The Washington times., 1919-12-01
The Hungry
WOrkgirL /
Professor In the Usiverfty of kap-
sus and an Authority on SSetaI
Prokfena
By DR.. Wn.. A. McKeever,

- TIC Uy OF A00-
sus and an Authority On sSefaI
Prektens-
TdERE are thousands OF good
looking. hungry. heroic girls
and single women now en-
ployed In every big city Of this
country at starvation waees
10 cents. for breakfast
IL cents for lunch.
25 cents for dinner.
21 cents extra for sunday meal
$3.50 as the weeks limit
Thus a bright sIo-a-week, twsn-
ty-year-old girl clerk explained her
table expense to me. She and q
chum were occupying a small attic
room at s12 per month. Hence my
new-found friend at the csfe-shs
who scanned the menu card long
and hard for something at 10 cents
has 50 per week for clothing.
car fare. doctors bills, dentistry.
personal effects. and go on But.
there is no use trying TO ngure the
thing out even and get the girl
decent living out of the money.
1t simply cannot be done.
Now. this young shopgirl is just
as dear TO me as your fine fuss-and-
feathers twenty-yesr-old daughter.
NV Ac tfftit per week
for theaters, parties and other lux
uries than the shopgirl's entire iiv-
ing. Ny young friend has just as
many normal desires; just ss much
right to fine clothes, theaters and
parties; just as much right to a.
happy, weli-provided home: Just
as much right to enough TO eat
as your charming girl has
Yes, i am aware that the Y. W.
G. A and the various other social
service agencies. are taking care OF
a large number Of the girls en-
ployed away from home and are
doing the task nobly, but the work
ing girls still unreached by such
methods would all together consti-
tute vast army, and many of th~yu
may now be found in the smaller
cities Last evening at $50 oe.ocll
l chatted with four of these thin,
hungry S1o-per-week young hero
Ines who were waiting for a car on
a cold corner. Their frame OF mind
was pitiable, just as their treatment
by their employer was c.ntemptib @.
Yes, ! also know that other
story that the mass Of these girls.
driven by hunger and wretcheoness.
arrange an informal marriage Of
convenience with some man like
wise employed. But that is a slen-
derous falsehood. Only a few. as /
believe, give in TO such desperate
extremes. The majority OF these
n-favored daughters nurse their
want and bitterness in secret. with
one or two girl chums OF their own
class.
However, I an not here fighting
merely for one class OF girls. but
for a human right These young
women embody all the Inherent e,e-
ments OF womsnly sirens and
loveliness. They are potentially
wives OF good men and mothers 20
beautiful children. This material
grace, working through the force
of a normal mother-love, a. one of
the greatest and most powerful
agencies OF higher civilization. Yet
We starve a. pinch q. and biirhi
Its besuty forever with a torasless.
fri"nd'ess sio-per-~eek program.
God pity our mean ant selnsh souls.
Two eNpedients win hsip 20 re-
lieve the serious abuse of the siri
employed away fro home Flrst.
90 provide sNersvh herr uslna and
social c~ntsrH like The n. ". 4. A.
Hsrund. g. arganiss ,hs slrls in az.
fllatton Win osh.T rtny asss
clssFos, g. aFht fsf thsif firatsi
third, o. aupoInt siats a.l nisais.l.
pei agents sta @ath.fftf O. g.
Fpsrt rundiilunf a. a. sasas anI
ffratnsnt ~ 60 glIls ara - 49,
fofcs rsasunab'r nFins nas4aIas
And a. hfir tflus asauf a. -.
pfnfsWnni H fnuI sUsfusss 80
fnlay 49, uH fIn fss* sr~sal
fatr 81 onff