, 1874-06-28

liable to spoil mateIial and waste great deal,
they will have to work from four to
eix weeks Tor no pay, In order to learn. They
are a1so informed that it will bo IN imperative
necessity for them to have pair Of pliera and
pair Of nippers which the obl'ging ~ proprietor
furnishes for 81, dead cash; the same can be
Iought 50 per cent less at any retail hardware
store. The girls work on for perhaps month,
aud perhaps for shorter period,-as girls are
taken to learn every day.-and etold that there
ia no in trying to learn the art as they never
can make anything at it, for they are too slow.
The idea is to get the labor for nothing,-not
that the young ladies' are any more backward
than any Others to learn. By the above subter-
fuge all the work of busy season is accon-
pliAhed By paying one or two experienced hands
from SO to 315 per week.
I hare the statements Of scores Of girls who
lave praoticed self-d.nial, almost starved, and
worked for nothing.-hoplng that they we're
gaining an occupation by which the hungry
wolf was to be kept from their doors; but
who, aftor long patient apprenticeship, now
find that the want ia not for skilled labor. but
for
GIRLS TO LEARN.
There are women who have retired from busi-
ness, prominent Christian members Of soc!ety,
counted as the very classification OF modesty,
Christian vfrtue, and honesty. whose elsgant
dresses and glitteriug jewefry represent the
filched earnings, the heart-aches. and the ruin
alton and downfall OF God only knows how
many women. Can it be that are really in
Christian land? Can We wonder at the Com
munistic feeling that is gaining ground with the
lowest orders Of society, in every city IN tho
countrv7 Just no long as We pocket 9 profit Of
from 800 10 400 per cent (which ls the caae,
find In one instance) on honest toll, ne can only
hope to COW the seeds Of anarchy, con,
fusion and perhaps bloodshed. Let us Try and
do better.
NEXT ARE THE sTnAw-sEwERs,
who fare but very little better than their Sis
ter-Eaborers. Like the framo-makers, they have
to serve an apprenticeship, but receive pay from
the start, though as they are sometimes sub
jected to petty fines, and being necessarily SLOW
workers from their ine1perience, they lind,
after trial Of about month"; that the. have
not made enough to pay ths very hznAll sum
necessary for their board at some extremely
obliged to pat,onize. II many deductions are
made and much fanlt found, tho girl becomes
disguised, quits her place. Inquiries for work It
similar establishments, frds out business IL
Of them. aud turns her attention towards
some other occupatioo or, II she be distressed
for money, her steps often tend to thas broad
road 30 fatal to virtue and human happiness.
When she starts on her downward path, she finds
every ones hand lifted againsther finds herself,
necessarily, .antagonized to and By her own sex,
from her former grievances suffered 1t their
hands, and from their hostility to her in this the
hour Of her downfall. Before women de-
spise aud spurn one or these, let
can We blame her. considering her many
wrongs? Cannot We, ~ Christian members OF
society, inquire in the future, into the causes Of
this sad slate Of affairs. and try and correct
them? Cannot all momhers OF society, male
and female, ask self somo pertinent questions
touching their 1uty7 II there be just God,
trust that speedy and severe punishment may
befall the oppressor Of honest industry; and,
with tho help and sanction Of tho Christian COM
mnnity, hope soon to see some OF the greater
evils corrected. The poorer working community
desire bread and honest employment t--moro prac-
tical Christianity and fewer traets: Hungry peo-
pie want bodily needs supplied fist, and then
you can talk tract aftaTward.
Next come
TIE ACTUAL M1IL1SE!s,
who are composed OF all kinds of people and
others in 7-bY-9 shops on by-streets. They, as
class are more honorable than somo OF the es-
tabiishments that furnish frames, flowers, etc.,
for the trade. The apprentice byetem. OF course,
is carried on to great extent, and think is moro
onprcssiye in the tirst-class establishments. Is
rule, than in the other grades. The general term
of apprenticeship in most OF the hrst-class estab-
lishments Is sl1 months without compensation,
and ak months st quite low wages. But II the
shop 10 large one, and is driven with work,
the proprieto1b advertise for "girls to learn, -
the inevitable dodge OF every branch in the
line. aud soon have their shop filed with
smiling, good-looking lot Of glrls, VINO from
their singing, one would be almost iea to oe1e7e
vere indeed happy. But am sorry to say that
such is not tho rule Many of those girls go to bed
nightly with tired bodies, and ofstimes with
empty stomachs. but looking forward with
hopes for q brighter future. Alas for human
e1pectationsl how often they prove delusive; s
That .tiu consequence OF the dulness OF the
times," etc.. their services
MUST BE DISPENSED WITH.
In ONO moment the hopes Of months are dtsHl-
poted and the time lost in learning is often lost
establishments, that business is conducted on
precisely the same principle. So perhaps they
seek and obtain employment--often after
weeks Of idleness-in some smaller shop,
rhere they employ less 'girls to learn $ and
finally find themselves practical trimmers, or
what is denominated ''good shop-belp." Should
the girl be Of French origin, or cultivate a
French accent, she is employed BY some large
establishment as real French artiste at
Sometimes Us high as e1oo per month.
nut. where one reaches this pinnacle, ninety
nine fail to bo anything more than "good' or
1ordinsry sbop-help." French ladies' are pre-
ferred TO American as first-class trimmers, as it
is supposed that they are more tasty and polite
49, H-AAS@'At
NAV be correct, though cannot see why Amer
ican ladies could not cultiyate the dame traits.
But. Is tho proprietors consult the tastes OF
their customers, the fanlt, If any. Lies in that
Now. as Ihare spoken for the workers. let
ma nut in word for the prop1iotors. Although
hirh prices are charged at drst-class places, yet
THERE Is no UNFA1RSEss,
taking into consideration their expenses for
rents. clerk-hire, style. the pay ct one or more
frst.ciass artistic trinmorR. and the capricious-
ness Of some Of their customers; and no sum
within bounds would compensate, sometimes,
for the trouble and ye1Ation experienced from
their actions. 1 lady calls st ono Of our leading
milline1v-sto1ae, and states that she is desirous
of purchasing bonnet. She is shown the vari-
Gus STYLES, and faally decides upon what she
wants, and says that, 50 she is going cut Of the
city in day or two she wishes to have her bonnet
By the next day at 5 P. N. The obliging sales
woman promises, IN order to accommodate mar,
that it will be forthcoming at the appointed
hour Surely enough, at the appointed hour.
our LADY, arrives e1amines the bonnet. tries it
on. takes an admiring glance at herself in the
mirror from different positions, and not only
Dronounces it superla:ivoly handsome, but
actually saJs that she wa8 never better satisfied
in her life. She Of eourse pays 4 good round
a7ro for' the bonnet, aud departs But, a.Ae