Liza's Bank Holiday.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13438, 9 November 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

Liza's Bank Holiday.

Hilarious, spcianodic, and utterly mirthlens laughter ts a peculiarity of the factory girl of East London. It is apt to wear off when a girl has been a niemb.-r of a good club for about a year, but even then it is assumed to cover the real amusement and surprise with which a new lady worker is greeted by them. Indeed, the reception they give such a newcomer is calculated to damp the meet enthusiastic and ardent philanthropist. It is varied to suit her appearance and bearing. If she looks timid or shy, she is subjected to such personal observations as "Look at 'er back hair!"' or "Bain't tihe a queer one!' If she assumes a benevolent smile, t;l*e 5s asked, "Why do yer come 'ere smilin' and a oglin' of us for? You get along to your mammy." Liza Letzy was a typical factory-girl. She was the despair of the club and a born leader of her comrades. Only one person could do anything with her, and that was a very new and untried girl worker who had dared to tell her that she behaved like a beast. Perhaps this was not very Parliamentary language - for- a lady to use, but then Nora Ewart was fresh from school, where she had combined thebeadship of _three hundred and forty girls with being captain of the hockey team. The club girls even forgot to laugh nader her scornful scrutiny. "She war a plucky one," they said, and they worshipped the ground she trod oon. Yet the effects of her first Scripture-luison were disappointing in the extreme. It was on forgiveness, and each began to abuse her private enemv in the middle of it. Liza Letzy was the loudest. "I ain't a'going to forgive Tim Mealing, I ain't. I shall send him rolling in the gutter; a fine sight he'll be." She gave defiant snort, and the long red feather in her hat waggled sympathetically. "What has he done to you?" "Done!" (the red feather now nearly touched the ceiling) "Done? He's been after another girl.' ' The other girl rushed forward, waving a piece of toffee she was suckirig. "That's a lie!" c-he screamed. In the wordy warfare that ensued it was hard to evolve any clear facts. The two girls were only prevented from using their, nails on each other's face by the fact that Nora was standing between them. Suddenly Liza broke off in the midst of threats which were enough to make' the blood curdle, nad burst out laughing over the gambols of a kitten playing about the room. At the same time the other girl remembered she was making toffee, and nashed to 6tir it. That extreme volatility is a characteristic of girls who have known no continuity in life except the continuity of hard, grinding work, and who have lived from early youth in the changing kaleidoscope of the streets. Perhaps it is a birth gift to those who have few other gifts. The weather was hot and stdtry, for it- was the end of July, and "thv August- Bank Holiday was in sight. The fortunate had fled from London. The y tiees in the dteerted parks were brown and dusty, and only the toling millions remained. Indeed, Liza and her companions were all working overtime —a thing which no amount of extra wage could, as a rule, possibly induce them to do. But Bank Holiday was ahead, and every one was 'saving hard. What for? To have money to tide over the days of half-time work which must surely come with the winter? Oh, dear, no! A factory girl, with all her vices is never guilty of thrift. If she were, perhaps she would not have that openhanded generosity which will always prompt her • to share her last- crust with a less fortunate sister . No, Liza and her set were all going to buy new hats, and the one who could secure the longest and gaudiest feather would probably at the same time capture that much-coveted man Tim Mealing to walk out with for the day on Bank Holiday. Liza had long forgotten the fact t hatshe had fallen out with Tim, and meant to secure him at all cost 6. Why he should be such a prize was a mystery to Nora, who had once caught a glimpse c-T that gentleman walking between two of her girls. On that occasion certainly not- sober, but no amount, of sobriety could have veiled the fact that. Tim had flaring red hair, bow legs,- and an air of leer-eyed brutality. He always posed as one of the unemployed, and nince receiving a grant from the Mstrsion House Fund had found it worth while ta ke<?<u np the role, and to spend muchs time walking in processions and jingling money boxes. . v •. Whatever girl he was thick with for the tim 9 being fed him on Sundays with fried cow's-heel and luscious tripe, and for his dinner" on other days he was dependent on soup-kitchens and public benefactions. The - Charity Organisation Society had warned the public in vain against him. but he had such a wholesome dread of their officals that he had often moved h.ons>e to avoid them. The week Bank Holidav had been such a bad one for Tim that he had occasionally been reduced to the straits of doing an honest lob or two to earn x rooney, and it was in no eood temper that h° slouched down Little Petticoat lane on

the Friday evening before Bank Holiday. It was a lively thoroughfare that evening. Hats of all shapes and sizes were being displayed, on every ccsfer stall, and the factory-girl 3 were standing about in excited groups, jingling their hard-earned savings in their pockets. Liza Letzy stood a little apart froni her friends. She was flushed with, excitement, for a piece of rare good luck had befallen hpr. A good-natured second-hand dealer had offered her the refusal of a mest wonderful hat—a hat which combined all the colours of the rainbow in its plush texture,' and which was finished "with a feather which would be a puzzled any natural liistory society to tabulate. She was deep in calculation and lost in thought, when Tim Mealing accosted her with a poke in the ribs, which made her blood go to "curds like." as she afterwards expressed it. There was no fear that Liza would ever carry out her threeat of sending Tim rolling in the gutttr. Instead of that, she was inoref than common. friendly that night: for what would be the use of a hat which beat all the rest without a man calculated to. make all the other girls green with jealousy? So the two stood ogling and grinning at each other. Tim made coarse jokes and chucked Liza under the chin: and Liza bridled and told bim to get along. It was a typical East End courtship. It had been a grilling day; Liza's limbs were weary and her eves heavy with sleep, for she had been working early and late that week, to have enough money to buy her head-gear, and to treat Tim to the numberless drinks he would require if he were to take her out.

