The Republican journal., 1869-06-10
THE WORKING WOMEN IN BOSTON. HOW
THEY FARE

TIE FNhC.
Inc following are extracts from some of
the speeches made at the meeting ot the Bos-
ton WOrkmgwOmen's Association.
STARVATION IN WOMAN AND LICENTIOUsNEss
IN MAN
Miss Phelps then called on Mrs. Dr. Setch-
ell, y benevolent looking, elderly lady, for
some remarks. She said the subject of wo-
man has occupied my mind for years I am
4 womans friend, and stand here to-day to
speak something concerning poor working
their disadvantages and it is sub
lect which, for the last ten years, have come in
contact wth-poor, degraded women, many
of them; and why We're they degraded? Be
cause they could not earn enoug gh to pay for
their board. People are 10th to board wo-
men; they say they are to much trouble, and
cannot pay as much as men, will relate an
instance. Some time since a lady came to me
and said: My heart has been almost broken
to-day for the first time for twenty-five years
have been tempted to do wrong. | said why ?
Because / have not a place to lay my head
am a stranger in tho. city and came here
to get work. | went into a shop and though
had topay five dollars a week for my board
| could only get four dollars for my work,
and came out and have been travelling for
several days, ana had day only one small
piece OF bread. | met gentleman in the
street and he said, where are you going?
said | was hunting for work and boarding.
place, He said come with me- and he showed
me room splendidly furnished, and he said ::
You may stop here and I'll pay for your board
said upon what terms-that YOU may come
and visit me. lie said yes that may spend
an evening with you. l said no, sir rAp-
plause.] That is the way that many women
90 astray, because they cannot get anything
to buy their clothes with or pay their board.
And my heart has ached. and | have longed
for this opportunity to speak to the public
through the press. | felt then as if my
soul would burst within me, and said to her.
trust in God and His angels, and q way will
be opened for you. | gave her board and
lodging with myself. Applause. So it is
with hundreds Of thousands, could tell YOU
secrets. And now, friends, fathers. and
mothers, what if that had been one of your
daughters? 1t is time something was done.
When pass out into the evenings, and have
been out Late. my heart bounded when have
heard the resistance of poor girls, saying:
cannot do this wrong! Yet it was necessity
that drove them to that situation. | do not
believe that my sex are so bad-that they
are so sensuous as they of themselves will 90
astray [Appause Very many of the town
ladies, as they are called, have hearts that are
pure, but Ills necessity that drove them to their
course of life and keeps them there. They
feel that their character is gone, and that no
one looks upon them with compassion. Now,
it is time that all females are aroused to the
subject. | am glad that something has COM
menced to be done, and pray Almighty God
that ii may 90 on until there is a home for the
women Of Boston. If some homes were pro-
vided until they could get work, it would be
4 beautiful thing. feel that our race is run
ming out. Many come to me. and | have treated
them for no disease. | only said How do
YOU dress Ct take that tirsD has nobody said
anything to you about it /? They say, No.
treat them then in this respect, and send them
away rejoicing. | am thankful to-day for the
privilege of telling these things, that people
may know them. People may speak disre-
sperttullv Of the girls in the street, as they
pass to their work, but they are innocent; they
are innocent. They come from the country,
and find that they cannot clothe themselves.
and my soul bleeds for them. The lady sat
uow a mnrh affected.
REMARKS OF THE CHAIRMAN
Mr.. Thaver said that he was sorry to have
heard the remarks of Doctre IS Setchel; it
was painful to think that right there in Boston
those things We're so
TERRIBLE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
Mrs Tha yer said that she had q Young lady
friend who, after trying to oct a situation rs
book-keeper, where she was offered two dol
lars a week, went to a Christian man who
employed girls to make overalls. 1t took the
speaker two hours and half to make one of
the garments, and she considered herself q
good sewer, and how much was given to her
friend? Only five cents a piece. She found
that she would have to work twelve or four
teen hours day for her board She could
have got into a basement Kitchen but the
speaker said she advised her not to 90, as
they are very unhealthy, receiving all the bad
malarlous air from the cellar. She then took
her young friend around to several places to
get her situation as a servant in a good
place, but the answer returned was prefer
Irish OF colored girls. Some of the ladies in
the town told q friend of mine said Mrs T.
that they could not take a real decent, good
looking, intelligent Girl in their houses on ac-
count Of their husbands. | have known wo-
man whose flesh on the lower limbs has rot
ted off in consequence of the great amount of
standing in the factories, and I never knew a
factory girl who was able to rear healthy
family. Those who work for a few years are
ruined. | would not advise any girl to 90 in
to a cotton factory and work eleven hours q
day. They might as well commit suicide at
once. There are too many girls in Boston.
If a girl is learned she can become a teacher,
but then she only receives one-quarter what
the men get. IF she is handsome and attract
i've, she can 90 on the stage. A young friend
of mine took that course, and she got S4 q
week, but managers look upon them all as
girls OF the town.
CUTTING DOWN
Mrs. Rogers, IN old woman, said: When
ask a price they always cut me down Eve
~ piece Of work that do they cut me down.
The other day pieced dress all over. |
asked fifty cents and they cut me down TO
twenty-five. | have to work till twelve and
one O'Clock to make my living, and then
have to 90 some days with only a biscuit a
day for the sake OF havinga home of my own,
l like it much better to have home. did
once have a good home-sixteen Yeas ago
and could give away, but now this is chang
ed I.
Mrs. Bigelow-Lades will have a home
when the mighty moneyed power is over
thrown. [Applause.]
Mrs Ellis, middle aged lady, next spoke
She said: The question has been asked, what
do the women expect to do to obtain these lit
tie homes? The person who asked it did not
know the wants and feelings Of the poor
workingwomen, that they toll all day and all
night and get barely enough to keep the breath
of life in them. | am u workingwomanl, and