, 1874-04-05

sewing-women and pay the profits OF the manu-
factu1er directly into their hands. hazard tns
prophecy that except in few rare cases,
IT WILL NEVER Be ZONE,
even to gain the crown with the conditions OF
whose bestowal Mrs. ". seems SO faDthar-
The selfish and indolent will not do it; and the
women who have brains to think, and hearts to
feel, aud hands to work, ind full scope for them
all without entering upon 80 doubtful an under
taking. II scwing-girl needs work, it il -
easy for her to seek It at private houses as a.
factories.
There is no such thing as etfectual help for
thoso who will not help themselves. The work
ing men and women OF to-day have the sanao
chances OF becoming capitalists that the present
capitalists had in their time. They rose tIoEu
the ranks BY virtue of the same qualities which
vii! always raise men aud women. ...
Not from without; but from within, must come
the only ehectcai help. ANNIE II. HALE.
The Sewin2-Maclaine Not q Curse, but
Blessing.
To the Editor qf The Chicago Tribune:
SIR: Mrs. Nynkoop, in her letters in your
paper, e1erts a great influence smong larss
class Of working people, and I do not believe
she would wish that influence to be other than
good :; yet, by giving vent to hastily-fozmed
conclusions, at variance with known facts, We
arc apt to injure the cause We striyo for, by d.
recting the gaze from the real tc an imaginary
cause Of our trouble.
In her article Of the goth ult., she asserts that
multiplied sewing-machines have reduced tile
pay for sewing, ard that sowlng-nlachinos hayo
become curse.
Iapprehend that close study OF facts wauld
show that the earnings Of sowing women have
been Affected, if at all not so mach by machines
as other causes. The increase in the amount OF
sewing done is almost, if not quite, cqu:l to tho
increased facilities for doing it; aud thnus&nds
ct stitches, per capita, are taken to-day whore
there was but one prior to the advent OF ma
chimes and there appears to be no greater cut
than in tho days Of thanksgiving. Nor does it
appear that wages ware any larger Than Tcm
Hood wrote those immortal lines
With fingers weary aud worn,
With eSelids heavy and red,
4 woman sal, In unwouanly -sc1,
Plying her uead1s and thread
And what are Its waees7
A bed Of straw,
crus. Of bread-and ragsI
An old lady at my albow, who WAS left pom
niless widow in 1886, with seven children. the
Oldest being but Il year, OF age, tells me that
the pay for sewing to-day is not whit less than
when she was a young woman, and ''stitched,
stitched, stitched" for eight months; that, it
there is any difference, 1t il in favor Of the pres
eut; and, assure you, sho knows whereof sne
speaks.
Compare the figures Flannel shirts. cents:
check shirts, cents; overal3s, 6 cents; and
for double breasted oveccoat, with body and
skirts lined and wadded, taking two to three
IS cents. These were the prices which
prevailed twenty to forty yeaTs ago; and any old
lady who has survived tie nsedle-Ioiil can VoIc!l
for their correctness. It ia hard to see where
fact ia, the price OF need1ework has been down
to starvaton-paint 30 long that the momor5 0:
man runneth not to the contrary" and these
who labor in that field, having little time to