The Portland daily press., 1865-11-22
Letter from Boston.
BosToN, Nov. 20.

49, Boston, Nov. 90
To the Editor Of the Press.
The Indian summer has been of the mild
est and balmiest sort, for more than week.
bringing out the poets and babies in full force.
for airing. The gentlemen's furnishing es-
adjustments are in despair, with large stocks
OF winter goods on the shelves; and no one
has yet been known to purchase an overcoat,
except the man who carries an umbrella when
the sun shines, and he fears it was needless
expense. 5a s.9' @
The City Government are at present enter
tanning the Tunisian embassy-G eneral OF
man Nasheur and suite. They had a formal
reception at the City Hall, where they were
addressed in very pleasant speech by Mayor
Lincoln, which was conveyed through French
interpreter to the ambassador. They visited
the Navy Yard, Bunker Hill Monument and
Fort Warren, and will visit the mills of Lowell
or Lawrence. Hz.IrsD
In my last I alluded to the commendable
economy of the Democratic party in Boston.
On Saturday last, the Courier, the organ of
rebel sympathy here, made tlispairing
effort to prolong its life by system of retrench-
ment which does not excite much praise. A
year ago, when the daily papers broke from
the thraldom of the Printers Union, the Bos-
ton Transcript and 1raueller admitted female
compositors into their composing
spite of the popular cry (raised by the Union)
that girls could not do the fatiguiDg labor of a.
daily paper. The experiment was an entire
success, and not one woman has yet been dis
charged for incompetency, or killed with hard
work. On the contrary, the Transcript told
the public that its female compositors proved
to be fully equal to the Union printers. But
this is of little interest to the people. The
important issue, the vital point in this news
paper revolution, was the fact that these pa
pers paid the women the same wages the men
received, while female compositors throughout
the city received price equal to about one
half of mems wages for the same amount of
labor. Here was an era in the history of fe-
male labor. l will not darken your columns
with tale of the fearful wrongs and oppres-
sions 1 have witnessed among the working
women-a few noble hearts attempted to rouse
the public sympathy in behalf Of the starving
poor in New York, few years since. l only
know that men whose wives and daughters
wear diamonds, thought it necessary to cut
down their workwomen, because provisions
and taxes were SO high; and / have yet to
solve the problem how women can sustain
their lives and character in Boston, upon the
paltiy sum of fifty cents day. ac'1'ai
80 Godl that bread should be SO dear,
And flesh and blood SO cheap
When, therefore, the Transcript and Travel-
Ter came out from among the high-handed op-
-pressors, and became the champions of great
and glorious reform, they were met with re-
proof from these hardened tyrants, who COM
planned that other women would be dissatisfied
if they paid fair wages to their female compos-
itors. - n .rT- E -
But there were many reasons why the re-
buke was unheeded-and the wonderful work
still stands-and the laborer is deemed worthy
of her hire. i,..a4.f IFS, ..f
At the same time this reform was inaugural
ell, the proprietors of the Copperhead Courier
work on that paper at mems ,oages, but did
not obtain them. At the same time, that sheet
was changed from a morning to an evening
paper-and even then it had long been the
wonder of wonders in newspaperdom what
supported it, for it was well known that its
subscription list could not do it. AS an even
ing paper it has eked out feeble existence
until Saturday last, when its workmen were
discharged, and twelve girls employed at wages
equal to little more than half what female
compositors receive. upon the other daily pa
ipers. - ~,
Such meanness is the legitimate offspring
of such doctrines as that paper has advocat
ed, and these statements demonstrate two
fold fact:-the desperate extremity of this
traitorous party, and the low-lived and VII
famous means to which they will resort.
1t is subject for much congratulation that
the friends of such a sheet are too'few to sus-
tain it. We may look for its speedy demise.
@ ' L. A. d.