Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-16
WHITE SLAVERY NORTH.


A writer in the Revolution gives the
following sad picture Of the lite led by
sewing girls and women in New York.
It is unfortunately too true:
OF the thirty thousand women now
out of employment in this wilderness of
q city, twenty thousand are said to be
sewing girls. There are, first, the shop
girls who sit in long rows up and down
the length Of dreary workshops, or piled
in promiscnously in less pretentious
establishments. Then there are the
dressmakers, the cloakmakers, tailor
esses, seamstresses, and takers in of
shop work. A picture of one of the vast
establishments, where shop girls work,
will do for ell the rest. Large, we'll
lighted show rooms, attentive statesmen,
watchful floor walkers, spry little cash
boys--all these will the eager buyers find
in The lower rooms. Down stairs to see
the evening dresses, where brilliant gas
lets fame out to show out the effects up
stairs to see the bargains in cloaks and
shawls; wherever they 60 the same
genial light and soft radiance is thrown.
The work room is very different place
to the show rooms, however. On the
third floor are the first work rooms. They
are large and well lighted, though but
poorly ventilated. The impression upon
one mind is thata breath of fresh air
has not entered that close atmosphere
for long time, and yet the windows are
thrown open every night at sweeping
hour. But one must remember, when
sixty human beings, some of them with
diseased lungs and borrid breath, work
in these rooms ten hours per day, that it
is almost impossible to keep these in
proper condition. These are the lace
workers and muslin fnishers. They pre-
pare those delicate articles of lingerie
which 80 wins ones heart from the win
dow or case where they hang. Infants
robes, babes baskets are thoroughly
prepared here. The girls look tired,
even at an hour before noon. They bend
over shockingly, and nearly all of them
have sore eyes and sorer hearts, poor
things Six dollars a week is the ave-
rage price made here. The majority
only make FIVE. Some make nine. The
fourth floor, one immense room, running
over the whole building from back to
front, and from side to side, is occupied
BY cloak makers. There are four long
: tables down the center of the room, and
smaller ones placed little to the side
Here. during the brisk season, ninety
Eve girls work. Now the number can
not be more than twenty.
The women working here seemed
more cheerful than those on the lower
floor; but they, too, are overtaxed and
allow themselves to die by inches just
because they fancy they are making an
honest livelihood. They average moro
than the muslin workers. Some Of them
can make ten dollars week, but these
are old hands at the business. On the
fifth floor is smaller work room than
either Of the others. II is devoted to
making up plain underwear for ladies
and children. There are about twenty
Eve Or thirty employed here, pale,
wan and sickiy; but strange enough,
more confented with their lot than
those OF either of the floors below.
l asked one old lady, whose age would
surely entitle her TO rest. how she liked
TO work here7 She replied: II thank
God that / can take care of myself in
nay old agel" She is seventy-twc years
Of age, and earns three dollars week.
God help her. could not help wonder
ing how 10 the world she manages to
reach the fifth story with her poor rheu-
matte limbs and feeble strength. As il
divining my thoughts, she said: !" To be
sure. it's good ways up, and have to
come very slowly; but after i once get
here there is rest for me until
night" A little creature of thirteen,
but who looked no more than nine,
was basting hens in a corner. She
was only learning. she said. asd had
been there two weeks. but in fortnight
more she would be paid for working.
Upon asking her how muchf' she an
sTered with proud infection Of voice,
I" Eve dollars q month. The faces Of
the employees throughout this establish
ment generally wore shocked, startled
expression, as IT they were forever on
the rack A great majority seemed 10
he suffering With lung and throat diseases.
Poorly paid. lily clothed and fed, they
20 from one year n another.