Making Both Ends Meet: The income and outlay of New York working girls

s. In her first employment in a knitting mill she had remained for five years, and had been promoted rapidly to a weekly wage of $12. The hours, however, were very lo

coughing and raising particles of lin

he knitting mill. In summer she had a Saturday half-holiday. There was a system of fines for lateness; but on the rare occasions of her own tardiness it had not been enforced. The company was also generous in grafting five-o'cloc

ff. In the summer preceding the fall when she told of her experience in the store, she had, in reaching for a box of shoes, strained her heart in some way, so that she los

in a country home of the Young Women's Christian Association, and during the three remaining weeks of her stay paid her full wage. Miss Carr praised this

reason for spending her time with them in such close quarters was her need of living cheaply. She cooked her breakfast and supper in the crow

s. She joined a benefit society, to which she paid 50 cents a month. This promised a weekly benefit of $4 a

The services and social life of a church were her chief happiness. Besides her contribut

orn, thin, and wrinkled with hard work, severe economies, and anxiet

$1.05; insurance, 21 cents; clothing, contributions to chur

ts policies, but she felt it profoundly discouraging n

e dues assure to her, while she remains in the store's employ, a weekly benefit in case of illness, and a death benefit. But if she leaves the store, or is discharged, the management retains the amount she has been forced to pay to it, and gives no return whatever in case of her subsequent sickness or death.

a month for a benefit of $3. Cessation of membership in a club does not terminate connection with the benefit fund, unless the reason for leaving is unsatisfactory to the board. Women not members of clubs may, under certain conditions, j

go if they are ill. Several of the stores have recreation rooms; several have summer homes; se

without charitable aid. With her experience may be compared tho

d before she entered business. With these reserves, she came to New York to work in department stores for the purpose of gaining experience in salesmanship and a more thorough knowledge of corsets. She expected to be able to command a high salary as soon as she had thus

than $12 a week. He offered her $9, and a commission on all sales beyond

when she was exhausted from the day's rush, her sales never reached $400 a week

k. Luncheons cost, in addition, about $1.50 a week. She paid 50 cents a week for washing, besides doing some herself. Riding

aists and hats by making and trimming them herself, and by purchasing materials with care at sales

he had not spent, even in her idle month, any of the re

she still attended school, but did housework out of school hours. When she was older, she was employed as a maid in the house of a very kind and responsive couple, who gave her free access to the

ed work in a department store at $7 a week. Here she soon advanced to $10 in a department requiring more than average intelligence. At the end of two years she was very much interested in her work. It made demands upon her judgment, and offered opportunity for increasi

ingle gas-jet was the sole heat. She made coffee in her room for breakfast; a light luncheon sufficed;

he week came to about $6. She paid for six years $24 a year on an insurance policy which promised her $15 a week in case

ne that forced her to be a little scullion and cook at the age of eleven. She was dressed with taste and care at the time of the interview. Through watching sales and through information obtained from heads of departments, she contrived to buy clothing of excellent quality, silk stockings, and well-cut suits comparatively ch

e occasional purchase of a magazine were her only expenditures for pleasure. But she

ing a girl could live in fair comfort

rolley rides and walks and various kinds of excursions,-literally to the streets,-for hospitality, when she received a man's visit. She spoke frequently of one man with whom she had many "good times." She could not take him to her room. Trolley rides, an

for dinners; $55 for breakfasts, luncheons, and washing; $195 for clothing, s