New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-18


THEY COST.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass, June 16.-There are
many reasons why the experiment just begun, Of the
introduction OF Chinese labor into the shoeshops OF
Massachusetts, IL especially interesting IL Is the des-
perate Of the manufacturers against the growing
and unbearabe exactons OF the knights Of st. Crispn
the formidable combination of labor ever formed in
Massachusetts gland and the strongest In the
country except cOaminers OF Pennsylvania. IL
serious check IL checkmate, TO the hopes OF that
Order which had begun 10 count ON having ehtlrs COLI
troll Of the shOetrade OF the country IL brings face 10
face labor which commands from g 10 Sc a day,
and labor wholly content with 10 cents day
and bunk in barrack. And, moreover, 10
ia the first real attempt TO bring the over
flowing population Of China into contact with American
civilization in its best form. The Chinese in Califor
mia under protest. they all "John;" they taxed
out Of existence they pelted In the streets they
demOrazed by prostitution they condemned with
out hearing. In New-Engand il Is "Mr Sing"
hearty handgrasp is given them, the children run To-
teach them 10 read English the sundayschOo teachers
prepare make converts OF them, and they would bo
welcomed as voters in the town meeting tomorrow.
Jean and Pierre and Patrick and Bridget look at them
frowningy and declare that their coming will be tho
ruin of a place which has stood class Of Immigration
so well but the Berkshire Yankee is quite willing to put
his civilization the e-t of assmiang thefn ana ~
quite sure that kind treatment on the basis OF pereco
equality will have with All My very different result
An inspection Of the cheerful little colony just estao-
ished in the factory II Mr. Calvin Sampson certainly
produces different impression from that recel'en w
accounts from California or China itself The quarters
provided for the strangers filed with young men on
small stature all chattering in tongue which seems O
have no syllables all smiling in superabundance or
good spirits and good nature and all neat az wax it
seems impossible that these be the class who built
the Pacific Railroad, slender and light a. they are with
faces sparkling with intelligence and hands smaller anu
more delicate than those Of the average OF American
women. And indeed they are not a fair average OF
Chinese laborers for Mr. Chase Nlr. samp>ons agenD
obtained picked men from company OF two thousand,
selected especially for their quickness and adaptation o
business requiring skin and Intelligence. But 1t giyesa
novel and agreeable impression to New Englander 10
see party of emigrants freshly arrived on American
soil employing their first days Of rest not in smoking
and drinking, quareling sleeping but Ia read
ing diligently books in their own language IN "ritns
diaries i'm blank they have brought for the purpose,
in studying arithmetic with their national "sum-doing
machine OF beads wires, and in learning to read ana
speak English with eagerness almost paimm IN
its intensity OF application. Remind BerAShfo
man that these are Pagans, representing
nation cursed with peculiar vices, with no con-
ceptlon of republican ideas, and he points You trin-
phantly to Mr. Ali Sing, the leader OF TINS COMPANY
who after eight years in California wears the garments
of our civilization down 10 his boots speaks rcas an"
writes English is courteous and dignihed IN manner,
philosopher is entirely confident Of bringing every one ot
these strangers up to Mr.. An Sings standard IN mnh
less than eight years and that accomplished VIII oe
quite ready them into his church OF into s pario
But the first great question to be answered.
in regard to these men, not whether they will become
Christians and American citizens but whether they en
learn 20 make shoes. There manifestly Nv" dlh'-
ties in the way. To be taught they must have INSTRUCTOR"
and the CrIspIs whole attack against tis
point striving brighten and bride away the shocmakes
vho conn hero tn tsarh
measures against them. But there are men Of pluck and
independence enough Massachusetts, IN the shoe
making trade resist these methods OF persuaon ana
think Mr. Sampson will be able to induce them to siay
with him Then il is easy teach apprentice %
elaborate and nice operation as botomnga shoe when
10y his ignorance Of the language he becomes inaecc
sibe by words if he were deaf ana dumb Every thhS
must he done by example, nothing by prnoepi the SIM
pest question cannot be understood, the brefest eNp3
nation cannot be given. But with proyerbaiiy
apt at imitation, with eagerneSs 10 learn on one
side and patience in teaching the other even this ob-
stace diminishes materially; and manufacturer who
has instructed body of FTenchmen 10 make shoe he
they could speak English sentence only to see
them captured quickly by the 'rspln order,
need not shrink at the task of educating Cinnamon. A.
to the facility of the hands, there can be no
question whatever They det OF motion and keen II
sight to begin with They not appalled, 10y the inri-
caces Of machinery They learn slowly enough never tn
forget what they have acquired They are ready IN
correcting mistakes pointed out. As write, the
first learners have been engaged but few hours %
being thought expcdient, with the limited force of n-
structOrs at Mr. Simpsons command TO teach but
few at a time. and let the rest gather from
them more gradually what they have gained.
But already has undertaken that most
delicate and difficult Of machines, the begging machine,
an operator OF which is very and can command
high wages and has made marvellous progress in con-
trolling its devious and peculiar notion which requires
the hands and foot and eyes TO be all on the alert
Another has lasted SHOE after seeing several com
peted by the instructor and except slight lmrer-
lection in rounding has turned credItabo
piece of work Any familiar with the business can
testify that these are nice and difficult operations,
requiring long practice and close study the part of
apprentice Of whatever color especially in fire work Of
the grade that Mr. Sampson does not coarse brogans,
but elegant shoes for ladies' wear
details To the terms OF the contract which Mr..
SIMPSONS agent made in san Francisco with the com
mission house acting for Chinese laborers
pete this hasty letter. seventyhye men engaged.
foreman 10 keep them in order aud up 10 their work,
provide for their needs and command them generally,
at 500 month and two cooks who act also eounseors
and advisors being OF rank and experience at the
wages OF lsborers, are all the non-producing mem
beers company. The rest will all stand at the bench
and make shoes" They will receive SO month each
the first year, and s6 month the rest OF the three years
they bound to stay. In addition TO this and 20 tho
expense OF bringing them here, Mr. sampson supplies
the neat IOr their cOOhlhg thci uuhhr, IdhBtu III
four about the distance Of ordinary sleeping
car and furnished with mattresses All the
rest the men themselves provide, boarding them
selves according TO their own taste and
fancy. Tie employer has advanced money
to furnish them with hats, Undertaking, stocLngs,
dishes Though most OF these they brought with then
and cotton cloth for various uses but this is TO be
worked out" and deducted from the first wages paid
II any Chnaman dies, his bones to be sent home ny
express II is not experiment to be eheapy tred "
course; but 1t is not costly would be Imagined.
Mr. Sampson determined TO sink $4,000 necessary, in