spend days million times more
arduous than ours? If we were so times
as tired as now, we would not complain!
For it is an honor and high privilege
that we can do our small part to fill
their places"
Madame Arnal, of Courbevoie, who acts
as inspector to the women conductors at
one of the tramway termin, spoke in
terms of the highest praise concerning
her working sisters. "rhey are so faith
full in the performance of their duty,
she said although | know that many
of them find the work terribly hard. Fig
ure to yourself the exhaustion which ten
hours of continuous standing in
crowded car each day must bring! If
you add to that the trials which arise
through having to manage the public, to
assure them that the car is full and that
no more must enter, or to settle some
dispute on the ticket question: you will
readily see that 1t Is not n bed of roses.
myself was conductor for eight months
before 1 became inspector, and l assure
you that at nighttime 1 was too tired to
sleep. Many times have I lain awake for
hours, weeping because of the stiffness in
the joints. Yet l was indeed happy that
l could take the place of my husband
who is gone to the war,
Now" continued Madame Arnal, II
have been made an inspector at the ter
mirus here, but, of course, my salary is
just the same as that of the car con-
ductors-3 francs so centimes for a day
of 10 hours 60 cents in American money!.
As each tramway car comes here the con-
ductor alights and gives me her papers to
inspect also the tickets which remain. In |
this way I can see how many passengers |
have been on board and if everything is |
in order"
The husband of this indefatigable lady
is, of course, at the war, and l have |
found that most of these tramway women !
are married,
"WOMAN'S WORK IN WAR"
"I should much like to write an article
on 'Woman's Work During the War for
your American paper" said Nine. Arna!,
land perhaps you will send them the
I think that the American
women would like to hear a little of what
we do here, and although l am only a
poor person and none too intelligent. my
little article will be of some use, per-
haps."
True to her word, Mime. Arnal duly
arrived with the article, written in the
fine slanting style which all the French
affect
"Since the beginning of this terrible
war;" it reads there has been a won
dertul extension of womans work in
France. In all the mills factories and
public works the women are replacing the
men and running the machinery with
great skill. Others are employed in Gov
ernment offices, in postal departments
telephone bureaus dactylology while
many women are acting as ticket col
ectors and conductors on the tramway
cars.
ut is of the latter that I particularly
wish to speak, since /. too, am of their
number Arrayed in her long pinafore,
1er jaunty little cap set gaily on her
head and always smiIina,
ngly charming, and the travellers really
iont seem to object at all to the change
n sex of the employees.
But this work is, indeed, very hard for {
woman, and in general is very badly {
laid' The work is extremely didicuIt for /
me must make a note of the different !
outes, record the number of stops and >
lso the number of times that sbe
punches a ticket. l
The shaking Of the car Is alwavs graat
ma at hrst It is a hard matter In keen !
mes balance Fatigue is excessive Ne
'ause OF this violent motion. ana after
me has stood for a whole day ona faeIs
eeaay 70 drop The pay is at the rata ~
Loout 80 centimes an hour q cents). This
very little when one considers tbat tba
YoIA Is arduous In the extreme. Rut In
plte OF that the conductor Is aIwavs
peasant She welcomes every eoi5iar
WIN sweet smile, and n he Is v,o,,+Ioa
~ - 'aAe9 pleasure IN assisting him 10 his
eat 'a ana rendering every possible atten-
ron, ION 20 him. A bright demeanor and
Illllhs race are the aim of eyerv Frenob
tolllan seelli during this terrible time. ana nar
ieuiarly Of the Parisian. @''u par
ALL FOR LA BELLE FRANCE
wish specially 10 saw that ,,ho.,
= are young or old and in yybatan'. bs'teiieE
.oiA we happen 10 be engaged ~,
- WORK despite small saIarios ~
any trials, with ceaseless ener-s, au9 n
q 1tetihlhed t brightness, ana an - anu
nous END - that our belova5 me oile
lay De victorious and that -, -. = iaiiee