The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-14
POOR PAY FOR sHIRT-MAKING.
Thirty-Two Cents a Dozen the Fate i'm West
chester County.

ThirtyTwO Cents a Dozen the Fate i'm West
chester County.
New York Herald.
On the counter of the only store Id little
Westchester town lay big pile of shirts, both
white and colored, waiting to be finished. The
shirts were cut out and fitted, but no sewing had
been done on them. The usual characters Of q
country store sat around on boxes, chewed to-
bacco and occasionally made remarks directed at
no one in particular. Whoever happened to
have an idea replied. II no one had an idea no
one replied
Addressing himself to mankind generally
after the custom of the country, Herald re-
porter asked it the store had shirt making at
tachment. The merchant, who had just sold
some horse medicine and pink ribbon to the
same woman, answered:
NO. he said, these shirts are sent UP here
from the city cut out, and are given out to farm
ers' wives and daughters, and women in the viii
age, who do the rest of the work. There's only
sewing to be done"
'It must come to a nice little thing for the
women in the way of extra money, remarked
the reporter
eyes, it does, replied the merchant, staring
hard at patent rat-trap hanging from the cell
Here one of those commissions of nature known
as countryman's wink distorted the face of
individual who was sitting on a flour barrel and
chewing borrowed tobacco. The reporters face
expressed such surprise at the wink that the
performance was kindly repeated for his benefit
is anything troubling you9' asked the re-
porter.
Before the man could answer a woman en- /
tered the store and handed bundle of finished
shirts to the merchant, who looked over them,
finding good deal of fault with the workman
ship.
.Can you let me have some more to dosn
asked the woman timidly, while she looked
longngy at the pile on the counter
Him" said the merchant, with a frown, II
don't know; this work amt what it ought to be'
II want the money very bad" pleaded the
woman. Besides, can take some of it out in
trade with you"
Him." repeated the merchant; ''see that seam
how it's done. They'll be making trouble in the
city about that. However, don't want to mako
you feel bad, and I'LL give you another trial.
And what can sell you to-day, ma'am9s
The woman went away with another bundle of
unfinished shirts, q little money and few small
articles representing the part of her wages not
paid in cash When the merchant went to the
back part of the store the man with the wink re-
lieved his mind.
sit d make dog sick" he said, looking after
the womans retreating form.
"What woudP asked the reporter.
''Why this ere shirt making business, replied
the man. These shirts come up from the city
in bundles of dozen each, and are given out to
the farmers women folk and to the women in
the village. Some of the women were once bot
ter off in this worlds goods. but are now driven
by dire necessity to body and soul out
making shirts. How they have to drudge! How
much do you. s'pose they're paid for making
dozen shirts"
How much are they paidF asked the re-
porter.
'aThirty-two CENTS" was the reply "And they
can't get work either unless they're known to be
honest Injn sure to return the skirts and unless
they're good sewers, too. If the work amt done
right up to the handle they amt paid nothing
Hard, isn't itp
''It amt my fault that the pays what it is"
interpOsed the merchant, coming up. "All get
on dozen of these shirts given out to be made
up is ten cents as commission"
''Thirty-two cents for making dozen Shirts"
continued the man. "Oh, my! just think of it.
Thirty two centsl Seven button holes to be made
on each shirt, sewing on the buttons, gussets
and finishing the shirt entirely so that it is ready
to be put on
The man had become so excited that he bor-
rowed fresh chew of tobacco from the mer-
chant. The latter weakly let him have it, and
then he went on:
'.Besides getting starvation wages, and not be-
ing of that" he said the storekeeper al
ways asks them to trade it out so that no
makes his commission on their wages too"
That's all right" interrupted the storekeeper.
'N by shouldn't they take part of their wages in
trade here instead of going somewhere elsef
They have to spend the money, and I'll treat
them just as we'll as anybody will"
Some of these poor girls have to mako most
cents a Dozen said the man, turning to the
reporter. cts perfect horror; they ought to
get living pay at least for wearing themselves
OUT
ssHow do they liver asked the reporter
s'Nova Scotia turkey and glass of water q
day. was the brief reply, accompanied by an
other wink.
Nova Scotia turkeym repeated the reporter
The man held up dried herring. That's .
Nova Scotia turkey" he remarked "isn't it
enough to make dog siet
The train which carried the. reporter back to
the city brought also quantity Or thirty two.
upward apiece.