ter by the bleachery gate and past
numerous company houses. My host, with a wave of the hand, would have
dispatched the matter by remarking, "The town's main industry. The
poor devils live in these houses you see."

Instead, one day I found myself wandering along the street of the
well-to-do homes. What in the world...? Who all ever lived way up
here? Whatever business had they in our Falls? Did they have anyone to
talk to, anything to do? I laid the matter before Mamie O'Brien.

"Any rich folk living around here?"

"Guess so. Some swell estates round about--never see the people much."

"Are they stuck up?"

"Dunno--na. Saw one of 'em at the military funeral last week. She
wasn't dressed up a bit swell--just wore a plaid skirt. Didn't look
like anybody at all."

In other words, we were the town. It was the bleachery folk you saw on
the streets, in the shops, at the post office, at the movies. The
bleachery folk, or their kind, I saw at the three church services I
attended. If anyone had dared sympathize with us--called us "poor
devils"!

* * * * *

The first morning at the bleachery the foreman led me to the narrow
space in the middle of three large heavy tables placed "U" shape,
said, "Here's a girl to ticket," and left me. The foreman knew who I
was. Employment conditions at the bleachery were such that it was
necessary to make sure of a job by arranging matters ahead of time
with the manager. Also, on a previous occasion I had visited the
bleachery, made more or less of an investigation, and sat in on a
Board of Operatives' meeting. Therefore, I left off my earrings,
bought no Black Jack, did not feel constrained to say, "It ain't,"
though saw no reason why I too should not indulge in "My Gawd!" if I
felt like it. I find it one of the most contagious expressions in the
language. The girls did not seem to know who I was or what I was. Not
until the second day did the girl who stood next to me ask my name--a
formality gone through within the first five minutes in any New York
job. I answered Cornelia Parker. She got it Miss Parks, and formally
introduced me around the table--"Margaret, meet Miss Parks--Miss
White, Miss Parks." Also all very different from New York. About the
only questions asked by any girl were, "You're from New York?" and,
"Where did you work before you came here?" Some wondered if I wasn't
lonesome without my folks. I didn't have any folks. There was none of