“The promised land” has kept its             I. STORY OF REBECCA
promise to Rebecca Meyer!                        MEYER

Eight months ago an illiterate Austrian         1.  Striking statement
immigrant girl, unable to speak or                 beginning
write English, went to work in a New               Note effective use of
York garment factory.                              device of contrast

To-day, speaking and writing fluently the language of her adopted country, Second and third proficient in other studies, she paragraphs show proudly cherishes the first “certificate striking results in of literacy” issued by a factory—­a one concrete case. factory which has paid her for going to school during working hours!

It was Rebecca Meyer who received 2.  Commencement this first certificate, at the graduation Note that Rebecca exercises held on the top floor of the is the central figure big women’s wear factory of D.E.  Sicher & Co.  It was Rebecca Meyer who delivered the address of welcome to the members of the board of education, the members of the firm, her fellow employees, and all the others gathered at these exercises—­the first of Dash used to set off their kind ever held in any commercial unique element establishment, anywhere!

“Isn’t it wonderful!” she said. 3.  Rebecca’s statement “When I came from Austria, I hoped Slightly unidiomatic to find work.  That was all.  How I English is suggestive should learn to speak the English language, I did not know.  It might take me years, I thought.  That I should go to school every day, while I worked—­who could dream of such a thing?  It could not be in any other country except America.”

Dudley E. Sicher, head of the firm, II.  STORY OF THE SCHOOL in whose workrooms a regularly organized 1.  Origin of school class of the New York public Note method of schools has held its sessions all winter, introducing head of firm stood smiling in the background.  Mr. Sicher is president of the Cotton Goods Manufacturers’ Association.  It was he who conceived the idea, about a year ago, of increasing the efficiency of his women employees by giving them an education free of cost, during working hours.

“One of the first and most noticeable 2.  Results of school results of the factory school has Statement of head been a marked decrease in the friction of firm and the waste of time caused by the inability of employees to comprehend directions.  A girl who understands English, and has been enabled thereby to school herself in factory methods and conditions, doesn’t hesitate and blunder; she understands, and does.  And what then?  Why, higher pay.”