After a few minutes she persuaded Tim to adjourn with her to the 6te.ps of the church at the bottom of ths street. It was a favourite place for courting coupkG and there they sat in the cool twilight. Liza's heavy eyes nearly closed from time to time, and fibe- felt a great desire to lean her head against Tim's shoulder and sleep. The steps where they were sitting were sheltered by the porch. The cool breeze fanned Liza's 'forehead, and the distant cries from the Costers and the public house round the corner mingled with her dreams. She never knew how long she slept, bat she awoke suddenly with a start,

feeling stiff and cold. Somebody was locking the gate at- the bottom of the steps, and he ordered h;r roughly to move on. Then she looked Tound for Tim, and discovered that she was alone. Slowly and weariedlv the girl rose, and, putting her hand on her forehead, tried to collect her nerves, which were still confused. She stumbled down the steps, and regained the brilliantly-lighted streets once more. There she bethought herself of the. hat, which ought to be secured that night, and put her hand into her pocket for the monev. It was empty. The red handkerchief which had tied up a gold piece and a number of coppers was gone forever, with its contents. Mechanically die shook her empty pocket, and then the full force of the disaster dawned upon her, and it was Tim who must have robbed her. Tim, for whom she had worked and toiled and plotted ' Liza, felt crushed. She did not swear, and she did not weep, but she dragged herself to a doorstep, and oat there in a miserable huddled-up* heap, nuising her aching head and vaguely contemplating revenge. The next evening was factory pay-day. The chatter and laughter of the other girls, their incessant wonder over the colour and shape of her new hat, and arguments over the rival claims of Hampstead Heath and Wanstead Flats for Monday had nearly driven Liza wild all day. The history* of her misfortune war; still locked in her own breast. If .she had confided in anyone she. would only have been treated with contempt for being "green," and hot the sympathy that her soul yearned for. And Tim's value • would have been in no way decreased. She was called up to receive her pay. It was eight chillings and sixpence, of which three shillings and sixpence meant extra work. The girls told her she was a lucky one. and when she parsed silently and sullenly down the room they nudged each other and discussed the probable hue of her new hat in whispers. She rushed out into the street, and there »r;he leaned against the nearest lamp-post for support. Then she took a shilling from her pocket. Why not drown her cares in'drink? The "public" opposite looked so tempting, and now there was nothing to look forward to. Instead of being the object of admiration and envy on the coming Monday, every one would point the finger of ccorn at her. She eyed the shilling again. Sa far she had never been drunk in her life. She had seen too much of that sort of thing, when, morning after morning, she had stolen off to work, leaving both father and mother in a heavy drunken sleep behind her. It was that heavy sleep she envied. At that moment she espied across the road her own Miss Ewart, walking swiftly towards the r ' club - room up the street. Generally East End London is much safer for a young girl at night-time' than. "West London; but there are exception; and Nora, being a new and untried young worker, had. forgotten • the rowdyism just before Bank Holidays. She walked swiftly and proudly, bub was greeted with a perfect shower of endearing expressions from the half-tipsy loafers at the corners of the street. In an instant Liza had rushed like a tiger to the rescue. . She seized her young lady most unceremoniously by the arm, and hurried her through the crowd which was now gathering thickly, using - her brawny elbows with good effect, and now and then her fists. Nora had been really scared for the moment, but now she hardly knew whether to be amused or indig- • nant'at the grave reproofs administered by her own pupil. "Lor'' but you be a green 'un!" gasped Liza as they gained the shelter of the side-street where the club-room was. Reckon you got your ■ purse on safe ?" she proceeded inquiringly. ~Nora nodded, and then Liza suddenly gulped as she thought of her own iorrow. She had no wish to be the solitary inmate 5 of the. club-room, which was generally deserted upon these occasions, but politeness made her linger. "You will see me safely to the station?" asked Nora, struck by a- sudden inspiration. Liza nodded. She stood gazing at her lady, lost in thought, for a moment, and burst out, "You ain't fit to take care of yourself come Monday. YmT come along of me to Wanstead Flats. I'll treat you to the penny shows, and the fat woman, and the mermaid, and . . She paused, breathless with excitement, to jingle her eight-and-sixpence in Nora's face. , .• And so it- came to pass that after all -Liza Letzy was the admired of all beholder* on Bank Holiday, and that she actually came face to face with Tim Mealing without rolling him in the gutter, for was a\i? not in better company . than his?—C.M.S., in the "Westminster Gazette."