Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-10-30
New England Mill-Girls. Farmers and
Mechanics

David McCrea. Scotchmin. in 4 com.
munication to the Glasgow (ScotlanD Her.
AID of the 22i August. has the foilo~ ing 1
estimate of New England prosperity and /
character
Travelling through New England. with /
its busy centres OF population. It's white /.
wooden spires, and its numberlcss white ,
farm-houses ;pecking the landscape, the eve
is everywhere delighted with tho evileace
oi universal comfort and prosperity. In
some places looked about in vain for any
people wearing the appearance of oar work
ing and laboring classes at home.
/ went out one day from Boston to see
the mills at Lawrence, where 500 girls
are employed. | saw thousands 81 th,.n a.
their work, but could scarcely realize that
this va, ;hrir daily aud hourly ayoeat.On.
From the nratness OF ;heir attire, from their
gentcel appearance" their manners. their
thougariul and Intelligent looks, should
have t1ken them 90 be Young ladies' OF the
middle class who hai merely come t. trv
their hands as ainrteurs. | could not bat
contrast them wi!h IA, poor nil girls at
home that We see st meal hours swarmiBg
ia orr streets, buehealci ani haTeiopted
even IN wet and frosty weather These
girls a, Lawrence aud Lowell earn from
eigh, to ten and half dollars a week-an
average OF about thirty shillings-1f which
they pay about third for board. ia the
comfortable houses provided for them
They dress we'll. a. all Amer ans do. aud
yet accumulate money IN the savings bank.
As much a. s2s 500 was banked by the
Lawrence girls on one monthly pay day -
They are all educated. Many OF them con.
tinue to attend evening classes, and some
OF them take lessons in French and music
They have Gin Lawrencct library and free
reading room at the mill. | went into one
OF their libraries and found catalogue OF
7 5000 books 1900 Of which are out. In
the reading room found all the principal
papers. one OF them French To see these
girls coming IN thousands from tho mills at
six O'Clock, many OF them with books in
their band. YOU would imagine them TO be
congregation OF ,oung ladies coming from
a meeting One visitor who went 10 see
the sight. waited till the stream va rl,t.
and then said, "bui where are the mill
girl,?7
was struck With this superiority in the
condition and status OF the working classes
all over New Eng Speaking OF itone
lay to DIR Hopkins. Of Northampton, Mass.
on whom | was calling. be said. 4 will
show you an illustration Of it re took
the TO his ~indow and said. pointing across
the road. do you see that white house =.
moug the ireesH looked and saw gen
ieel looking house with It's green lattices.
its vcrandah adorned with creeping plants.
and it, orchard. That belongs to the
blacksmith" sAid ths Doctor "iIe owns
his house and occupies IL. tie shoes my
horses. and lives there like gentleman. as
he Is
do you see that house beyond, hc con
inued that one with the large portieo?- p
There the carpenter stays; snd the house
aud all that ground where you see the trees
are his own. II there are any reps,rs 70 be
attended 10 about my blinds. or shutters. or
uoodwork anysbcre. be comes and attends
60 hem lie Is working man. .aborer.
sul yer gentleman L,oor here. - said
'le Doctor. is honorable. and ihe r.,. 4al
,,r ON bic hs1i O, mae' things generally
. e. oo BEST s.l .e1a s-,,f crs get
COOS
o. 'a.d m. ..t. .p . .a.y d. .-oJ hou
ibe South was on visit 10 him, bc ssid ht