Year: 1876

of wounds given by her lover in drunken
fit, in which he twisted her arm till he broke
it; yet the girl steadfastIy refuses to say
one word about the quarrel for tear of
making trouble for him. II she dies with
out giving her testimony he cannot be con-
victed. as she was the only witness. There
was good blood in that girl, no matter what
she was. and a stout heart better worth
song and story than any we read about this
year. The brute goes out without trouble.
through the devotion of the girl; but ali
the same, he leaves her to die miserably in
hospital.


THE sHoP-GIRL QUESTION.


The shop girls are moving for their rights.
1t appears that they are compelled to report
for duty at A. NJ, and stay fill p. H.,
with an hour for lunch at noon. What
they complain of now is the regulation
that is made in all the stores. from Stewards
down. that they cannot sit down during
trade hours. No matter whether there be
customers OF not. no matter if there be not
soul in the store, the poor girl nltist stand
OH her feet till the welcome stroke of twelve
gives her an hour respite. And then from
one TO seven she.stands again. till worn ont
with fatigue she crawIs to her wretched
lodgings, only to go through the same tor
tuIe the next day. A number OF inf1uen-
tial ladies'. the most prominent in fishiona-
BILE circles in the city, have taken the matter
iii hand. and have petitioned the leading
merchants to abrOgate this rule, and per-
NIT the girls to sit when it can be done
without interfering with their duties. They
have examined some of the girls and found
them all afflicted with various veins, weak
less of the spine. and more or less with
female diseases. all of which medical men
say, results from this practice. The mer-
chants, In defense, say that to alter the
rule would be to do away with discipline,
and impair the efficiency of their help, and
that they will not change the rule. The
girls do this fearful amount of work for
wages ranging from $3 90 to 81 90 per
week, and severe as it is. were they all to
quit tomorrow, there would be ten thou
sand not only willing but anxious to take
their places. And they have intimated to
the benevolent ladies that they had better
mind their own business.


But what wanted to get at is this !:
what kind of n iifN is it that girl leads
that compels her to work twelve hours
per day for So pyr week She pays Sc for
her board. for which she gets little hall
| bedroom. without fire. and the vilest table
imaginable. Her washing she does partly
herself but that which she has to have done
costs her at least 81 per week. This leaves
| her dollar for clothes. medicines. and
what luxuries she has. And miserable as
| this life is. there are twenty thousand girls
| i'll this this city to-day who would cry for
| JOY to get it. The numbers who live i'm
/ garrets on such food as they can get for
almost nothing is appalling. Is it any
wonder that the bagnios are full to over
flowing, and that suicides are of daily
| occurrence? 1t seems to me that life on
such terms would hardly be worth having.
| TWEED


is still non est aud the meaning of it is no
one knows or can imagine where to look
| for him. The officials have dozen theo-
ries. but as not one of them lead to the
place where he is. they might as we'll have
is in good hiding in this city. waiting till
he can make terms with the city for an
| unconditional release. This may, or may
not. be the correct idea, but whether tile
venerable thiefis in New York or Belgium,
he is doubtless waiting for settlement in
a very safe place. His counsel are prepar-
ing the WAY in the courts already, ant
when they get through work the Boss will
make disappearance and take charge o.
the city once more. There Is no danger o
his ever being caught. He had his plans
too well laid, and there are too many prom
inent men interested in his escape for that


BEECHER.


Plymouth Church is at last acting or
the offensive. Beeeher and Shearman, his
lawyer, have decided to no longer be quiet
but to strike back. They have refused
Mrs. Mouton's demand for an fnvestigl
ton. they have squelelied Deacon West,
aud they have said to the other Congrega-
tlohai Churches that were interfering witt
Plymouth. what are you going TO dc
about it? III short, Bro. Beecher pro
poses to paddle his own canoe without any
interference from the other Churches. He
feels that Plymouth Church is strong
enough TO go on alone. and lle don't care
straw whether the Congregational body
recognizes it or not OF course. the othel
Churches will refuse to consider it as q
member OF the general body. and Plymoutl
church will stand alone-an independent
bOdy-an association all by itself. Mrs
.rilton is keeping boarding house il
Brooklyn. and her daughter, Florence. il
doing copying for lawyers. Theodore /:
lecturing in the West. Beecfer, now thai
he has taken the step, is happy once more
BUSINESS.


There is no such thing as business. The
merchants are doing nothing. that is, tlit
| wholesalers. The retail people are doing
fair holiday trade. and that is all. When
say fair. should say light, for it is not 81
| heavy by halt as that of former years. Al
other lines of trade are as dull rs dull car
be. Thank Your stars that you are not il
New York.


pIETRo.