Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 271 Miss Alice's Big Business

Alice felt that she couldn't explain it clearly just by talking, so she simply said, "How about this, Leon, if you have time now, come with me to a place."

You'll understand once you see it for yourself.

Lionel's curiosity was completely piqued.

He stood up and said with a smile, "Alright, I'd like to see what our Miss Alice has been up to behind my back."

Alice led Lionel away from the elegant apartment district on Boulevard Saint-Germain and turned into the noisy, crowded but lively Rue Muftal.

This is a typical old town in Paris, with narrow streets lined with shops, and the air is filled with the smells of food, garbage, and sewage.

They walked through the bustling market and into a dilapidated apartment building.

The hallway was dimly lit, and they climbed straight up the creaking wooden stairs to the top floor, the fifth floor—where the rent was usually the cheapest.

Alice stopped in front of a wooden door with peeling paint and knocked on it.

The door opened quickly, and a middle-aged woman with a haggard face peeked out. Upon seeing Alice, she immediately smiled and said, "Ah, Professor Rorschach, you've come!"

Only then did she notice Lionel behind Alice, and immediately became somewhat reserved.

Alice introduced, “Good afternoon, Mrs. Lobel. This is Lionel Sorel… I would like to show him our ‘cooperative’.”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Lobel immediately stepped aside to let Lionel into the house.

Lionel stepped into the room, and the sight before him stunned him instantly.

The apartment was very small and simply furnished, but surprisingly, four Remington Model 2 typewriters were neatly arranged in the living room!

A middle-aged woman sat in front of each typewriter, intently staring at the manuscript in front of her, her hands tapping rapidly on the keyboard.

Upon seeing Alice enter, the four typists paused their work and respectfully greeted her: "Good afternoon, Ms. Rorschach!"

"Professor Rorschach?" This was the second time Lionel had heard someone address Alice as that.

A blush rose on Alice's face, a mixture of pride and shyness.

Lionel didn't speak, but cautiously stepped forward and glanced at what they were copying.

The manuscripts covered a wide variety of topics, including handwritten bills, thick student papers, and even manuscripts of literary works.

Although some women's techniques are not yet very skillful, they are very serious and patient.

Lionel turned around and asked in a low voice, "This is March, the time you said you'd lend Madame Lobel 200 francs..."

Alice blushed and nodded, then whispered about her experiences over the past few days.

It turned out that Lionel had agreed to let Alice lend her savings to Mrs. Lobel to buy a typewriter, and Alice patiently taught her how to use it.

Mrs. Lobel picked it up very quickly and soon was able to supplement the family income by taking on some odd copying jobs.

With typing speed and clarity far surpassing traditional handwriting, Mrs. Lobel managed to pay back the money she borrowed from Alice in less than two months.

But the story doesn't end there.

There are many other housewives in similar situations on Muftal Street, and they have also found hope in this "new way of making a living".

Mrs. Lobel continued, "Some of the sisters in the neighborhood, like Mrs. Varyan, Mrs. Dupont..."

They were very envious when they saw that I could earn a living this way, without having to do those tiring, low-paying odd jobs. They wanted to learn too, but they couldn't afford a typewriter. Miss Alice, being kind-hearted, lent the money to the next person.

And so, one led the other…

Alice nodded and continued, "From May until now, more than three months, we've gone from having one typewriter to having four."

Seven sisters joined us. We work in shifts like in a factory, with people working day and night to keep the machines running.

At first, I only did copying work for the Sorbonne that you introduced me to, but later…

Mrs. Lobel excitedly added: "Later, we took the initiative to go to the shops and offices on Muftal Street to ask if they needed us to copy bills, contracts, and letters."
Our prices were cheaper than professional scribes, and the typewriter's handwriting was clear and neat! As a result, business was booming!
We've now taken over most of the copying work on this street!

Alice's voice became excited: "On average, we earn nearly 100 francs a day here!"

After deducting the wear and tear on the typewriters, the cost of paper and ink... the wives received even more money than their husbands earned!

Another woman who was typing looked up, smiled, and said, "Yes, we can't even finish all the work that Professor Luo Xia has given us!"

Now, at the end of the day, each of us can get about 6 francs, and sometimes even 8 francs!

This is indeed a rather astonishing figure, considering that a male factory worker nowadays earns only 3 to 5 francs after a hard day's work.

As Lionel listened to Alice's narration and looked at the simple yet vibrant little "typing cooperative" in front of him, he was deeply moved.

He never imagined that his simple promise, coupled with Alice's kindness and enthusiasm, would give rise to such a successful career.

However, this was one of the historical roles of typewriters—to facilitate women's entry into society and their becoming professional women.

The job of "typist" has existed for over a hundred years, and from the era of typewriters to the eve of the widespread adoption of the internet, it has always been one of the advantageous jobs for women.

At this point, Alice's tone became worried: "However, more and more people want to join, and the existing four machines and Mrs. Lobel's apartment are no longer enough."

Moreover, with the increasing workload, receiving orders, distributing them, proofreading, collecting payments... I quickly became overwhelmed and prone to making mistakes.

"It was only after you finished writing *A Study in Scarlet*, and during these past few months when I had some free time, that I was able to find the time to write this."

Mrs. Lobel sighed as well: "We're not very educated, and we don't know what to do when we encounter trouble."

These past few days, a butcher has been refusing to pay his bill, owing us 3 francs... Maybe in the future we'll have to collect the money first.

Just as Miss Alice said, this can't go on; we need a formal set of rules.

That's why she wanted to find a notary public to ask what to do, how to establish rules, and how to protect everyone.

Alice looked earnestly at Lionel: "Lion, I would like to formally consult Mr. De La Ruwak—"

Given our situation, what's the best course of action? Should we continue with this loose cooperation, or register with the city hall?

Are there any related legal risks? Are there any taxes required? It's the hope of so many people now, and I hope it can last longer…”

Looking at the light in Alice's eyes, Lionel felt a complex mix of emotions: surprise, admiration, and a sense of relief.

He nodded solemnly: "I understand, Alice—no, 'Professor Rorschach'—this is indeed no small matter."

Looking around at the small "cooperative," Lionel continued, "You've done a fantastic job, far beyond my expectations."

Tomorrow, we'll go see Mr. De La Ruwak. He'll certainly be interested in all that you've created."

(End of this chapter)