The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-02-05
Effect of needle-worlr on Woman's Health

'"'' A'S'S III uiViC VI ICSS StOOplDO
of the head and shoulders, tending to retarl
circulation, respiration, digest ion, and pro-
duce curvature Of the spine. The erect posi
ton is the healthy one. The head should
be raised and the shoulders thrown back to
give the lungs full play. The frequent long
drawn breath of the seamstrcss evinccs the
cra'npng AMI confinement Of the lungs.
Health cannot be expected without free res
piration. The life-giving element is in the
atmosphere, anl, without it in due abunl.
ance, disease must supervcne.
Again, the stiffness required E'r hand
sewing is destructive to health The hands
and arms alone move the body and lower
limbs are motionless, which tends TO paraIy.
isis. Confinement in the stocks would he
hardly more barbarous. Strength anl ro-
business must coma from exercise. This
confined attitude is in violation Of correc,
llcories Of healthy physical development and
the instincts of nature. Those accustomed
to sit writing for hours, day after day, can,
form some idea OF the exhaustins nature of
this work.
"The minute attention required. and the
strain upon the eyes, are not the least evils
resulting from thanksgiving. Attention can
not be intcrmttel, aud have the work %
on. The eyes must be fxel, in order to
measure the stitch. The tneness Of the
neede and thread. the various colored Fab
ric~, and the precision that COOL work re-.
qnires, tax the eyesight more than any other
business. W.. must reflect, too. that this
labor is demanded under most unf;,vorable
circumstances; dim lights, dark AMI close
rooms-day and night for years. Nothing
cond be m IRE devised for running health
What wonder that needle :yonan are pale,
nervous. and careworn, or that our wo men
generally look old at IN early aye!
"rhe operation ofhend.scwiug ininres the
intellect also, by affecting the health and
derangins the nerves while the work itse II
is of i most belittling character, requiring
notmcntal exercise, and furnishing no food
for thought. The head grows dizzy and
the eyes swim over the monotonous task.
Exercise invigora,es the mind AS we'll rs the
body. As the flesh becomes AaJby. and
the circulation langu id fro IN inaction. so the
mind tends to imbecility without invigora-
ting exercise. Ifthc mental and moral con-
sttution of the mother moulds that of the
child, what results must flow from constant
occupation that belitlles tn. soul and ben
u'nhs the intellect? Children healthy in
body and mind cannot be born of mothers
whose constitutions have been undermined
by employment SO unhealthy. Physiolosi-
cal lectures and treatise, are valueless if their
teachings are thus Systematically ignored.
1t is not the seamstress alone that suf
fers. The wives and mothers bear quite as
wearyng burdens. She who should be the
light and life Of the household whose loving
heart and cheerful voice anl countenance
should inspire gladness. is drudge, slave
to the wardrobe. exhausting her energies up
on an endless task to the neglect of accom-
plishments, the culture Of her children, and
most Of the charities and amenities of life.
What hut the most ardent attachment can
blind any young woman to court such des-
linya These evils may have been hereto
fore unavoidable, but the necessity exists no
longer. Tha, the sewing machine is cacu-
lated to furnish full and permanent relief to
the evils above specified, we most firmly be.
lieve. The attitude Of the operator is erect
and graceful; the movement of the lower
limbs in giving it motion, is invigorating ;
its mechanism, and rapid, precise, and beau.
t'ful operations, excite mcnta! energy, while
the ,week-loug work Of the wardrobe is rs
duced to n few hours. 1t is indispensable
in welireguIatcd family: and parents
shonld regard Hthe outft Of daughter in
complete auithout one" 3.
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