Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-09-12
Oycrw orked Children.


HERE Is no SUBJECT OF more vital I'M.
porlance to nation IMAM The rearing OF
the young To perfect development, physl'
cal as well as mental, Unless children
are protected ny good laws rlgidiy en-
forced, tne necessities ana aVaflce OF pa
rents ana caretakerS cohspire TO stunt
thelr CROWN, preak them down, ana pro,
duce II they even I'VE so long MANHOOD
or "omanhood OF disease ana lmpecility.
some countries OF Europe long ago iei'
TINS scourge OF NE, ana health, ana made
statutory provisions to protect lhelr man
hood. lhere may not he the same ncces
slty Tor snch laws IN inns country. nut
'hcre Is thc necessity, ana laws teguia''ng
chlidreh lanor ouShl 10 ue ehacted where
thcy DO not already exist, ana enforced
everywhere. france mas suffered teiFlpIy
from oVerWorkcu chlloren. Inc latest
law OF lhe rehch empire LOT 'he feeula,
tlon OF the Iaoor Oh cH'lurch was passed
IN lS4l' III hAes tRe minimum age NJ
Whlch chl!dron can pe employed AT eight
years-ahu from elght 10 WE'VE their
day work was not 20 eAceeu eIghl hours
IRON thirteen 10 sixteen, Twelve hours'
thudren ohdcr thlrleen, uhuer the terms
OF me law, were not allowed 70 Woik AT
night, ana SUNDAY "ork was Iofoluuen'
ne Ia" ltSeil contained 80 many leaNs
tha' II WouIu iiot holu ahytninE o. lhe
principe lhVolVeu, utterly iaiIeu % l'S
purpose, ana oeca'hca deau iettef. ltCoulu
only oe enforced III WORKSHOPS containing
more than twenty aftizahs, leaving Out
sue Oh ,'s paie 'ne places NheFe the haiu,
est WORK was Inc penalty was ho' lala
On 'he parent puV liie e'ipioyer' anu u"
inspectors were 'l'oluIcu 70 see 'hnt ''s
Ia" was enforced 'his uuty oeIhe imposed
upon other olncers OF the Government
without aodltlohat salaries.
Military STATISTICS 'hro" some Il&ht up
on lhe t'lect OF the Ia" ana Tue extent 10
"hlch france mas suffered from want OF
an opefallve reeuialloh. IN securing w
Ooo conscrlpts III LOT duty IN ven "erlCu',
tural districts, there were 4,o29 reJectea
on account OF physlcal lncapaclty, WINE
IN oolaihihg the same hulnoer lot lle 10,
dustflal departments o,93o were reJscleu
as lhcapaole OF performing mlltaTy uuty.
IN other dlstrlctS "hefe manufacturing ~
almost the exclusive business, i4,4ol were
rejected before lVuoo aoie -Dodied young
men were Obtained In all france IN one
year, out OF 5I1Wo youths VINO appeared
Tor examination, loo,Ouo were fclec'cn
lor leepieness OF constitution, deIcleht
height, or other detects. 50 much ior
the boys Doubtless the girls are equa,iy
weak and stunted by oyerwofk inc
moral nature must also suilef from such
physical defects; 49,,
AT present IN France, children OF nine
years OF age are made to work we've
hours day, without hlndrance, WINE
theIe are llahy instances "heie ehlhrcl
work fourteen hours out Of the twenty.
four.
In views of these facts the French as
semhly has in the midst OF its military
and financial questions taken up the sub
iect OF overworked children, and gone to
work in the right spirit to pass law for
their protection.
tnG', 7, German neighoors. lhe IN" W tn5
oIu Nnttn German ION l ,s PasSt
~ lso', ioroluS me employment " w.
ureh un'ieI 'weIVe ytaIs VI age ~ "un
SHOPS, "hiiG tlle maximum MAXI ,'ou'o VI ,"Dp'
aIS slh unllI 'lic thliu - '''i 49,
go, ann ven untll sih,So" 10 ~ 81 30 40
,'o''sn anu ~, ~, '"t,u ;d,,stry
- p1o AZ thirteen years, !" i.uEl,niG t,I'