Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-07-27
New York Shop iirls-NIiseries and
Mysteries of Sewing Women.


A correspondent of the Watchman and
Reflector is presenting some pictures OF life
among the low!y in New York, some of
which are enough to cause any friend of
humanity to weep as well as tremble, in
view of the temptations to which thousands
of the innocent but unfortunate are exposed:
Last week l gave description of the every
day life of one of the thirty thousand sew
ing girls of New York. I shall this week
present another picture-a different phase
of the same sad life-for the contemplation
! Of the philanthropist and the Christian.
One day last winter there came into my
Office young girl whom had known when
| she was little child, light hearted and
happy, on her fathers farm in New Jersey.
Misfortune overlook her father, and she was
eventually left an orphan. Having an uncle
in New York, she came here to live. They
were in good circumstances, and made Min
ME welcome but few months later the
uncle was led into speculation, and lost
everything he had. In this position of af-
fairs Minnie sought for employment, and
found it; but such employment. She came
to me, having learned my whereabouts, to
solicit aid. She was now eighteen years old
and remarkably beautiful. 1t was piteous
to listen to her story.
81 get up at six o'clock" in substance,
"dress myself in the cold eat mouthful of
something-little enough there is to eat
and hurry to the shop. We are not allow
ed to warm ourselves by the fire, no matter
how cold or wet we may be- and all day
long am shivering. My work is making
paper bags, at thirty five cents thousand
"And how many can you make in day ~
"One thousand, when l work hard"
Thirty-fve cents for whole day of hard
labor in a cold room, surrounded by girls
who are prohibited strictly from conversing
with each other, and among whom it is a
grave offense to look out of window OF
stand moment by a stove.
"The first day / was there" said Minnie
81 felt so bad that / couldn't keep from cry
ing and when turned and spoke to the gir
who worked next to me, she started in af
fright, and made no answer. The overseel
of the room is a cross man, and he came and
told me TO go home if l wanted to talk
, they didn't allow any Cabling there"
! Iput on my overcoat and walked will
Minnie to the shop where she worked, tC
see for myself. 1t was long, barren room
on the fourth story of the building, with {
} chilly air upon it that sent shiver through
. me. II was about noon time-a little afte
and the overseer Glanced to be away
J About q score of girls from ten to fifteer
years of age, were seated a. long tables
with piles of brown paper and pots of past,
before them. Great was their astonishmen
: when took my place at Minnie's side t.
watch her work, for there was n card on the
door which said positively no admittance
. These faces were, without exception, saC
/ and sickly, and they bent over their worl
with weary air that touched me almost t,
E tears ''
The most expert of these girls is able Il
: earn about three dollars a week, was told
Q many earn less. None Of them pay less thai
9 three dollars week for their board. How
t then, do they live How clothe themselves
!" Can you unriddle this puzzle3 Good me-
G and women are shuddering over it ever
III dGay. 'f .......4.
n lit was Minnie's misfortune that she ha
e never been taught to work. How could he
parents have fOreseen her destiny l sough
n long in vain to find her employment NOR
a remunerative, in which she was capable Q
4 engaging. While thus seeking, heard fror
A her occasionally First there came the piles
h SAINT tidings that the cross overseer treate
Q her with especial kindness-spoke to he
!. cheerfully, and gave her the lightest wor
, to do that the place afforded.
p She was so gladGened by this, In the il
e nocence of her heart And then, not lon
l. after, came another word he had grossl
}. insulted her. and when she repulsed hin
d had turned her from the shop with curse
,r Does my reader understand what all tn
Ie means2 I have related the incident only
q illustrate, as modestly as may be, the peri
r which beset the shop girl. -r
d You will fail Of realizing the ghastline
,e of this subject, if you lose sight of the fat
bf that those who suffer thus and are temple
,e thus who lead life of friendlessness, on
er exchangeable for drearier horror of hung
ID and cold, and exhaustive toll, the relea
O. from which can be bought but with deaf
H. or shame--are vast army in numbers.-
IN There are thousands who want even for Il
ty miserable privileges of such toll as l ha'
tried to picture--who perish by the wa
d. side, year by year. No night passes ov
d. your head that does not cover with its dar
lis ness some poor girl wandering the stree
n, of Nex. York hungry, weary, friendless, U
b /; terly forlorn; who has no refuge but
,g give herself into the hancs of policema
Is, 70 be taken 70 the station.house, that 81
be may sleep on its bare floor. in company wi
n thieves, drunkards, and shameless ones
gs both sexes. Much attention is of late bell
lie directed to the subject Of woman's rights,
Al