The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-06-03

From the time when STERNE undertook his
Sentimental Journey" to our own day. the
foreigner sojourning In Paris has always
been particularly struck with the ncatncss
and smartness OF the shop girls and work.
ingwomcn. He naturally infers that either
much higher wages are paid for feminine
labor In the French capital or a little money
can be made to so much further There Is
no doubt that French dressmakcr or
milliner. when she exerts her taste
and dexterity on her own account. can
evolve out Of few cents surprising
results In the way OF personal adOrnment. 1t
il not tho less true that the few cents thus
effectively expended must usually be
amassed by foregoing necessary nourish-
mcnt, for. toll as persistently as they will, the
majority OF unmarried workingwomen in
Paris can hardly earn enough to keep body
and soul together. 1t has, indeed, become an
axiom OF the Partisan proletariat that sim
gle woman cannot make an honest living,
and we find the same hush deduction drawn
by M.D'HAUssoNvILLE from tho facts relating
to the wages OF women recently collected for
tho Repus des DeLr AlOnies.
OF the highly remuncrated vocatlons ex-
acting special training and aptitude, and in
skill will sometimes gain as much as So
IL day. only few are open to the female
sex. A very small number Of women find
employment as painters upon porcelain, as
designers in shawl manufactures, and AS
arrangcrs OF flower garlands, 1t being I'M
possible, We must remember, to follow the
latter calling more than four months of the
year. Tho most expert feminine artisans
L., al.kt Il
only SLIGO, or very much less than Ia
given to men engaged In the same voca: ions.
The employers aver that the difference in
wages represents difference In the power of
turning out In large quantity products OF Il
high quality, and tho assertion seems to
some extent borne out by tho fact that in
certain Paris printing houses to which fcmi-
nine comDositors are admitted, women prove
unable to earn more than sl.2O for piece
work, although they are paid at the same
rate as men, namely 10 cents the thousand
letters
, Tho majority OF Paris workingwomen find
employment in that class OF handicrafts
which. while not demanding remarkable
aptitude, require certain amount Of pre-
paratory training and the power OF continu
Gus labor To begin with tho most lucrativ,
/ callings belonging to this category, We OBJ
| sprve that an ordinary florist can earn dur
ing four months Of tho Year, from 81 to Sl.2'
II day, and the same wages are attainabl
during tho fashionable season by the needle
I woman for the finer kinds OF embroidery.
appears that making waistcoats and trou
scrs Is one OF tho most remunerative OF fem
D nine vocations, a skilful and Industrious wo
: man being able, with the help of a sewing ma
chine, to gain about 90 cents a day. Dress
= makers and milllners earn less. Tho dali,
L wages paid to miliners vary from GO to q
: cents, and the average amount that can b
: saiprd by dressmaking ranges from SO to 6
o cents, though particularly expert wome
$ may sometimes obtain as much as 80 cont
:, or even a dollar. In Paris, as elsewhere
Y shirtmaking and the manufacture OF al
o kinds OF linen and cotton undcrgarment
$ arc deporably underpaid, owing to tn
II fact that for centuries what may
II termed the technical education OF women ha
Q been virtually confined to needlowork, an
o the resulting competition for cmploymou
o keeps prices very near starvation point. W
y learn that in Paris an ordinary shirtmake
II cannot hope to earn more than 40 or perhap
@ 80 cents day. and she Is lucky II she ca
x procure constant employment on thos
d terms. The great exporting house
d pay only IS cents, and the women VIII
o make ladies' underclothing for the ehes
n retail establishments like the "B0
+ HssQss" O@ps0s WIN TN gtRat .saslawt