New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-02
How the State Helps
Unemployed Women

Z T WAS Monday IN the Woman's Depart
ment Of the State Public Employment
Il Once in Brooklyn; the girl was tho
wagc-esrner out Of job. Women and girls
came in all day long, $50 on that particular
day, and sat in wistful rows waiting their
turns. The telephones on IL. fs,-topped
desks rang sharply from time to time to trans
nit the needs OF employers and mistresses OF
households. At each ring the row of waiting
candidates fastened their gaze on the instru-
ment and sat ny unconsciously to listen 70 the
agents half Of the ensuing conversation.
They came not only from Brooklyn zones
but from the israway Bronx and Greenwich
Village. They were Of all ages, from four
teen-year- old children TO gray haired adults.
Some OF the applicants were S3-a-week infants
in industry and others were dgnihed women
with the genuine twelve pound look" Even
the s25-a-week stenographer with ground-grip-
per shoes was not lacking.
The civil service unit N charge Of this Office
is unique one. II consists entirely OF women
and of experts. The superintendent Miss
Louise Odencrantz, comes Of uansplsnted
Scandinavian stock and is justly proud OF
pioneering aunt, who was one of the first
women TO take the degree of doctor of philos-
ophy at Swedish university.
1t was the turn Of little girl with pale eye
brows and blond, put-up hair. Except for
the precocious hat and couture. che was the
same demur- child you see at the symphony
concert on Sunday afternoon, ohaperoned BY
a substantial parent or two.
These young girls" said Miss Odencrantz.
"ere our most hopeless class OF applicants.
Comparatively few employers will take them
on under sixteen, yet they may take out work.
ing papers at fourteen and get furlough from
school. The result Is that the period between
fourteen and sixteen is practically period OF
unemployment. II means Generalization at a
very plastic age. They begin By being school,
shy and end by being work-shy. Tho ago
should be raised
Many young girls just out OF school aro
sent 70 the Vocational Guidance Test Glasses,
an extension department Of the Manhattan
Trade School Here they are given three
weeks Of trade training and tested In their
three Rs. At the end OF the course detailed
report is sent back to the employment ONCE,
which can then proceed with some inteuigent
idea Of the girls abilities
Sometimes older women, TOO, are asked to
20 TO the trade school for one-day's uyout.
Here, for instance, is an applicant who says
that she is an experienced operator OF two
needle sewing machine on muslin underwear.
She is sent to the school on Lafayette Street
for one days probation. In this way the man
ufacturer is protected from 'botchers-" And
in iris way, too, the unemployed girls and
women are helped 70 al in the time with some
thing better than merely waiting around for
JOB.
Card No 30 that morning surprised Us all
by positively refusing a genteel department
store assignment and saying that she wanted
to apprentice herself to something.
"Pll be nineteen on the 18th OF January"
she said. And was born in Alma, N. c. !
thought I'd come 10 New York and mako my
career I had saved up my money, but its
nearly all gone now; there's only SIS left
"Oh. yesrn. ! went TO another employment
agency. Ii was in E Street and peio
a dollar. There was lot of girls there,
A man came in ard said he wan'e
girls for a show. He looked US al over 10"
then he pointed at me and said, HOW .1
tia, li,tle ei.l over there? But can't s.ns'
I said. That don't make any dihe,ens
said. You Just come along ou. -
I'd better not When told Mrs. mnie,' 80.
board. you ought to hear how Sho 'A's1'7
You know I can't eings az all