The Labor enquirer., 1884-11-15
BOSTON'S WORKING WOMEN.
Some Of Their sufayings and Their
Fortitude as Revealed in
Bofin's Bower.

EoTLlIuue as 6eYealeQ ID
Bofin's Bower.
Boffin's Bower is one of the many in
stitutions for the benefit of women, par
ticularly for working women, that are
the just pride of Boston. From the
fourteenth and latest report of Bofin's
Bower, submitted by Miss Jennie Col
Inns, its Vice President and Secretary,
we learn that the object of the Bower
is manly to furnish employment for
women. Some of the statements made
in the course of the report are interest
| ing and suggestive. For instance: /.
at is averred that the city of Boston
holds $2S,00O.OO0 in trust for charitable
purposes, but tied upln such manner
that the very class who did their part
towards its accumulation, ifthey become
poor by accident, are wholly excluded
from its benefits, because laws have been
made by another generation that place
it beyond the reach of the very people
who contribute day by dav to its exis-
tence. n5
"In what institutions or in what man
ner that immense sum isinvested 20 as
to afford no benefit to those who maze
or contribute the fund, and why it can
not be reached tor their benefit, Miss
Collins does not make very clear in her
report. She declares that Chronic
poverty is willing to be exhibited, dis
cussed, arranged, and disposed oftor the
benefit of associations" while "acciden-
tal poverty suffers not only neglect, but
whitening insults, because the parties
are not trained up as mendicants, and
the further they are removed from the
instincts of pauper the more unfit they
are to come in contact with professiora al
philanthropist."
After relating number Of touching
cases of accidental poverty among work
Ing women relieved by the Bower comes
the statement:
"In the city of Boston there are twenty
thousand one hundred and fifteen co.
1l5) shop girls; and, owing to the good
sense and healthy state fpublic opinion
in regard to labor, vast number of the
twenty, thousand one hundred and ff-
teen are not obliged to work. They
come from homes of comfort, and in
many cases of aff1uence Can this be
true?l bringing not only physical
strength and high intelligence, but an
ardent enthusiasm, to whatever occupa-
ton they adopt for their regular employ
ment. That class are always very de-
sireable EMPLOYEES, as they would natur-
ally develop fine taste, great skill, and
rapid execution. But it bears heavily
upon the multitude who are less favored,
as so MANY are compelled to work under
great disadvantage poor health-others
depending on them for support, de-
/ prived of rest when they need it, and
burdened with care of parents, invalids,
or children, till their strength Of mind
and body is taxed to the utmost tension.
Piece work is generally the rule; in
order to fix the price, one of the most
accomplished experts in swiftness and
skill is selected to take the first piece
She will, of course, do her best to retain
the high opinion of her employer; and
by the time it takes her to accomplish
certain amount'of work the terms of the
whole shop are established Then comes
the terrible ordeal to keep up.
There are always a great number be-
hind in the race. They carry their work
home nights, and overtax themselves,
knowing that they won't be allowed to
take up room in the shop unless they
can accomplish so much work, nor will
their names appear in the pay roll.
Many are obliged to live great distance
from their place Unemployment, in order
| to save house rent. Frequently they
ride in the morning. and walk home at
night. But half of their pryations
can never be told. They are voiceless,
powerless, and forgotten.
"But it is their industry, selfdenial
and close application that contribute
vast portion of the one hundred and
| fifty million dollars in wealth accumu-
lated annually in this city. They are
excluded from the numerous benefit
societies established to aid men, although
the assessments of their male relatives
are frequently paid out of their hard
earned money. In political campaign
they are called upon by their brothers
to furnish funds to purchase uniforms,
torchlights, and music. What a revela-
ton
From time to time, efforts have been
made to assist them by cheap lodgings
and board, but at the present are discon-
tinued, as no other persons know how
to economize for them as well as thev
know how to economlze for themselves.
I'm addition to the twenty thousand
one hundred and fifteen women (2U,ll5(
employed in shops, there are fifteen
thousand nine hundred and sixty-six
1885, in domestic service, including