The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-13
Gas was given for three years, had also board and

A day-worker stated to me that her business
was greatly affected by the system Of taking inn
provers; as they did the work for nothing beyond
board and lodging, which must otherwise be paid
for. As much as Is. Cd. day and her tea, is
sometimes given to day worker, but this is a rare
occurrence. The usual payment under the best
employers is Is day and tea. The hours are
from eight to eight, or nine to eight; indeed, the
hours vary, but the day workers az least expect, II
they do not always receive, overpay for over
hours. Ones young woman, day worker,
who lived with her mother. poor widow,
told me that she earned rs. a week eight
or nine months of the year, and not Is. Cd.
week the three or four months she was not at
her usual day-work. "There are" she said,
several respectable tradesmen who get daywork
for their daughters, and who like that way of en-
ployng them better than in situations assistants,
because their girls then sleep at home, and earn
nice pocket money or dress-money by day work.
That, again, is disadvantage TO a young person
like me who depends on her needle for her living.
The most of our day-workers are from twenty to
thirty, some from fifteen to twenty, and few be-
tween thirty and forty; but know of no old wo-
man who is day-worker in the superior trade.
You must be quick and have good sight. You
never, or very seldom, mi.liner or dressmaker
glasses, unless she's quite young and does il
to preserve her sight, or because she thinks she
looks better in them, or unless she's a hrst hand
and is independent and doesn't care. l have gone
from my work to my mothers at all hours OF the
night, as always endeavor to work overhours if
can, and never was insulted in the streets.
nave nSuTu, anu d very gOOu ttliUs IL Is, tndt III
any young person is insulted by any bad drunken
fellow in the street, the police inspectors, if she
tells them she is dressmaker going home from
her work, and they are satisfied she is SO, are in-
sructed 10 call a cab and send her home in il, and
the Association pays the expense."-[I ascertained
that this was the case.
Concerning late hours had the folio wing state
meDt from trustworthy source
81 was second hand at Mrs IS. had go
year, or at that rate for as long as | stayed,
and board and lodging. In the busy time
| worked, and so did six others OF US, TO
twelve at night, and then had to get up
again at four the next morning, and work
again till twelve This happened four times a week,
or eis hit or nine times in the season, nearly as
can recollect We had only ten minutes quar-
ter OF an hour allowed for any meal--even for dim
ner. The rest OF the Time was spent at work.
have dozed over my work and have wakened from
sort OF dream with start, and felt quite cold,
though the room was hot from the gas lights If
complained, or If any of the others complained, we
were told, 'Oh IT'S only for an occasion it's a
sudden order, and we can't get hands in a moment
bat the sudden orders came very often. Ny health
suffered very much. My back ached from long
STING; had flying and severe pains in nay chest
and sick headache, and no appetite. | have sat
wosking for twenty hours two or three four days
in a week. When business was slack, we worked
from eight to eight or nine or from nine TO eight,
seven OF SIX 10 the busy time, six hands certainly
did work enough for nine. We cannot, even if we
wished, put in Inferior work, for are told often
enough that ladies are good judges of work andther
Ddtus are DttteI, ana gOOu Work lncy must nave.
Ii can only be the wish 10 make money by any
means that makes employers over-work young
persons. Improver5 work the same hours; but
apprentices don't. They are too young. IL would
mile and half of, on a Saturday night at twelve
o'clock-we never work later, nor on Sundays, and
could hardly walk so far. Ii was only over work
that suffered from Often on Sunday | could
not eat The nice dinner at home, though went
home only once a week, and my mother got
alarmed, and the doctor said must either give up
my place or go into consumption. The dread OF
such thing is shocking. So gave up my situa-
ton, and have enjoyed come rest and country air,
ard now am quite well"
Concerning diet, also, was informed in several
quarters that there was great improvement with
IN these four or five years, but that there still
many instances OF very insufficient diet being
given. From a dressnaker, filling a responsible
situation in fashionable house, had the follow
ing statement
1.-THE quality of the me IT we have is good, but
the quantity is sadly dehclent have sometimes
10 send OUT for mut,on Chop, and get the cook 70
dress Il, in addition 10 my dinner, though my Ape.
lite Is delicate. This IS always the case If have
TO carve, have sometimes, for really feel for
the young persons who are SO poorly fed. and
leave hardly a biz for myself. For breakfast we
have poor tea, q sometimes put some Of my own
in the pot to make II palatable,) aud bread and
butter, and not enough Of either. For dinner, at
one, nineteen of us will sit dow 10 dine of leg
or a shoulder Of mutton, that weighed seven, or
ieht, or nine pounds before il was put down to
be roasted, for have roast meat oftener han
boiled. don'tknow what IL loses ia cooking. Ii
its pork, however, that is generally boiled. Along
with IL We have vegetables, in quite INSULT .ient
quantities, wht vegetables cheaper than pota-
toes, and potatoes, when they are cheaper thia
vegetables. For pudding, or with tho joint, IT we
choose, We have plain boiled Ticc-nothing with
it, The mistress IS generally present. aud preteads
10 make her dinner with Us. eating the least of all,
and leaving little in her plate, and always say
ing what beautiful meat il is Sometimes, bat
very seldom, it has been tainted; but that the
butchers fdult, or the COOK i nave really feit
for hearty girls coming from the Country. Tacy
look on the litile joint aud the ndnbsr az table,
quite frightened. la time they lsse their appetites
have known girls with good appctites spend al
meet their whole salaries In buyn. little things
that they could eat, and cay that they must do II
or be lamIshed. Tea is the came breakfast.
For supper we have each small slice OF bread
and a small bit Of cheese--the two may cost
halirenDy-and glass Of table beer l can't eat
cheese, so may eat dry bread. The beer is very
good when IT'S fresh, but IL gets partly or quite
sour before we've got through the barrel; but We
must drink it through before anoihercan be bought.
There u a dinner on Sunday, but only odds and
ends, TO deter any body from having Sundays
dinner, for we are asked every Saturday night If
any one dimes az home on Sunday. Ia our house,
marty all are imp0yers or apprentices, which
makes bad diet worse, when such youag girls have
TO put up with IT,"
Ii is net so often the custom now, az il was eight
or nine years ago, am informed, for the dress
HlhhlnE houses NOT 10 pTONlde SUNDAY ; 0inpcr.
Those who are mean enough 10 wish to escape
the cost, make il disagree l5e meal, rather thla
refuse IL. Ii IL only very lately, however, with
IN these six or eight months sand "A married lidy
10 me, " that first rate house was connected
with, he'd no Sunday dinners. The country inn
prOvtTs and apprentices, II they have no friends IN
town, must pass the day they best could. |
have seen two OF them sitting IN the park on a
Sunday afternoon, and as they were smart and
good looking, you may be sure, sir, there were
gentlemen 10 accosi them. The principals took no
interes; in what they did. The girls had no com
fort at home, and wandered in the streets or the
naIk."
Day workers were unknown as a systematic part
Of the business of DIRE ssmaking, until the latter part
Of the year 1871 IA this mode Of Employment
was called into existence ny the rxertions Of the
=" Association for the Aid and Benefit Of Dress
makers and Miliners," bsfore slluded TO, IL is ne
eessary that should give an account Of the insti
tuition.
In 1871, Parliament Instituted the "Childrcn's
Employment Commission" for which a mass Of
evidence, showing the then state of the London
Dfessmssers and Millinere," was collected by Mr.
~ II Crniauar The nfl a,,fT