The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-12-14
The white slaves OF New England.


The following truthful picture of the white
slaves of New England is from the pen Of
Miss Jennie Collins:
The girls who work in factory are never
aloue-alvays in a crowd, conversing or work
ing, always i'll fear of observation; sleeping in
crowded apartments eating at a crowded Ia
Die, entering the mills at a crowded doorway
and seeking recreation on streets which are
crowded with their companions. In this con-
course are persons of every grade and shade of
character, all of whom are necessarily the as
sociates of each person who enters the employ
OF the corporation. The girl who enters the
factory AZ an operative is always called to the
agents desk and directed to sign the ''regnla.
ton paper, by which she binds herselfi in con.
tracts, the import OF which is Ms unmeaning
and mythical to her are the army regula-
tons to newly recruited soldiers. She nav
not, and in nearly every case does not. know
that she binds herself to do whatever the ngent
demands, or pay forfeit. But she is educa-
ted into her slavery 10y degrees, as accident of
opportunity calls her attention to the long roll
OF bylaws aud rules. She rises at All ently
hour III the morning at the imperative call Of
the second bell And, after dressing her.
self in the most hurried manner, and with
scarcely time to brush her hair and to wash
her face-which is done in the general wash.
room near the dining.rcom-she PUSHES with
the crowd TO the table where the coffee has
been poured ont and the biscuit distributed
for the hasiy meal. She swallows the coffee
In hurried draughts, snntches n few mouthfuls
OF bread, and with rs little breakfast ms she
has appetite, jumps from the table TO don her
hat and shawl. Then in the rushing, pushing.
joking, shouting multitude she is carried
along to the factory. Crushing up the stair.
way, dividing on the landings. spreading
through the building, the mass Of human ma
chinery moves to It's station. aud she finds
herself at the last stroke of the warning bell
near The loom, the dresser, OF the flyers.
Slowly the belts begin to turn upon the pul.
leys, family sounds tho roar of the wheels be-
low, aud faster, louder. stronger, move the
dizzy wheels about her, until Mt last, with n
rattle and hum, the whole mechanism of tho
great factory bursts into eloquent activity.
Then with lively steps and nimble fingers sbe
applies herself to her arduous task. As the
hours pass on her appetite comes, and she
Graves the breakfast which In her haste sbe
did not eat. y, such hunger ms the slow, tan
TALKING minute baud creeps around the face of
the clock. Every inmate is an age The panus
OF hunger become almost unbcarnblo ns tho
hand approaches ''iwoIv"." aud her feet will
hardly sustain her abe flies back aud forth
IN her work. Tue clock strikes twelve. In.
sthhtiy The speed begins to go down, the flyers
the spnkes the belt. knots and shut;Ies prndo.
any 10 show their outlines, and with steady
decadence the whole apparatus signs and starts
as IL dead.
Selling her bonnet and shawl. tho one,o,;vo
joins in the general rush for tho doorway
leaps down the stairs, hastens across the ward
and with the stoslles, show Of ceremony. sssts