Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-03
A WOMAN'S VAIL
For tine Poor Workers whose Toll Is
SO lily BeqUited-The ''Paats"
Maker Finds
No Paradise on Earth and bBt Little
to Cheer a Lot Worse than that
Of the Slave.
To the Editors Of the Appeal.

To the Editors Of the Appeal
Thanks to Ellsworth" Tor taking up the |
cudgel in defense OF working women, but he |
knows not @ ti.he Of the evils which the lily
paid labor he describes infc, on the untor- |
tunAte women. The write was "a Mail |
street clr a short time since, when two gen |
tlemen entered, one young, the o.her middle |
aged. The conversation that ensued between /
the two WIS on The manufacturing interests |
Of the city. The young mau bossled that |
one establishment kept up large number ct
families by employing them 10 MASKING pAniS,
and also That this city could compete With
the cheapest markets IN manufactured Goth
ing. The other gentleman said, Hold NY
young friend, and tell me, are you 2cquaint-
ed with any Of the families which the said
establishment keeps ~ by liz muuihcsntlg
paid-ior pants making" The other ackDoWi-
edged that be was not, bui had taken the
statement Of the manufacturer on lrust-
sWeH, then, said the elder gentleman, I'M
pressiveiy, "go see what ! have seen, and
hear what have heard, aud you will never
again boast Of such work 10 our city"
Some time ago an APFEAL reporter visited
| an establishment doing large msuufactur-
ing business IN clothing, and gave quite a
| rose colorsd account Of the amount OF wages
| that could be earned BY TIE fortunate women
| making pants. The writer having pretty
| fair idea Of what one sewing machine and
one pair Of hands car accomplish, deter
| mined to make herself familiar with the
| subject, and for ina, purpose paid daily
visits for some time 10 strong, energetic
| woman without small children, and aCcus-
| toned to work ali her life. Toe utmOst she
| could accomplish in a week was two dozen
| pairs If pants at g per DOZEN; out Of that
| she had to pay fifty cents for wood 10 do the
] pressing with, and had to work every night
until u O'Clock. Two dozen pairs pants, 81;
wood, fifty cents; balance, 50 so. Think Of
| that, ye merchants, who 80 loiily talk Of
| The number OF Door women whom your en-
ployment supports; but, perhaps, you may
saw we do not ask these women TO
take our work--they coma ia crowds
| for II. Alas, that ia too true; for
the most OF then are widows having
TO take care Of their litile households and b.
father and mother 10 children whom they
want 10 protect from the dangers Of the
world, which the hateful knowledge that
time brings has taught them 10 fear. Society
cannot afford TO igaore the claims OF those
women for Just compensation for their labor,
for they are silently accom- DlishIHg a task
that no legislator or lav-givsr can accon-
pIish, namsly: The trsIniuglup, by WORD and
example, OF goo6, yiStuoss aEd iBdusrions
citizens. IL 1t he true That the family is the
buIwark Of the State, and ss surely as We
trace Cause ~ effect ID IL, then why not BE-
iust and not discr inmate against women,
doUbly weighted Wit Lies burJess? On,
gentlemen, am sura that under tie worldly
crust there beats generous hearts. Perhsp
you have never given the subj=ct due
thought. The viii 1e the next lime 8
woman comes for the heavy bundle Of work
Reflect, If you world fsel q sense OF
shame st ohsring 2 isilOr tue price
VOL afe i5.sy55s-,
\ -. L.---.s---..--e amount you would MIN.
\ a lew Vi my sex are doing noble work in
helping those who wish TO help themselves
but the field Is 50 l:'ge, and the workers. 80
few, abd We often ind women 20 unjust to
their sex as men could T.. For instance
the fashionable lady would not dare
to offer the equally fashionable dress.
msker the price f>r a garment that
she would unhesiiatiugly offer to the shrink
ing, sable clad figure Hboae seas tive trem bl-
lug lips plainly indicates that she IL unsc
Cuslomed 20 wait on the beck and call oil
Nine Ellsworth" ia in error ia stating thai
il is the wives Of lab0riug men who have
this unpaid toll Oh their hands. a. rule
) the laooring man tries TO secure Z little
home, ard when he dies, his family
having been accustomed 10 labor anC
frugalIty, fnd it much easier 10 max,
Roadway Than the wife and children
of the merchant or professional man, who
neglected 10 secure them competency il
case OF his own sudden death. Their case il
indeed hsrd; they are all ldgift, aud know
not which way TO turn. Is i, any wonde.
3 that the highways are sirewn with go man,
: life wrecks? All here is OIe who see
, how far our duties aud obligations ought {,
extend 10. Il will not DO to answer, provides
we'll fOI my own houzehold and heaped III
riches for them. and 4ay Liot-eI'
kssPsTf But were yea just when that poor
! holiOw.eyed, dropping mother staggered int,
your spacious salssroom under the hezv,
bundle of garments? Did you, as yol
handed her the pittancs agreed upon, for
! n,ovre7,t Iiv,l- hcr Oh, ceptA live ol4 ii-oI
II your own Tifo or daughter were in ne
place, would you like TO see her treated tn