Page:The Girl Who Earns Her Own Living (1909).djvu/321

 While we talked another roomer (in spite of the fact that she had no other), appeared on the scene and offered her larger room, saying she wished to economize during the summer. Apologized for her appearance by saying that she had had a short vacation and had taken 'a drop too much.' Landlady talkative and anxious to show me the kitchen, to reach which we passed through a mere cubby-hole, in which the husband, who was never home, was comfortably sleeping off a jag.

"Took train for Harlem. Found large, comfortably-furnished front room for five dollars per week. Furniture old-fashioned, but clean, not stuffy. Little washroom off this room, nice wardrobe for clothes. Lots of closet room. We must buy our own cooking utensils, and only breakfasts could be cooked in washroom.

"Mrs. C furnishes references and asks for them. So clean it smelled good. As a result of investigations I would add: If you are a stranger in New York do not go into a house that neither gives nor asks references. Keep away from the business section and make up your mind to pay carfare."

As soon as a girl becomes established in her work and is reasonably assured of the permanency of her position and income, she is justified in seeking some sort of home-life with a congenial fellow-worker. In every large city