Date: 1897
247 Jarvis opened the door of a long, well-lighted but narrow room, in the centre of which was a table extending to the lower end ; and on each side of it sat women busily engaged in stitching and bind ing shoes, and finishing off various articles of clothing ; while two were ticketing a pile of red flannel and blue hickory shirts.  Four sewing machines stood near the wall where grated windows ad mitted sunshine, and their hymn to Labour was the only sound that broke the brooding silence.  The room was scrupulously clean and tidy, and the inmates, wearing the regulation uniform of blue-striped homespun, appeared comparatively neat ; but sordid, sullen, re pulsively coarse and brutish were many of the countenances bent over the daily task, and now and then swift, furtive glances from downcast eyes betrayed close kinship with lower animals.