The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-10

From the Penney lvsnian.
TWO SIDES OF A PICTURE.

TWO SIDES OF PICTURE.
An evening. or two ago, returning itom stroll
through the districts Of Northern Liberties and
kensington, we took the Globe mill factory in our
route. Daylight was just closing when we APP
preached At; and when within half square, an il by
magic, the whole vast pile, to the very garnet,
was, IN a moment, brilliantly illuminated. What a
great discovery, we thought, was gas and then our
mind wandered among the countless forms OF men
and women, girls and boys, moving through the
vest rooms, attending the machinery How happy
they all must be, in those splendid rooms! (or light
ana happiness are always associated in our minds,)
and how delighted they would be when they re
turned to their homes, with the rich rewards of
their labor. In the midst of these reflections, we
were suddenly stopped by the opening Of the gates
that lead into the yard of the factory, and the sud-
den egress of fine large bob-tail trotng- at
'ached to light Rockaway carriage, in which was
man well cloaked. As il crossed our path, anoth-
er wel-drcssed man threw his large cloak around
him, and jumped into the vehicle; and away they
went, at dashing pace, down franklin street.
There thought we, are the wealthy owners Of these
vast mills. What happy and fortunate men!
Through favorable combination of circumstances,
and the souai protection ofgopsrnmeni they are en-
abled to feed, and clothe, and make comfortable, all
these feow-beings, and to add, perhaps quarter or
halfa million ofdollars annually TO their gains We
are not sure but enyious feelings arose in our
hearts, when we contrasted all this with the poor
pay ofprinters in general and editors in particular;
but If such feeling did ntrude, it was but for a
moment; for The hnc, vast, illuminated pile IT'S 90,
cupanis and its owners, absorbed all our mind. If
only Mr.. Calhoun. or Mr.. Richie, or some Of the
great champions Of free trade, and, they sup
posed 70 be, enemies of manufacturers, were only
here, we thought to ourselves, how eoquenty
would all this appeal to them Could they, in view
OF this scene, strike down this prncey owner, this
palace and all its happy inmates, for the few dollars
anu cents that it takes out Of their pockets' Deeply
impressed with the great blessings of the manuac-
turing system IN our own country, and connecting
i with the beautiful but fancifu pictures drawn by
Eugene Sue and DIsraeli, we walked on, cogitating
an editorial that would convince oil the world that
this mandatory, and all other American factories,
(or we supposed they were all alke,) were perfect
gardens of Eden--with the greater advantage, that
those who were in there were all well clothed, and
ate penteously Of every good thing, without stint
or fear Of punishment.
Turning down St. John street, we had not gone
many steps before our eye was attracted by some
lonely spot which, in the shades of evening, we
could not distinctly make out until close upon it. Ii
was small boy standing, or rather leaning, against
the WALL without shoes hat or any other clothing
than shirt and trowscrs--both literally worn TO
shreds. We had our ovcrcoat on, and yet there
stood that little boy next TO Naked We never pass
any human being whose situation seems desolate,
without speaking word Of sympathy; and SO we
stopped TO say soothing word to him. We
asked him what he was standing there alone for.
He said he was looking at the three or four well.
clothed and joyous lads who were at play across
the street. In answer to other Of our questions, he
told US he was between nine and ten years Of age
that he worked in the manufactory-got a dollar
week for his work-workcd ali day--neyer had
time to play except on Sundays-did not 90 10
school-had not gone for more than six months
never went when he could get work in the factory
had both father and mother
lie was very pale and sickly, with a sad and SUBJ
dued cast of countenance, which, with his misera.
BILE clothing, made him altogether the most forlorn-
looking object OF his age we ever saw;-and this was
one Of the inmates Of the brilliantly Illuminated
mandatory. Need we say that new train of re-
Election was induced by the change of scenei Were
all those whom so lately we looked upon as bappy
and comfortable, squalid and naked as this bowl
how many were sos-why were any SO? Does the
government grant large bounties that princely pro.
prictors may amass millions, or do they mean that
the operatives shall receive portion of that bountyl
Why do they not receive IN Why should this bow
grow up IN ignorance of mind and fcebleness Of
body, or be sent to premature gravel These are
the questions we asked ourselves, and we now ask
you, reader. The manufacturing system may be
national beneht--it may make some men verv rich
but is i improving the of American citizcnsi
That is what VIC would like to know. We have
founded public schools, thus showing that the cdu-
cation OF the children of the republic is the republics
care and duty-is that duty done while hundreds
are growing up in ignorance? Neither parents nor
proprietors Of manufactures dare deprive these
children of life or limb--why should thew be allow
ed thus to stultify their minds and stunt their bodies,
Many efforts have been made to check this evil, but
never have been carried into effect. 1t is tme-hgh
time something was done that would effectualy cure
it. To the executive and legislature Of our State VIC
commend i; and shall press it again and again upon
their attention, until something shall be done. We
shall never be able to Danish from our mind the
pleading looks of that "factory boy" until the
wrongs Of his class are rightcd.