IN A MELBOURNE WORKSHOP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2105, 3 February 1908, Page 1

IN A MELBOURNE WORKSHOP.

"HUSH” ORDERS DURING THE HEAT WAVE.

(By a work girl in Melbourne ' "Aruus.”

From Half pnsfc 8 to 1) o’clock a .steady stream of girls, for the most part dressmakers, pours into the city. They come'from all the suburbs, by tram and train and cub, or tramping the rod-hot pavements. Big girls and little girls, tat girls and skinny girls, all with one end in view—come big warehouse or factory, whoso greedy, gaping month swallows them tip for the time being.

’The girts enter the room on Monday morning fresh and bright alter their Saturday and Sunday, spell, a great boon, and prized at its full value by those fortunate enough to work under these conditions. "Oh, 1 do hope it is not going to bo another week like the last. Two weeks running would just about finish me.” The speaker being usually stout and hearty, an incredulous stare is the only reply vouchsafed. Well, Monday turns out to bo fairly docent on the score of heat.

Tuesday has made up its mind to be hot, ail’d carries it; but, rogardless of everything, Wednesday is a ••corker.”

Thursday is unspeakably hot. Everything in the wav of clothing that can bo dispensed with is taken off. Blouses arc unbuttoned and turned in till they show as much neck and shoulder as a fashionably-cut evening dross. The general effect is of extreme dishabille. The forewoman, who alone retains her trimmer 'and her dignity, turns a blind eye on many little irregularities which at any ordinary time would be met with rebuke. For instance, tho surreptitious cup of tea which she knows is beiug brewed, and which she would dearly like to share, but discipline, discipline must be maintained, or its semblance, even though tho thermometer registered llOdcg. in the shade. “Oh, dear! I wish T were an artist’s model. I consider it a perfectly ideal profession for this wca th.er.' ’

"Oh, Lil. how can you talk liko that,” from tho prim girl; “it is very improper.”

“Rats” from Lil, too hot to discuss the point. "That, doesn’t go far enough for mo,” says another. "What J want is to take off my flesh and hang it over the back of that chair, and let the cool south wind rattle my bones.”

Tho prim girl puts her fingors in her oars.

"Hush, girls,’ ’from tho forewoman, as a hurst of laughter greets tho last remark. "Oil, do keep quiet.” “Miss James looks just molting, doesn’t shop”. "Yes; I do wish sho would undo that lngh-honed collar of hors, it makes mo feel hotter every timo I look at her.” By-and-by a heated discussion starts on the subject of windows. Some want them open, tho rest want them closed. .Parties are about evenly divided. Tho closed window party maintain that if tho windows are opened they will bo blinded by the glare from the wliito wall, about G feet away, and the room will ho hotti r still- The open-window party say the they would prefer to bo blinded rather than poisoned by breathing the same air over and ovor again. Tho nrguements grow fiercer and fiercer. All are drawn into it Fixed determination is on every face, to he or not to be, when a division is created by one girl falling to the floor in a dead faint. Some one rushes and opens the windows, and no one raises a dissentient voice; instead, all are devising ways or means for reviving the swooning girl. “Lay her flat on tho floor.” "Carry her out in iho passage near tho liftwell; there is more air out there.” 'The heat grows more intense. Every bit of metal burns ns you touch it. You take up your scissors and drop them again in a hurry. Your needle is sticky, and your cotton web with perspiration, aud refuses to go through vour work even when it is hard pushed. The heat from the asphalt roof, is pressing on your head, .as though it were a solid weight. Water and lemon drinks are in great demand. Luncli time has been a farce. Who wants to eat bread which looks as it it had been soaked in oil instead of buttered? Some girls have brought tomatoes or fruit tor their lunch, and are regarded with envy by their less fortunate friends. J ho_ hot spell has made business very brisk, and each girl has as much as she can do to get through her allotted work’. Presently in comes tho forewoman, looking very worried. "Miss Turner. I’ve iust had a telephone message from Mrs Blank, and she must have her dress home to-night.” "Oh Miss James, I haven’t even taken the last fitting:; off. I know I told her it was impossible, hut she insists, and [ know the firm are anxious to please her and get her custom. I don’t know how people can be so unreasonable.” "Wo’ll havo to try, Miss Turner ; I’ll give you all the help you want.” "It is too had,” murmurs tho girl, as she turns away. A ring at the telephone. “Miss James, will you go dow n to tho showroom and take measures P” Miss James departs, and returns presently, looking if possible more worried ’than before. " Another rush for to-night, girls—a white linen skirt to be made, and a finely-tucked muslin blouse, and I’m sure I don’t know who to give them to, because you all have as much as you can do.”. “Miss James, can Edie Smith go homo; she’s sick, and she just can’t keep up any longer?” "Oh dear, 1 suppose she must; 1 just wish we could all go home.” Edie departs, the object of much sympathy, and not a little envy ather escape. The room is fairly quiet, except tor the whirr of tho machines: the girls are too busy and too hot to talk. A half-hour passes, and another girl succumbs, and is carried out to breathe the comparatively cooler air of tho lift well. The telephone rings again. , , . "Miss-Bell wants, to know how long that pink blouso will be. How long, Miss Brown?” "About an hour. Miss James, J think.” Tho message is delivered. "Miss Bell says win you speak at the ’phone yourself, Miss James?' "Hollo!” "Yes.” . "About an hour, I said. "Miss the delivery; well, 1 can’t help it.” . “Wasting our time, and you d like to know what we’re doing? The air a;rows blue with back i ilk. Miss .James is performing something like a war-dance at this end of the ’phono, and tho girl at the ofliei end is no doubt executing a pas seul in keeping with her language. “Well. I’ll just tell you what we are doing since you want to know. W'c are sitting up here in a temperature of llOdeg., and we’re eating lce-

cream by the bucket-lull, anil drinking iced champagne, and the cool south wind as fanning our healed brows, and there’s a. black boy with a punkah for evoryono of us, and cool splashing fountains and palms and all. ito that’s what wo are doing since you insist- upon knowing.” Tho girls gaze spellbound, too amazed to laugh at such an outburst from tiio gentle and oven-temnored Miss James, who now that she lias delivered her flow of oratory is nearly in teal’s.

Sho goes to Iho table and starts catling out, snipping viciously with her scissors, as if the offending Miss Roll h nl been turned .into a roil of cloth, and tile chance of her life bud come to out her up. The long day draws to a wonry end, and the gong sounds, and with a sigh of relief work is put away, and tile girls betake themselves homowards, 'and afterwards perhaps to the sea bench, whore paddling delightedly tliev forget all. tho labors aiid disagreeables of, -tho day, giving no thought to to-niori'ow, which will no doubt he a degree or so worse on tho score of heat.