Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-07-24
CHILDREN IN THE WORK
SHOPS NEAR PARIS.

CHILDREN IN THE WORK
SHOPS NEAR PARIS.
We copy the following statement from the
"Democratic Pdcifque." 1t shows in char
acters too plain to be misunderstood the le-
ultimate results of anarchical competition
Let US not glory in the belief that nothing of
the kind can as yet be found in our favored
country. We are fast verging to the same
condition, the greater our population, the
greater our riches, the more precipitous be-
comes the declivity, the more rapid our de-
scent. English Parliamentary evidence
shows that the results are the same on both
sides the British channel, that is, so far as
they have been examined, for hitherto only
the outside, the restitution and misery, have
been made known in England; here we have
the effect upon the morals, upon the whole
lives of the sufferers. Like causes, every
where produce like effects, and the day is not
far distant, when our thicklv settled cities
will no longer present even apparent excep-
tions. Already, instances of the same PIE
%cocious depravity here depicted, may be
found among us, and were the condition of
the unfortunate children, who frequent our
streets and wharvcs TO CLEAN a sctnty subsis-
lance, properly inquired into, we fear much
would be brought to light to make those who
boast of the superior condition Of our poor,
hang their heads with sorrow and with shame.
Would that our whole nation could see herein
the destiny (f unaverted) which awaits mvri-
ads of her unborn generations, and be warned
in time.
We take these horrible details from a
work addressed to the annals 0f Chrriiy, bv
Mile. Eugene Michel; we give the words of
this conscientious observer; she speaks from
the heart
49, Among the industrial establishments
which exist near Paris, there are many for
printing cloths; and there, more than else
where, are to be foua1 the misery AMI wretch
edness OF this popunt ton of many thousands;
a population halt vagabond, receiving natives
of Lyons, Of Alsace, of Belgium, of Germany,
retaining them some months, a year, two
years, then letting them GO to receive others;
on This. living from hand to mouth. preserv-
ing neither morality, good conduct, nor hope
Of the future. Thrnce. disorder in every
form, depravity with all its Consequences
In these Establishments every i4urneyman
printer requires an assistant TO prepare his
%colors; for this purpose, he takes a child, Ell
Their boy or Girl, who may be from five to IF
teen years old; the age is no consequence,
strength Is enough; and if strength is want
INC, necessity or bad treatment supplies its
place. To earn half \ frame, the child works
from SIX in the morning to seven in the even
ing during summer, from seven in the morn
ing until dark, in the winter, standing all the
while upon a little stool.
Barely clad, without socks, with old cloth
p1ntlloons, 1T a frock, always foil of holes.
because the color burns the clothing, with sa-
bots, or worn out shoes, the child leaves the
workshop, which is often overheated from
the nlture Of tho operation, in order to take
his meal at his mothers, who, herself at
work elsewhere, IS left for him at her Iodr-
Ing some bread ana an apple, or a little cold
llquld called soup and half a glass of bad
wine; or perhaps he finds his mother, who
overburthened with children and misery,
makes him perform fatiguing labor, which
allows him hardly time to eat, during that
hour which ought to be an hour of rest for
the poor little one. As soon as the hour al
lotted 10 the meal has passed, the child re-
turns towards the workshop, blowing his
numbed fingers in winter, raising with diff
Guilty his feet, chilled by the snow. and waits
Tor the moment OF re-entering, crouched with
his comrades IN the wet, along the walls of
the building; and this is called resting for an
hour.
In summer, playing, and often, in conse-
qnence OF some rough word or practical Joke,
fighting savagely, boys or girls, before a cir
Gle of workrlen, from thirty 10 fifty relrs old,
who applaud the strongest and the most
wicked; then finally, re-entering the work
shop, at the stroke of the bell, the face COW
cred with blood, and the body with bruises,
and receiving no other reproof or consolation
but fresh blows or hooking laughs. So
ihuch for the body. Now, from this contact
OF twelve hours each day with men of whom
the greater portion are corrupt, the little BOYS
become entirely depraved; they initiate the
cynlcism OF their masters; they exceed them
IN oaths, in vile words, in brutality; this is
doubtless a great evil, and one which we fear
cannot be remedied; but as to the little girls.
they are lost forever. For these poor chill
dren, there is no childhood, no innocence: the
corruption of the body precedes that of the
SOUL; but the latter follows infallibly. 1t is
a Joy TO the coarse masters to teach those
poor little unfortunates all the mysteries of
vice and all its phases of impurity; thence
what are the results! Polluted at ten, moth