New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-06-08


there is deserving ofths severest rcprehenson them
selves ont Of the reach Of want they serving 10 up
hold and sg2ravate OF the greatest that can
afct country ard adding additional letters TO the
chain which already binds their poorer sisters 0urre
buke is not meant to apply to those who BIZ their in
dustry increase the comforts Of the general household
when their circumstances really require ton the
tray, think such conduct highly meritorious and de-
serving Of the warmest praise
Ard if the description We have given Of some Of the
hon Of the needle women does not extend to them ALL
the prices have quoted are equally inapplcable a.
regards other branches Of female industry and there
some Thousands in this city, in different calngs-m
liners, dress makers, assistants in shops aud various
other OccupstiOnswhOse salary varies from 50 % to
So AID upwards per week-a price which, placing them
beyOId the dangers Of temptation, enables the sex to
maG ain at least that dignity and exact that respect
which Americans ehnenty conspicuous for admirlng
and rendering but which The circumstance OF the poor
seemsre.ses forbid them 10 aspire 20, and which, 10
deed the contrary too often pfecptate them into
the extremes OF degradation.
BY the rules Of the system most generally in use at
the cheap slOp shops" the person applying Tor VOTE
has 10 procure herself book in which the quanty ana
value Of the goods entered and security 70 me li
worth Of the material entrusted is insisted on, which
gives the ployer tyrannical power ~nich often
Tutbessy exercised and the deposit frequently not
returned wien work falls scarce Not alone our wealthy
readers but people in ordinary and even humble ccum-
stances can have no idea of the sacrifices hardhps and
humiatioDs to be passed through before sufficient
means can he raised TO enable them 20 make the neces
ssry 3eposit but when this is known aud the low price
paid for labor considered the rObbng them o their
small means betrays indeed most depraved and heart
ers disposition We Will, however, suppose the work
given ont and returned il then submitted TO search
ing investigation and whether careless stitching realy
exist or tyranny affirm it, the condemned garment IS
iDued a,pnder aud returned 10 the woman to be re-
stwed tho money being withheld until the complete
order is approved But this Is perhaps the ighest oil
tho expressions which the deenceess work woman has
.Lara &c hn ha
reckoning is made, nincysix cents 20 the dollar only
being given Such selfish would be incredible
if not thoroughly authenticated but we proceed in
our egpos6 the evil will be seen to ncrease-npt only do
they make this deduction in prices scandaousy low at
the best but it is very common to leave portion OF
even these misc rable earnr TO account An account
which, ala, is often totally repudiated Imagine
poor creature paid the rate OF five cents shirt, on
which she has had TO make deposit OF IT. value, being
raid portion ard told % " let the remainder stand
lover fora settlement" and this regardless whether she
mar live at the Battery in Fteth-st This latter is
perhaps Il most crying, oppressive, aud disgusting ~
raDpy of the entire vlanOus system, and one when Is
carried On TO an incredible extent. None VINO Know
their abicct dependence will inquire why they work on
such ter ELS ak why they do not invoke legal and
The law is not for then,-n0 serf in the middle ages
was more under the absolute control OF his
upeIiOr lord ate the needle women to the employers:
and il is with us q question of grave doubt whether
there was waste Of human life under the dependant
feudal system or that of modern liberty exempied
in all countries where labor is plentiful and capital
rampant. .
This vile system of Withholding payment makes itself
most aeuey felt in the uncertainty h produces as many
employers who pretend TO pay prices at which an exist
epCe might be made, cOntrye by their cunning In setting
by nstallmcntg reduce work really to as low scale
as the worst and eventually by constantly deierrng the
ds, Of settlement weary out the poor dupes OF their
reechery Indeed not few Of these employers 1--we on
their reputation for lberay to their workwomen many
persons dealing with them at high prices, under the
assurance that they are pTOpOrOnaiely generous in
their turn; but opposite is this TO the truth, That wa
have known instances where these proessedy apriccd
houses have for successive weeks paid but atty cents on
account and when work became scarce have postponed
settlement day after day till the patience OF the claim
ant has been exhausted, and she has been compelled
to give up her claim in selfdefense, deparng OF getting
final settlement, and negectng in the meantime other
employment. We heard OF poor lame woman going
constantly twice a week for two months, from Forty
second 81 10 the lower end of Broad way % close sl-
lar business and finally had to give itup Noncompliance
L. is but RIGHT TO add that many of the female employers
are Just az extoon8ts and dishonest to their poorer sis
tiers as the most tyraDnlcal among the men.
And this passive tyranny bad as it is, is sometimes
exchanged for active brutality instance of which we
had to record last week, when poor girl delivering her
work. aud asking for payment OF the modest sum due %
her was actually kicked out into the public street by the
ennoyer and lett there without sufficient means to cross
tn Ferry 10 her home Cases of humanity bearing and
domino ering assumptions OF superiority are OF daily &C.
currsnce though actual violence is hope and believe,
less rare but glance nc the wan detected fearful faces
of some of the poorest, will show the degree OF abae'
ment to which they have been brought.
We have stste5 that shirts are made for i've cents
niece ard some even low as four; but VIC will take
The former price q. being the usual For this sum
the shirt has be completed so as TO be ready for wear
and delivery aad very expert needlewoman make
three bslvses her hours OF rest which are rarely
sufficiently proongod to recruit her oyertasked strength
Six DAYS labor would thus produce 90 cents, but only
If uxinterrupted frsm other duties; but this sum,
sm, IT, r never attained at these prices, the de
Ia, of seeking and returning the goods, and probably
.evera journeys for settlement of her claim will make
cre.t inroad into her hours of labor, reducing her
earnings one half or to about 90 cents week
Another rm reputed wealthy and whose opulence has
been mainly gained BY this murder0us trade has proba
by attained the acme of perfection in the art OF getting
The greatest advantage At the least outlay in addition
tops,ipc miserable wages and requiring deposit it is
stimulated that One-ls Of the amount earned by the
sesmsressss in their employ shall be taken out in other
sooas sold by this seli-Sacrltcing house, may sale
" leave this fact 10 public notice without any comment
With ,uch bones and such wages, 1t may be believed
thai THAR fare is similarly peOr-mea is luxury rarely
tasted snd , more rarely if ever, at the expense OF
the ,eamsress her PRINCIPAL food consisting, for weeks
tooetber Of bread and water with or without little
weak tea and potato other chesp vegetable, as the
case NAV be-but being far worse provided than CON
ict ON nrson diet The excess Of work and absence OF
domestic comforts at once serve 70 tc eausc VI
the c.upt snd smsciaed figures and WORKOUT express
SION OF ceuntep.nce characteristic of the most humble
of the class 70 which il is their misfortune to belong Out
Il does r say our wonder at the honorable stea1iast-
ness in Whchthey psrsevere to the sad END OF the eA
istenee with sknOgedge OF the superior physical com
forts awaiting them in the prisons. 10 which many look
forward rather as refuge for the destitute than as the