The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-01-20
Defends Mattresses
EDITOR THE TIMES:

EDITOR THE TIMES:
read with some surprise and
humiliation the interview publish
ed in your issue of Thursday, with
Mrs. r. Lee regarding the suicide
OF Miss Ward at 1112 So. e ST.,
containing the following state
| ment:
SHE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A
WAITRESS SHE LOOKED so RE-
FINED"
1t is my belief that the lady
shares the all-too-c common opinion
that girl who stoops to waiting
table, is beneath the recognition of
ordinary people.
l feel impelled to acquaint you
through the medium of this COM
munication the working conditions
of the mattresses whom it is infer
red by the above statement are
not respectable or refined.
i have sufficient confidence in
the sense of justice and fair play
Iof the lady who made the above
statement to believe that she will
the facts surrounding their en-
ployment.
Conducting a rooming house and
catering to the public, she must
realize some of the unpleasantness
entailed in dealing with many of
the unreasonable and inconsistent.
A waitress arises at five or six
O'Clock in the morning and goes to
her work serving the morning pat
rons, who In many instances are
cross and indisposed, expecting the
waitress to be smiling and affable
irrespective Of their cross and I'M
pheasant actions. After contendina
with such treatment for three OF
four hours, the noon rush is on and
for two or three hours she has to
fume and fret, through nerve
tracking strain with an inconsider-
ate and selfish public, who COM
lplain and act boorish If their or.
ders are not complied with in
Istanter, just because they are pay.
ing for 1t, never taking into con-
federation that the waitress would
enjoy a pleasant smile and little
civility, to assist her through the
weary day.
The waitress who wishes to re-
tain her position must keep up a
neat appearance, and in so doing
she attracts the attention of that
public pest the masher. This
parasite, knowing that the waitress
must serve him and treat him as
civilly as other customers, takes
liberties that at other times OF
places would be repulsed, but she
must needs, IL she wishes to retain
her position, permit to a certain
extent of these unpleasant atten-
tions, thereby placing herself in
disrepute with many of the other
patrons who do not understand the
conditions.
AS for respectability, can there
be anything more respectable than
a girl working as a waitress, sup
porting a widowed mother, with
: possibly one or more small broth
ers and sisters, or supporting a
MANNED and crippled husband, who
prior to his miffortune had been an
ample provider and trusty COM
rade?
l can conceive Of no reason why
waitress cannot retain her refine
ment and respectability, as well as
any other woman, who fortunately
az unfortunately, has to make her
livelihood by honest toll. Surely
1t would be narrow to enter judg-
ment against the whole, for the act
of the individual.
4, I have felt that the lady's strict
ures on mattresses was made be-
, cause lack of understanding the
real phases Of her work.
II she will read what have
written, and then investigate the
abuses I have pointed out am
sure we can count on her co-opera-
ton in securing the correction OF
most Of them.
Very truly yours,
H. ROY HARRISON,
President Cooks and Walters Union