Can you imagine making money by simply walking down the street in the newest fashions? Some ladies in 1869 did just that, according to this snippet from the Baton Rouge Tri-Weekly Gazette and Comet:

“Walker” Ladies can get five dollars a day Thu, Jun 10, 1869 – 2 · Baton Rouge Tri-Weekly Gazette and Comet (Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

Sounds like a pretty good gig—assuming hopeful ladies were able to meet the qualifications, of course. The five dollar pay, however, might not make the cut today.

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One thought on “Make Money as a “Walker”

  1. Well if the young lady worked 8 hours a day, her pay would have been the equivalent of earning about $11.55 per hour.
    U.S. Inflation Rate, $5 in 1869 to 2019
    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, prices in 2019 are 1,747.30% higher than prices in 1869. The dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 1.96% per year during this period.
    In other words, $5 in 1869 is equivalent in purchasing power to $92.37 in 2019, a difference of $87.37 over 150 years.

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