Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-01-23
sTRoUDsBURG THURSDAY JANUARY as 1915

that the system is one OF oppression, cruelty and
plunder, and in every respect leading to gross i'm
moralities. The distance to which these labour.
ers go is often much as FIVE or six miles and
this usually on foot, and 10 return at night. Chill
dren and girls are compelled go these distances
and consequently must rise very early in the NOR
ming, and reach home at a very late hour at night
Girls and boys, and young men and women, work
When the distance to which they 60 for work is
ten miles, they are sent in carts When the dis
tances are great, they occasionally pass the night
at the place of work, and then lodge in barns, or
anywhere else indiscrinnately together The
general account given of the operations of the sys-
tenn shows an utter prohgacy of mind in their
general conversation and manners. If they 90 in
the morning, and stay only little while, on ac-
count Of rain, or other good cause, they are paid
nothing. The day is divided into quarters, but no
fractions of time are in any allowed to them.
Then the persons employed are required, in many
cases, TO deal with the gang master for the sup
pleis they receive in payment for their labour.-
The results of such system are obvious. The
work being taken by the piece, the gang master
presses them 10 their utmost strength The trag-
ments of days, in which work is done and not paid
for 10 the labourers, all to the benefit of the
gang master, who, in such case: gets large a.
mount OF work done at no cost. But his advanta-
ges do not end here for there is no doubt that he
gets high advance upon the goods which he re-
quires them TO purchase of him, and thus their
wsgca are reduced still lower. Children Of the
IF fn,r Hvo
They earn ninepence day, the big ones the
small, fourPence; children Of seven years old,
lhreepence day.
- In some parts Of Scotland, what is called the
botiIie system, or employment of unmarried men,
living together in botie hoyel attached to the
stealing. The wages are paid in money or kind,
as may be agreed upon; and the labourers are
furnished with room, fuel. and bedding with
two pecks Of oatmeal weekly, and with daily
allowance Of new or of sour milk--occasionally
they may have beer and bread 70, dinner instead
of the porridge. Nothing more, however, is done
for them. They prepare their porridge themselves
in such way as they choose; but this comprehends
the whole of their living. Having myself visited
a Scotch b0thie, | cannot how much soever The
OF ihe arrangements may be praised, We
~ much commend the style Of housekeeping. In
deed il is not difficult 10 infer that where young
men and others are turned into howell together,
and without any one TO look after their lodging or
prepare their meals, the style of living cannot have
the advantages even of the wigwam of North
American savage; for there, at least, there is a
squaw to provide the food and to look after the
premises. The wages of Scotch labourer are
about Gl2 sterling per year, and living as above
and for woman, as field labourer, four shll-
lings sterling Per week, about eighty eight Cts,
out of which she provides herself"