Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-11-14
The Girls al LoweII-what n New Yorker
Knows About Them.

ine -wasss paid to fer.,l are stated to |
average SO go H. So 70 p1f week, clear ol
board. Feeling much interested 10 this
branch of the manufacturing interest, lasked
an alderman, who politely took time to show
me through tic mills, and answer many
questions as to the financial and social con-
duion of the female operatives. He simply
pointed 10 the different women as we passed
Them. and asked HDo they look worked
down. cOusumptive, dowH-trcdden ~ and
on Friday Of the fair, when the factories were
closed he pointed tl the thousands oil gayly
and neatly dressed girls with happy laces
and healthy orms, and asked tue same
question. Their appearance was In every
Instance a direct refuation.ol the silly rant OF
demagogues. He said that most OF them work
ed by the lob or piece, that the amount they
made depended in great measure on their
own switnCss and diligence. "lrs all
nonsense about their being woraed TO deathi
a great many of them get through by five
O'Clock, and then quit for the day. They
save from one dollar TO three dollars per
week OF their earnings, as you see our savings
banks report an aggregate amount Of deposits
of AZ 600 OO0 Occasionally they get tired
of working, and will rest awhile, living on
their sayings. | have known dozens OF them
who saved up enough 10 buy themselves
little cottages when they married, thus be-
Ing independent of the corporation TAX ior
rent"
An have heard many tales OF Lowell girls,
or their (relics and gavety; | asked, "What
are their morals y" "Well, you know
human nature is human the world over, and
IL is no better here than elsewhere; but do
not believe there can be found another
locality in the world where there ale so
many females where so little immortality exist
They will laugh and joke, but 1t IS death TO
them among their companions and relatives
10 90 beyond the point of good morals.
Then and there ends Their chance for marry
ing. / venture you will not ind the same
number OF working people OF the same grade
of intelligence anywhere" OF a member oil
the Common Council asked the same ques-
lion. He replied: "My experience is thai
the girls here are iar more moral lhan 10
Boston or New York. Nearly all OF then
have fathers or brothers, and they dare moi
20 sstray Tor lear of being caught. by sorl
Of sociai rule among themselves, think the
standard OF morals is higher than usua
among such masses OF humanity. have
been a member of the Common Council lo
over fourteen years and l do not know Of {
single assignation house IN the city.
Taking with bevy OF brght-eyed, healthy
looking girls, asked them II they coull saw
any money at their small wages. "Yes, sir
that we do" "You dress well doesn'
il cost YOU all you make p' mo, sir W,
make our own Clothes" "Why, l though
you were worked so hard.hat you had NJ
time Of your own" "No, sir Nan, iher
makes two dollars a day, and she neve
works before seven or after five o'clock, anl
nct many of us do; then we take our restln
snells and visit around" "Bul don't YO
lose your places In the factory for that 2
"No, we generally arrange for some grl L
take Ouy places, and ii IS very seldom the
are not willing TO take back smait quic
girl whom they know" l was surprise
in various conversations with these girls L
And them well educated, using the best Eng
lsb, and frequently well veTsed in the bel
literature. One gentleman told me that I'll
Irish element was rapidly coming in, and, !
his opinion, was not an improvement. Il
stated that in combating the smallpox, tn
health boards found no trouble in the Amer
can quarters, but in Irish neiglboihoods
was discouraging. Tue eincrease ofchurche
ia another evidence OF this Celtic II
vasion. The Irish are not so ne
or quick as the American girls, and are muC
more quarrelsome.
The wages paid 10 males per day is ST.
TO 81, exclusive OF board. ! have gOl
through nearly all the mills, and have ma
the condition Of the workmen and the lab
question particular point Of inquiry al
study. ! saw no work that would "gril
out the lite of the young chld"-in ia'
nearly every young child l saw was
school. My observations and inquiries "
moi made under the frowns Of an "avariciO
emplOyer;" the superntendenls said TO n
go whtre you please; ask any question y
desire OF foreman OF employee, whether
be male or female; ii you desire any into
nation they cannot give, come 10 me-" Tn
was shown into and through numbers
the Corporation" houses, where the c
ployets live and board; | saw the whl
system OF management in all lis details.
saw in no pluci any evidences Of oppressil
no necessity tor the protection OF the
maid or OyerwoTked laborer from the exl
tions Of avaiice;" but l found cleanline
thnn, industry, and as much, in fact, l thi
more, happiness than ] ever before S
among the same number Of the labor
class. The only grumblers about p
wages and long heuIs were those nOtorou
lazy.-N. Y. II fibUne.