Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-16
The ,GirJ
Who Works
ny REV. w. 1. DAVENPORT.

Pastor Duryea Presbyterian Church,
Brooklyn.
The fact that she must work is one OF
the weaknesses OF our modern civiliza-
uon. That the energy and health that
ought to be conserved against the day
of wifehood and motherhood should be
expended in piling up profits for rich
corporations is a social disaster.
But she is caught in the grind of greed.
Wants multiply The cost of living in
creases. And until such time as the
vase Garner OF the family can secure
enough for his toll to meet the demands
Of rent. clothing. education and food the
grlhood of the country must be con-
demned to hard labor.
And since she is not responsible for a
social system which sentences her TO
work. she has a right 10 demand certain
c'fings In return. She may be only cog
in vast machine. but she is a living
cog.
She has a right to demand that the
conditions I'm which she works shall be
sanitary. hygienic and safe Duties await
her that cannot be performed by a body
broken down or prematurely aged. The
employer is bound by all the dictates OF
decency and humanity TO take every pre-
caution which modern invention can at
ford against the danger of panic and
fire and vocational disease. And when
through his indifference or carelessness
death comes to those in his employ. he Is
as guilty of murder as though he stood
them up in a row and had them shot
Wholesale slaughter, legalized by care
less or criminal inspection. is no less
murder than assassination by the gum
man.
She has a right to demand a living
wage. The argument that she has no
family TO support and no home to main
tain. and that, therefore. she can afford
TO do the same work as a man for less
money, is fallacy for which even avar-
ice ought to be ashamed.
We can never call ourselves a civilized
nation until in our economic life we cease
to base the wage scale upon what one
csx live on and decide II by what the
AFork is really worth.
The day will come when every employe
viii be paid a definite portion of the
profits OF his toll The man who grows
rich upon an impoverished and debased
womanhood must sooner or later pay for
his blood-stained fortune.
But the girl who works must remem-
ber that she owes her employer some
thing. Destiny lies largely, after ALL in
her own hands. Common honesty in
common things is the most uncommon
thing in the world
The manufacturer has a certain stand
ard to maintain and the employe who
helps to keep up that standard shares
in the reputation of the man for whom
she works.
The girl who Is late to work or who
fritters away her time in idleness is as
surely robbing her employer as Though
she took material from his factory or
office. One of the great insurance COM
panies of New York maintained a rest
room for their female employees. Medi-
cine and the care OF a professional nurse
were provided free.
But the privilege was 20 abused that
the corporation found II necessary re-
Gently 20 post q notice that all persons
using the room would have the time
spent there taken from their weekly
wages. No one who works can cheat
himself without cheating his employer
II ia unfortunate that many girls who
work seam to think that their position
depends largely upon personal appear
ance. They believe that all men are
naturally connoisssurs of feminine
beauty and clothing. And to gratify the
taste OF the man for whom they work
my dress beyond ell that position ana
income Justify. The average man OF
business IA too much occupied with his
own affairs TO notice the dress OF his
employes. unless It be fantastic or ex-
travagant.
And the man who is attracted chiefly
nv the personal appearance OF his office
girl IA a dangerous man to work for
scrupulous cleanliness and modest neat
ness. combined with efficiency, count for
more than silk waists and elaborate Golf
fures. 1t is vastly more important for
the stenographer that her letter shall be
correctly spelled than tnat her nose shall
be properly powdered.
The girl who works can do much to
create an atmosphere In the office or fac
tory. She can accept her toll as dreary
drudgery or make II a pleasant task. And
once she has set her standard, no one
can do so much to awaken and stimulate
the chivalry OF the men who labor with
her as herself.
The girl who works ought to be proud
Of herself and we ought to be proud OF
her, because out of her meager resources
she contributes something definite TO the
welfare of the home and the community
There are thousands of young women
supporting widowed mothers, educating
orphan sisters and living simply purely
and honestly. whose names must some
time be written high upon the scroll OF
.Asnoines who have won out in the battle
OF life.