The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-07

we regret il must be told endeavored TO avoid the CEN
sure Of their empiayer by liking all the blame upon
their best FRIEND tie forewoman So confident, how
ever, we're they OF success, that they had agreed
upon sgIal by which 10 make 1t known TO the opc-
natives in another establishment the opposite side
of the street. They were to wave their handker-
chiefs at certain time; but the time passed without
the anxious expectans seeing any signal and it was
not until they left of work that the house on the
other side of the way learned the full extent Of
their defeat.
FEMALE LABOR CoNTRAsTED WITH MALE LABOR
VARIETIES OF BRAID.
The manufacture of straw in this city does not
continue, like other occupations, during the whole
year, so that there are very few straw sewers who
are dependent upon it alone. OF the whole three
thousand there are not perhaps three hundred
who are entirely dependent upon it, Some Of
the workers can when the straw season is
over, obtain employment at almost any kind
Of needlework In this respect they certainly have
the advantage of the men, who required to serve
at least three years apprenticeship to one trade and
unless possessed of great mechanical ingenuity, their
whole lifetime must be devoted to it, We have seen
women who could sew straw, make artificial flowers,
and do at least dozen other different kinds Of
needlework, when they fail in procuring employment
at any particular one. The straw season is very
changeable, some years continuing for period Of
ave or six months while has, the contrary, been
known to last only three four months. 1t also be-
gins earlier in some establishments than it does in
others but the busiest time in all is about the months
OF January and February. 1t occasionally happens
that there is premium labor at this particular
time, when, in consequence Of the great demand for
sewers an advance Of FIVE or six and sometimes ten
cents will be made on piece of braid, SO that those
employers who were accustomed to pay only thirty
cents per piece are willing to give thirtyfve cents
II NAV be well to mention here the foolish and
highly censurable practice Of some work-women, or
we should say girls who boast that they able to
earn six, seven or eight dollars week, when they
cannot actually make, even by working 0ver-hours,
more than three or four dollars at the utmost.
They have very little idea of the injury they nfict
upon themselves, for false representations of this
kind invariably react in some way Upon those who
indulge in them. considerable number of the straw
sewers do their work at home, and by this means
generally enabled to do than they could in the
common workroom. But the amount Of work de.
ponds upon the kind Of straw for some descriptions
are SO severe upon the sight that they often
ings. Canton braid is considered about the worst for
working, and sewers will accept almost any other in
preference. Hardly season passes in which some
new description of braid is not introduced, for there
is no kind of work which taxes the ingenuity of man
or woman more than the various changes in straw
goods. Now, Leghorn bonnets are all the rage; next
season they are superseded by Tuscan, Swiss lace,
and SO on for fashion never tires About eight years
ago style started bnt it was so costly that
it did not pay for its manufacture The braid was
made Of raw silk, and known by the high sound.
ing title of I" Excelsior" A hat made from it was
exhibited at the annual fair of the American Insti-
tute, and greatly admired at the time; but as we
have said it was too costly to come into general
USE and the manufacture of it had to be abandoned
This hat took the prcmium--a gold medal-and we
believe was afterwards sold for about thirty dollars
The braid Of which it was made was about an eighth
of an inch in width, and contained fourteen hundred
fbres.
THE SOCIAL LIFE OF STRAW SEWERS.
We have said that the straw sewers Of New York
are lively cheerful class of women, and visit to
any OF the work rooms would satisfy any person on
this point. But to be thoroughly conversant with
their manners and habits, one should spend q week
with them at least. At dinner time they have
always an hour to themselves and as they generally
bring their dinners with them, they spend the whole
of their time in the work-rCom. This hour is spent
in various recreatons-some amuse themselves by
dancing, others in conversation the topics of the
day. for they are pretty well acquainted with the diff
fercnt subjects of interest and read the newspapers
regularly. Our straw sewers are also exceedingly ma
tional and patriotic in their feelings and we believe
if the question of the annexation of Canada or Cuba
were to be decided by them it would not remain long
unsettled. They are Of controversial turn Of mind,
and read theological discussions with the greatest
aydity; but their chief intellectual delight consists
Of lectures and sermons Physiological lectures have
great charm for them, and furnish them with
conversation for week after. They great lovers
of the drama, and are exceedingly fond Of singing.
The whole work-room at times resounds to their
melody, for they generally sing in chorus. Many of
those who have time, and who are not wholly de-
pendent upon their own labor for support, go to
singing schools and rehearse their lessons the next
day for the benefit Of their associates. One whose
excellence as singer is admitted by all in the room,
is elevated to the high position Of leader, while the
remainder join in the chorus.
During the contest that took place between the
Collins and Cunard steamers, the greatest excite
ment prevailed among the straw sewers, and when
it terminated in the defeat of the latter, they
enthusiastic in their rejocings. They certainly were
terribly down on the Brtshers, and if they had full
power over the Cunard steamers, we are greatly
afraid their patriotism would have made them dis
pore Of those vessels in rather a summary manner
In election times they advocate with slight zeal
the claims Of the rival candidates, and woe TO the
politician who does not coincide with their views for
they show him no mercy. They have keen relish
for satire, and can initiate the pecuarites Of some
of them with the skill Of an actress. We are sorry
to say, however, that many Of them patronize those
impostors and swinders called fortunetellers but
those who do So are not held In very good rcpute
among their associates, by whom they are known as
"rowdy girls" The majority Of the straw sewers,
however are an intelligent, well informed and right