New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-06-08
a n.
THE NEEDLEwoMEN OF NEw.yopx

SUBSISTENCE ~ INC hecoie ~ one Wat has frsaaAnts
been forced upon attention on various oc ,.,o,,
and though the existence of cases Of great dis,re.
caused by the inadequate remuneration male far n.
labor done has been admitted we have more than ono,
been called upon to show different yieE Of the picture
and have been presented by employers with scene an
ccnsar de smiling damses who would resent a An
insult the application to themselves Of the term work
women, and whose elegant apartments outshOne thoss
of the manufacturer who had furnished them with tAs
work they at times condescended to DO That this is.
true sketch, far as il goes, ready to admit
bat it is exceptional forming no criterion by which 70
Judge the condition of the real nsedlewomen who make.
or ought to make the pursuit in which they are engaged
a means Of livelihood.
We have been at the pains 60 institute a searching
and impartial inquiry into the actual state of these
artisans, not con6ning observations solely to the
makers of clothes whether coats vests pantaloons or
ether articles of male attire but have extended L TO
various trades in which female labor is largely employed
such as the binders of boots and shoes the parsso
makers and others: and in pursuit Of this object va
have asceraned the existence Of an amount of wretch
edness, immortality, and erime-the consequence Of
their low esrnings-truly appalling The aim of our
investigation has been to set forth truly and accurately
for the knowledge Of the public the facts as they were
revealed TO us by the best Of evideace-that of witness
ipQ what we shall hereafter describe; aud though our
statements may incur the suspicion of exaggeraton.
We have not deyiated in single particular from the
strctest accuracy
1t cannot be too generally known that there are many
employers who refuse 10 take advantage of the low terms
Of which labor may be bad and who pay in some nstan
cs as much ten times the price that allowed at tho
cheap shops" though the execution Of the work is not
superior and only the same amount of
time is expended ON it, These men deserve all honor,
and form striking contrast 10 those ghous who prey
almost literally upon the flesh aud blood of their poor
dependents
We shall not in this place enter infinitely into tho
various prices paid At the different establishments but
We could indicate fifty at whichthe following the reccg
Missed scale for taIoresses: Summer vests Is cents
each pantaloonS, 20 cents light coats, Is cents all
complete for wear. These prices would produce in
working day of twelve hours about % cents provided
they not returned upon the hands of the worker
which they assuredly would be IL approved Of La
the case of the boot and shoebnders the average pay
rather higher though there many who cannot earn
more than 81 30 per week Shirts are paid, in numer
Gus instances at the rate Of T. 3, and low as
cents piece three OF them being hard days labor
The parasol titchers paid cents piece Tor cover
inr the ribs with silk and fastening il at the top each
paraso has eight divisions, which have to be- sewed to-
oether and alterward attached 10 the whalebOne; az
the present time of the year the earnings of women en-
gagged in this occupation about 80 90 but In winter
when ON umbrella work, which is less remuneratiye,
: 80 is nearer the weekly product
1t is unnecessary 10 follow this sub into any other
trade as those indicated alone employing some hundreds
of women the average ofwhose yearly income il will thus
be seen at the best ofhe above prices all doing full work
the year round, amounts to nnety0He dsers Nor I'M
happily, have we yet fully removed the veil that
cesls the horrors Of this cheap" system there is
still grade beneath that TO which have yet alluded
Kind of middle system having arisen But, perhaps
some of the employers after closing their stores in
Broadway and down town. instead of preceding
chucking geefuy the large profits Of the day 10
their own hearhs there to meet all the happiness cen
tered in the domestic circle, will for once accompany US
to the habtaton of one of their own needewOmen anil
permit us TO introduce them 60 her home The contrast
il not favorable may be instructive and afford food for
little wholesome reflection.
In the low neighbOrhOOd of st, unysited BY all
whose pursuits do not lead them to it, and adjacent to
one of the numerous streets leading from the Bowery TO
the East River, in the garnet OF dilapidated hOuse
surrounded by drinking stores, filled with whose
appearance alone speaks powerfully TO their character
elderly female may be daily seen assduOusy at work,
together with four younger ones whose ages vary from
Il TO 81 The appearance of the eldest (whose accent
betays her Irish origin and the seanty furniture in the
apartment convey the idea of who has long
been stranger the most easilyattanable comforts
Of early acquaintance with vice. When alone, she
will inform You that these girls at work not on their
own account but for herself and the remuneration con-
stats solely in their food for six days In the week On
pressing Der as TO the mode by which they obtain
to purchase their clothes and pay for their lodg
ing you will learn that the dssolute men in the neigh
sailors ust arrived in pOrt-pr0yde
them, as well as many others in similar situations az
with the necessary funds. In word the
low price allowed in the first instance prevents her giving
any other pay than that Of their board and for the adj
iitiona requirements OF existence they are driven Oa
life Of prostitution
So far away up town as Twelfth-st we will pay another
visit The house 10 which direct steps eyi.
IDENTIFY inhabited by many families and presents ia the i'm
terror such picture Of lthiness is disgusting 10 look
upon Our business lies again at the top of the tene-
ment and mount the crcaking and battered stairs
We cannot fail to observe in those places where the pas-
ter has not been knocked off, sentences Of the vest OBJ
scenty and basphemy defacing the walls. On entering
the room again find woman aud four girls apparent
" not than fifteen years Of age all engaged Ia vest
making The itsef is unenduraby hot and sitting,
but does present that dismal lack Of furniture We
have before observed The middle system" IL again in
full force here two Of the young girls being Learners
and receiving board and lodging for their services the
remainder, having acquired the trade, working for 81
weekly without food, and, for further means all doubt
less training in the school the unfortuaates be-
fore named.
These are alas but faint outlines of the terrible pic
ture which is formed by the laws that at present govern
labor We leave undelineated the more narrowing
scenes that we could presentthe almost ceaseless toll
IN nrocure means 10 minister 10 the wants OF stricken
mother daughter husband or other near and dear rea
tve-tka Ioneendurng belief in the mercy and goodness
of Divine Providence IDsiledin early youth and dur
inc better DAYS perhaps by the pOus example and pre-
cepts of some revered mother at length undermined by