The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-08-04

ness, so far as happiness concerns our brief
earthly life. Anything that destroys home
is inimicsl TO happiness. Home, compass
ing wife, children, friends, with the domestic
castle, is essential to the proper develop
ment Of the best qualities of our nature and
to the well being Of all who have the least
amount of civilized human feeling. The
Influences of home, more than the state OF
the market, the rate Of wages, the condition
of business, affect the workman. He can
Withstand the lowering Of the price of his
productions, the temporary depression Of
profits in his business, or the unforeseen
fluctuations Of the market, If he is sustained
by the influences of home, and if he can be
assured that his children can avail them
selves Of advantages which will enable
them to retain their position and provide
for themselves and those dependent upon
them when he shall have left them. Then
the future is humanity secure-for the pres
ent he can provide.
But what if there is a perpetual struggle
at the present, with gloomy uncertainty OF
the future? The man is deprived Of ali his
vigor Of mind, bis enterprise, his pride.
Yet such is the condition Of thousands Of
industrious men in England. A correspon-
dent Of the Pail KaU Gazette, who has visit
ed some Of the iron furnaces in the abIack
country" Of Stafordshire and Worcester.
| shire, says:
In the mills and forges boys Of all ages,
from eight and upwards may be found,
amid the labyrinth Of machinery and the
coils Of heated iron. engaged by day and
night in tugging long, redhot seething
bars Their activity is very great owing to
the nature Of their work, which reoiires
trapidity Of movement, snd contrasts strange
iy with their otherwise jaded and worn ap-
pearance. In addition TO the labor OF DRAG
ging along the iron, each Of these little
fellows has to run, in short stages, a dis
lance Of more than eleven miles every day.
in an oppressive atmosphere, thick with
dust and steam. Owing to the Quick and
uncertain movements Of the hot iron bars in
their passage through successive rolls before
having time TO cool, the occupation Of these
boys is attended with some dangers seri-
GUS burn being almost an everyday occur
renee.
Standing in the midst Of an extensive
forge, few years ago, was alsrmed by
cry Of terror at the further end of the
works. There was q general rush to the
spot, and shall never forget the horrible
and sickening sight that met our view. A
large rod Of seething iron, in couing from
the rolls, had somehow twisted aside. and
bad literally pierced through the body of a
little fellow some ten years old. For n
while the roar Of the machinery was sus-
fpended, and two or three brawnv puddlers
caa ried the hapless creature home; but when
the 6rst thrill of horror had passed away
the wheels were again set in mrtion and ali
went on as before.
\ The lives Of these boys are almost en-
tirely spent in the forges, except the hours
allotted to sleep. They have their meals
which is kept in state Of constant agita-
ton, and there, and in the snatches Of lei
sure II Is their playground. In most of the
works Is the arm or basin Of canal. the
water OF in which, despite its inkv color.
they delight to battle, both in winter and
summer. So constant are they in their ab-
lusions that they often come out parboiled.
like washerwoman's thumb. Some OF the
proprietprs Of these works have provided
night schools for the instruction Of children
IN employ; but, - rule, they are In mind
and body. alike neglected, and the densest
ignorance prevails. They have 20 home
sraining, most Of their houses bong locked
up ~ qhy. tue FatoAtS ana att the Children
being out n work and returning home
fatigued at night, nothing but bed or = car
tonsal in the " Fox and Dragon" is accept
Jabis. tae 4a h fo
Returning home late one evening, saw
two little children, . boy and girl, lying
asleep upon door step, which proved to be
that of their own home. On awaking them
ithey told me that they were waiting for
shsir mother to come out Of the neighborine
tavern and open the door. They had no
father, and had been hard t.wofk all day.
The boy worked in . forge, the girl in q
foundry, and the mother In japanning fac
tory, and though thus separated all day,
there seemed no bond of affection to bissd
tthem when they met together.
i In such i STATE Of affairs there can be no
legitimate home Influences. The father and
mother. all the children whose infxntiie
strength can be utilized. are employed at
hard labor, day after day, and week after
week, too wexried, after performing their
allotted tasks, to. exert themselves to make
home happy. Life to them is an endless and
exacting tfeadm;ll- Tne gentler virtues,
which give charm to feminne character,
Imzke childhood lovssbls, and civiifse and
llslsvate coarse, masculine humanity, cannot