who arose as they approached. “This is Miss Todd,” began
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Whiggam. “She’s been in charge for about ten days now in
the absence of Mrs. Angier. And what I want you to do now,
Miss Todd, is to explain to Mr. Griffiths here just as quickly
and clearly as you can what it is you do here. And then later
in the day when he comes up here, I want you to help him
to keep track of things until he sees just what is wanted and
can do it himself. You’ll do that, won’t you?”
“Why, certainly, Mr. Whiggam. I’ll be only too glad to,”
complied Miss Todd, and at once she began to take down
the books of records and to show Clyde how the entry and
discharge records were kept—also later how the stamping
was done—how the basket girls took the descending
bundles from the chutes and distributed them evenly
according to the needs of the stamper and how later, as
fast as they were stamped, other basket girls carried them
to the stitchers outside. And Clyde, very much interested,
felt that he could do it, only among so many women on a
floor like this he felt very strange. There were so very, very
many women—hundreds of them—stretching far and away
between white walls and white columns to the eastern end
of the building. And tall windows that reached from floor to
ceiling let in a veritable flood of light. These girls were not
all pretty. He saw them out of the tail of his eye as first Miss
Todd and later Whiggam, and even Liggett, volunteered to
impress points on him.
“The important thing,” explained Whiggam after a time, “is
to see that there is no mistake as to the number of
thousands of dozens of collars that come down here and
are stamped, and also that there’s no delay in stamping
them and getting them out to the stitchers. Also that the
records of these girls’ work is kept accurately so that there
won’t be any mistakes as to their time.”
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At last Clyde saw what was required of him and the
conditions under which he was about to work and said so.
He was very nervous but quickly decided that if this girl
could do the work, he could. And because Liggett and
Whiggam, interested by his relationship to Gilbert,
appeared very friendly and persisted in delaying here,
saying that there was nothing he could not manage they
were sure, he returned after a time with Whiggam to Gilbert
who, on seeing him enter, at once observed: “Well, what’s
the answer? Yes or no. Do you think you can do it or do you
think you can’t?”
“Well, I know that I can do it,” replied Clyde with a great
deal of courage for him, yet with the private feeling that he
might not make good unless fortune favored him some
even now. There were so many things to be taken into
consideration—the favor of those above as well as about
him—and would they always favor him?
“Very good, then. Just be seated for a moment,” went on
Gilbert. “I want to talk to you some more in connection with
that work up there. It looks easy to you, does it?”
“No, I can’t say that it looks exactly easy,” replied Clyde,
strained and a little pale, for because of his inexperience he
felt the thing to be a great opportunity—one that would
require all his skill and courage to maintain. “Just the same
I think I can do it. In fact I know I can and I’d like to try.”
“Well, now, that sounds a little better,” replied Gilbert crisply
and more graciously. “And now I want to tell you something
more about it. I don’t suppose you ever thought there was a
floor with that many women on it, did you?”
“No, sir, I didn’t,” replied Clyde. “I knew they were
somewhere in the building, but I didn’t know just where.”
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“Exactly,” went on Gilbert. “This plant is practically operated
by women from cellar to roof. In the manufacturing
department, I venture to say there are ten women to every
man. On that account every one in whom we entrust any
responsibility around here must be known to us as to their
moral and religious character. If you weren’t related to us,
and if we didn’t feel that because of that we knew a little
something about you, we wouldn’t think of putting you up
there or anywhere in this factory over anybody until we did
know. But don’t think because you’re related to us that we
won’t hold you strictly to account for everything that goes on
up there and for your conduct. We will, and all the more so
because you are related to us. You understand that, do
you? And why—the meaning of the Griffiths name here?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Clyde.
“Very well, then,” went on Gilbert. “Before we place any one
here in any position of authority, we have to be absolutely
sure that they’re going to behave themselves as gentlemen
always—that the women who are working here are going to
receive civil treatment always. If a young man, or an old
one for that matter, comes in here at any time and imagines
that because there are women here he’s going to be
allowed to play about and neglect his work and flirt or cut
up, that fellow is doomed to a short stay here. The men and
women who work for us have got to feel that they are
employees first, last and all the time—and they have to
carry that attitude out into the street with them. And unless
they do it, and we hear anything about it, that man or
woman is done for so far as we are concerned. We don’t
want ’em and we won’t have ’em. And once we’re through
with ’em, we’re through with ’em.”
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He paused and stared at Clyde as much as to say: “Now I
hope I have made myself clear. Also that we will never
have any trouble in so far as you are concerned.”
And Clyde replied: “Yes, I understand. I think that’s right. In
fact I know that’s the way it has to be.”
“And ought to be,” added Gilbert.
“And ought to be,” echoed Clyde.
At the same time he was wondering whether it was really
true as Gilbert said. Had he not heard the mill girls already
spoken about in a slighting way? Yet consciously at the
moment he did not connect himself in thought with any of
these girls upstairs. His present mood was that, because of
his abnormal interest in girls, it would be better if he had
nothing to do with them at all, never spoke to any of them,
kept a very distant and cold attitude, such as Gilbert was
holding toward him. It must be so, at least if he wished to
keep his place here. And he was now determined to keep it
and to conduct himself always as his cousin wished.
“Well, now, then,” went on Gilbert as if to supplement
Clyde’s thoughts in this respect, “what I want to know of you
is, if I trouble to put you in that department, even
temporarily, can I trust you to keep a level head on your
shoulders and go about your work conscientiously and not
have your head turned or disturbed by the fact that you’re
working among a lot of women and girls?”
“Yes, sir, I know you can,” replied Clyde very much
impressed by his cousin’s succinct demand, although, after
Rita, a little dubious.
“If I can’t, now is the time to say so,” persisted Gilbert. “By
blood you’re a member of this family. And to our help here,
and especially in a position of this kind, you represent us.
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We can’t have anything come up in connection with you at
any time around here that won’t be just right. So I want you
to be on your guard and watch your step from now on. Not
the least thing must occur in connection with you that any
one can comment on unfavorably. You understand, do
you?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Clyde most solemnly. “I understand that.
I’ll conduct myself properly or I’ll get out.” And he was
thinking seriously at the moment that he could and would.
The large number of girls and women upstairs seemed very
remote and of no consequence just then.
“Very good. Now, I’ll tell you what else I want you to do. I
want you to knock off for the day and go home and sleep
on this and think it over well. Then come back in the
morning and go to work up there, if you still feel the same.
Your salary from now on will be twenty-five dollars, and I