Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-10-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Chambers Miscellany.
Story of jacquard.

OK a day Of autumn, in the year 1875, in
an upper apartment Of a wreiched house sit
uated in one of the back streete Of Lyons,
through the windows of which re sun cast
a feeble and duubtfullight, owing to the num-
berless patches of paper which supplied the
place of glass, four persons were engaged
weaving the gold and silver tissue for which
that town is so celebrated. Though the
movement Of the machine itself was brisk,
vet a painful silence reigned in the small
! apartment, no sound being heard but that of
the shuttle and cords as they were put in
motion, In front of The loom, seated on a
hiuh bench, was a man Of about forty years
of age, working his feet TO the right and left,
as a means of action TO the treadles or foot
boards of the cumbersome and ill-construc-
ted machine. Near him sa,a young woman,
pale and emaciated, preparing the reeds on
which the silk was rolled previous TO being
placed in the loom whilst two young girls,
in forced and painful attitudes, put the cords
in motion.
At the time of which we speak, fearful
were the sufferinrs of those who worked at
this employment. Though badly remunera-
ted, necessity obliged a continued and wea.
rying application. 1t was painful to see the
contrast of the rich stuffs, thus side by side,
J Will lIC Otps'ihS - NV PN'N u'N
miserable beings, whose knowledge of the
gold, silver, and silks, alas! only consisted
in the additional labor which the varied and
elegant, patterns entailed a! Loud were the
complaints of the canuts, or weavers, as to
the smailness Of their wages, and frequently
had they committed outrages on this much
contested point. They alleged that the man.
ufacturers could afford to give larger payments
for work, without recognizing the fact, thai
WAGES depend on the demand and supply o.
laborers and therefore, that II wages are
low, the only way TO heighten them is by
reduction of the number of hands. Yet to bt
substantially beneficial, this would require Il
he done in all countries; for manufacturer
pressed on by competition, would NATURAL,
emigra;e with their capital to places wher
wares were on the lowest scale. Thes
principles, ~unhappily, were not understoo,
by the silk weavers Of Lyons, among whom
the person now introduced was a fair sam
pie, both as respects toiling industry and a
. Ignorance Of the true causes of his excessiv
tolls.
'Antoinette, do You know where Josep
has gone to = at length asked the man.. Ja'
guard by name, in a voice which spoke
fatigue.
He went to the s~hopkeeper for some silk
replied his wife.
1T is a long time since he went out
Hardly two hours; still he is inyariab
obliged to wait. But, Marie, you appear
be in PAIN added she, addressing one of Il
&, young girls before alluded to.
1T is nothing, MOTHER replied the CIR
lit will soon be time for sleep, when we CT
forget all our fatigue
YES, to recommence again tomorrow
said the man.
What would you wish, Charles! = ask
his wife, with a look in which affection a
/, resignation were mingled. rs not this 81
son better than the last, when | have off
seen you draw the belt tighter around yC
body, the more easily to support The pangs
hunger which exhausted your strength +!
Though the work at present is hard, yet
have, thank God, enough to eat. Cheer
my children I! if the dinner has been meag
we have at least a good supper of boil
chestnuts and lard, and as much bread as }
wish to eat, my litile Ones
a slight expression Of anguish, uttered
the Youngest and most wretched looking
the girls, attracted the attention of the Y
man, who, turning towards her, asked it
was i'll.
No, aunt slowly replied the child, VIII
languid smile sadly belied her words.
Would you wish to change with 4
cousin q asked Marie my work seems
sier than yours
NO; l am very well here, feebly answ
ed Josephine, her dim and sunken eyes, a
her pallid countenance, expressing lassitu