The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-08-23
Children in English Iron Mills
SAD Stories Of Suffering.

- Wv. p'b-N 'Dhi4tl VI lDLdl
iordshIre and Worcestershire, tells these
sad stories: . ~.
"ln the mills and forges boys Of all
ages, from eight and upward, NAV be
found, amid the labyrinth of machinery
and the coils Of heated iron, engaged by
day and night in tuggiDg long red hot
seethlng bars. Their activity is very
great, owing to the nature Of their work,
which requires rapidity Of movement,
and contrasts strangely with their 9TH
erwlse jaded and worn appearance. In
addition to the labor Of dragging along
the iron, each Of these little fellows has
to run, III short stages a distance Of
more than eleven miles every dav, 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 oc
cupatlon Of these boys is attended with
some danger, serious burn being an
almost every day occurrence.
standing in the midst of an extern
siYe forge few years ago / was alarmed
by cry Of terror at the further end of
the works There was 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 coming from the rolls had somehow
twisted aside, and had literally pierced
through the body of a little fellow some
ten years old. Fora while the roar Of
the machinery was suspended, and two
OF three brawny puddIers carried the
hapless creature home, but when the
first thrill ofhorror had passed away the
wheels were again set IN motion and all
went on as before.
"The lives Of these boys are almost
entirely spent in the forgcs, except the
hours allotted to sleep. They eat there.
and in the snatches Of leisure it is their
play ground. In most Of the works is
the arm or basin of a canal, the water of
.Yhjeh.is kept in a state Of chronic fever.
and in which, despite its inky color, they
delight to bathe both winter and sum- /
mer. So constant are theyin their ab- /
fnt'oRs- that they often come ont par
boiled, like a waShela0map's thumb. /
Some of the proprietors Of these works
have provided night schools for the in
struction Of the children in their employ:
but, as rule, they are in mind and body .
alike neglected, and the dcnsest ignor /
ance prevails. They have no home
training, most Of their houses being
locked up all day, the parents and chill /
dren being out at work and returning
home tatigued at night, nothing butbed !
or carousaI in the Fox and Dragon is
acceptable.
"Returning home late, one evening. I
saw two little children, a boy and girl,
lying asleep upon doorstep, which
proved to be that Of their own home.
On waking them they told me they
were waiting for their mother to come
out of the neighboring tavern and open
The door They had no father, and had
been hard at work all day. The boy
worked in forge, the girl in a foundry,
md his mother in iapanning factory,
md though thus separated all day, there ,
seemed no bond of affection to bind t
hem when they met together. {
"West Of Dudley is strange, wild Z
'egion, known as the mailing district !
of scattered hamlets, to all q
he houses of which is attached what :
ppears to the stranger blacksmith's u
hop. The manufacture of wrought
ails is, and has been for century or
nore, the great staple industry of the
istrict. It's carried on by the nailers !,
n their own houses. In few trades of o
he district does the employment of wo-
len and young children assume a more "
Objectionable form than in this. The
'omen seem to have lost all trace of the
lodcsty Of their sex, and from child
ood are addicted to swearing, smok- n
lg-resembling as far as possible the
ther sex in their habits and deport-
lent, even to the wearing of the coarse
annel jackets. They mostly marry II,
cry young, often at fourteen, and sell
ON later than eighteen or twenty. V,
With such women for mothers, it is not
ificult to judge Of their children. n,
rom tenderest ages, often from five to fe
X years, they are trained to that round
labor, in which their lives are doomed
be spent. The first stage is blowing W
e bellows and next they are taught
forge the smaller kinds of nails.
"The hours of labor are dreadfully vc
'olonged, often exceeding sixteen ir
'urs per day; the rate of remuneration
very low, and the homes are conse-
lently wretchedly poor Entering one sp
them lately, | saw the father mother :
ID eight sons and daughters, all toiling
an ill-ventilated dirty hoyel. 1t was vo
owing late in the evening, and | in
tired, is it not time to cease your
US work.? oh, noa, maister,' re- ou
ned the mother we've anoits work sn
oro us yet, or thcre'lI be no bread o !
e loaf O. Sunday 1t was Friday
ght, and it was, as I learnt, practice
work from Friday morning until Sat
day afternoon, without having more
an short snatchcs of rest for meals.
hile fingered, little fellow, who n
uld not have been more than eight, rs
from his work apparently exhausted, an
4 L., p,tl, II, - Il