New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-06-30
Industrial Sewing Societies.

Some statements have recently been made TO us
la regard 10 the management, of these societies
which We scarcely find it possible to believe That a
company of fashionable, religious benevolent and
charitable ladies. who aun, in silks and satins ride
IN splendid carriages, spend their lives in q gay
round of fashionable frivoty and extravaganza
and affect TO give tone 10 public sentiment ana to
make charity one of the fashionable virtues should
establish and practice regular system OF eking out
her deficient modicum of pin money by extorting
nom poor and unfortunate females who prefer hard
work. hard fare and virtuous life, to the fictitious
sPiendor OF haro,ry and shame portion of their
hard earnings seems to us to be something too mon
sroustor credence. And yet, if hall that we have
heard be true the facts " i'll not fall short of this
II has been stated that the lady patronesses Of
some OF these charitable sewing societies employ a
person generally aicmale to superniend and receive
orders for work, and to give it out to the operatives
allowing them only about halfthc prices charged
the customers for their work. and putting the
maindcr in their own pockets In addition to this,
II 10 said 10 be common practice for the superin-
tendcnt whenever she can do so with impunity, TO
ex,or, an additional shilling two from the custom
crs Oh every article made which is shared by her
and the lady patronesscs of the establishment
Now, we do not say that these things are true
nor will weyei beliere but i they are, no degree
OF public cxecration and contempt is too great for
these flirting misresses Of the ton who thus deprive
The poor work woman Of portion of her money
earned by constan, and patient toll in the dark
hours OF night, when thcyarc futicring in the caudy
saloons OF plcasure.-or perhaps in the cold heavy
dawn OF the. grey morning while others sleep, and
hunger and want Keep her a, her thankless and at
hes, Improbable labors. The world-,he female
world cspecially-is bad enough already, Heaven
knows, and blois and dsmnng stains already be
cloud the bright name of WOMAN enough 10 max,
the angels weep at the degradation Of their earthly
usterhood and II there be yet fer poor and guile.
less hearts who prefer al humble and passionlcss M,
OF vruous industry to The false glare Of fashionable
vice. and the intoxica,ion of RIGHTEOUSNESS made
unrcmsrkablc BY itsfrequency. shalthey thus DC De
privcd Of portion OF the miserable pl,iance which
the hard hearted world vouchssies as their reward
There is not on earth more noble and sublime
spectacle than a virtuous woman, alone and un
ilended In the cold world struggling brsyely against
me irowns of fortune and the temptations OF society
run mad with not and lcentiousness and maintain
ING herself pure, uncontamlns,ed and above NJ
pToaeh-perhaps. too, feeding the hungry mouths OF
Der ia;herless children--by the labors Of her own
hands; and the wretch who would rob her of one
single penny Of subsistence thus acquired. de
vesio be scoCrged with scorpions. Proud and
nAppy are we a, ali times and in all circumstances,
70 stand up as the champion and defender of such
accompanying. unpreiendne virtue and beauty
% virtue 10 beautiful, and all the charms which ever