The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-27

IL
as Well as q Shirt"
II ''nans inhumanlty to man makes countless
thousands mourn his indifference TO the trials ana
hardsnips OF the poor and weak OF the other sex
produces widespread misery and Is fur more repre-
hersibe. The Icy philosopher who stops TO look
with disian upon the aged and decrepit woman
who wanders about streets, worn, wearled,
shattered ana penness, after lie of industry and
frugality. who stretches forth her hand for his
paltry aims little considers how her fate hes been
. struggle for the merest existence and how her
tedious years nave been rendered fruitless by the
cupldity OF INSCRIPTIONS employers. He would not
only cOuntenance the injustice, but deny her the
feeble comfort contained in strangers pittance.
This is the natural result coming from the pound Of
cure rather than The ounce OF prevention And thus
charity, inculcated by the religious as duty, yet
used by the unfortunate willing refuge becomes
responsible for the ills which lie at the root OF nus
tice.
1t Is to remove the unjust customs which cypress
and degrade the working women of New York, and
not to inaugurate and support nighsoundinQ chari-
ties instituted relieve them. that constitutes the
basis OF all true philanthropy, and embodies the
only principle that should be written as humane
Justice. They do not implore luxury and idleness;
they demand equity and fairness. They do not sue
for and elegance; they satisfied with fair
pay and cleanliness. They do not seek even for
equality with men, but they do feel that all the ave-
nues Of labor should be open to their industry and
that all facilities should be extended for their sue
cess. Wnai tribe 10 sought, what task to accom-
plish
Ever since this island has been growing denser
N its population this problem OF female labor
has been crystaizing into a more innexible mass.
Swelling with The large influx OF country girls, and
increasing with the inp0urng OF immigration the
female labor community has at last grown to such
proportions, that restitution and general pectniary
distress accompany any and every prostration Of
trade. Out OF such sunrerings come oil species OF
benevoence until at last 1t is considered that home
less girls, frendless orphans and bereaved widows
ahOuld be placed IN institutions and left to solve the
future OF their own helpless lives IN ldleness. Too
much Ut0pan Is this because 1t Is purely charitable.
What the working women require 10 opportunity,
and not alms and let this once be understood and
the efforts Of interested people combined, can yet
be made to lift up this essential portion Of the body
polite to the level wncre It belongs
TENEMENT PENS.
How is 1t ut this hour over every inch OF ground in
this city where working women can be foundp They
live in nasty tenement houses, often IN cellars.
Their quarters are generally unfit Tor human haba-
ton. Badly lighted poorly ventilated II clear air Ii
accessible at all, their situated in pools OF
f0ulness where every impurty is nurured and
where every vice lourishes. The home accommo
datons are scanty. A dirty and carpetess floor; q
stained, patched and dingy wall; low anc smoky
ceiling; rickety bed, with meagre coverings;
broken down stove second hand cooking
utensils, and furniture to correspond-these
make up the inventory OF the most INDUS
triOus. Often in quarters Of such limited
space not TO nave sufficient area for one per-
son whole families live breed and die. Amid such
misery as this dwell those who are accounted the
most successful In the minor fields Of labor But
what squalOr and poverty surround those VINO are
driven by the savage masters OF avarice into hooks
and corners OF novels where hogs would be uncom-
Sortable Yet such Is not an overdrawn picture OF
the actual sunerings that may be witnessed any
Of widows and young girls who have manly to de-
pend upon the fruits OF their labor.
REMEDY.
And what is the remedy2 This has often been
asked. The reply is simple. Give 10 women the
wages they can and do earn; allow them hours that
viii enable them TO attend to their household affairs
30 as to obtain neatness and cleanliness; provide
good and comfortable buildings in healthy situations
where rooms can be rented at moderate prices. and
the result will then depend upon their virtue and
Industry; and the $4,000 working women Of New
York viii not disappoint the most sangune expecta-
lions. The fall trade, now about over, has not been
what was expected, and the work for the holidays
does not promise much The consequence is that the
winter will be unusually severe, and thousands
upon thousands will be driven to the last ditch. In
the season of prlyation and suffering coming there
can be no doubt that great many can be relieved
by charitable workers yet the majority can better
be supplied by opportunities for employment. What
ever is DONE the prospect may well appai the most
Indifferent There never many women in
the city, ana never so many helpless to supply the
most ordinary wants OF dally life.
INEQUALITY OF MALE AND FEMALE WAGES.
Among those who have plenty to do the compen
Bation il pary. the following table VIII show the
prices now being paid for male and female labor as
Tor as they can be relatively CLASSIFIED:
Po GEEK, Per Week,
,nots. ftg,atsi.
Artificial flower makers. .................. g 90