The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-10-08
WOES OF WOMEN WORKERS.
The Mere Existence Of the Boston Work.
ing Girls.

WOES OF WOMEN WORKERS.
The Mere Existence of the Boston Work.
ing Girls.
Especial Correspondence
Boston, Sept. 2S.-What are girls and wo-
men in and around Boston doing for livingl
They make shirts at thirty-six cents per
dozen finishing, buttonholes included, che
misses trimmed and plated at $1.26 each,
plain chemises at ninety-sx cents per dozen,
flannel coats of an inferior quality ut fifteen
cents each, slipper bows at three cents per
dozen and common caps at ten cents per
dozen.
For making quilts, eleven hours per day
labor, they receive $3.50 per week, for paper
box making $3.50 per week and for book
folding SO per week. A hundred other in
dustries pay similar wages. This may be
called labors lowest grade 1t is easily and
quickly learned. Hence, the more learners
the more workers and more supply than de.
mand.
How do they live for such payl
Those who rely entirely on their pay do
not live 1t is for such merely an endured
existence in tenement attic. Their staple
food is loaf of bread and cup of tea. The
tramp who depends for his meals on base
ment door collections is better fed.
Girls and women here stain and enamel
glass, dress dolls, FURNISH jewelry, make but
tons, paint clock cases and broom handles,
weave Irvine into netting, cut ivory, pearl
and tortoise shell, make willow ware and cane
chairs set type, feed printing presses, pack
candles, assist in the manufacture of chemi-
Gals, manufacture straw hats and hoop skirts,
spool cotton, weave hair cloth, make shoe
uppers artificial flowers, and gild buttons.
These may in cases earn 81 or 81 per
week more than those stated above 1t is
safe to say that IS per week is little above
the average wages of this class of female
workers. In the shoe factories, at "piece
work." some girls make So and $40 per week.
Can girl support herself on such amount
decently9
A decent room cannot be hired here short
of 50 per week, let alone food and clothing.
But in many cases the girl elves at home"
Her wages are regarded as a great help in
meeting family expenses. In such case the
family unconsciously cooperate against the
girl or woman who must make home for
herself. The poorer the family the greater
the tendency to herd and crowd together If
merely keeping body and soul together be re-
garted decent support" then S. a week
will grant it.
Mill hands may make 81 per day Some
make more; some less. American girls have
almost deserted this occupation. Their place
is supplied by foreigners and, to large ex-
tent, Canadian French.
If you would know some of the results of
factory life and labor ON manners, speech and
what we will call verbal morality, post your
self near the mill doors when the Operatives"
swarm out, and hear the current phraseology
and sentiment. little may go great way,
for YOU Or go on one of their summer ex-
cursions. 1t may cause you to wonder if any
one has charge of the morals of the masses
Do our philosophers ever really go among
thems A few family visits, even with kindly
intent, won't reveal them to you
Girls and children can be bought in Boston
for commercial purposes as low as 81 per
week. The mammoth and pigmy bazaars
for the sale of everything under the sun
Under one roof buy the nerve, muscle,
strength, skill and intelligence of young girls
or nine hours per day at such price. I'm
ike the black slavery of former days, the
ouver is at no expense for housing, feeding.
clothing or otherwise caring for the body of
he child he purchases. He buys, in fact, all
he strength the child has to give without
my risk. If the child dies or becomes Grip
,led or diseased it is not his lookout 1t is
hat of the parents or possibly of the child
tsclf. To buy girl outright, say for $500
II 500, and be then at the expense of her
ieeping would be most extravaganza outlay
II Boston. From business standpoint Boston
llwavs could see further ahead than Charles
on, s. c.
Recently philanthropic committee here
listed some of the mercantile mammoths
'ere and requested them not to hire any child
abOr at less than 81 per week for children of
> years of age and under, nor less than $3.50
'cr week for young women. Two of the
lrgest mammoths positively refused Ore
omplained of the trouble caused him throu, b
eople's poking about and stirring up public
ttention to these matters He said the lone
hing for each one to do was to mind his or
er own business" He wanted, the committee
lferred, to be let alone just as any intelli-
ent, painstaking burglar wants to he let
lone when he is at midnight sampling some
Their family's silver. The houses that pay SO
en- week for children spend from $4,000 to
100000 per year in advertising what the
bid helps them to sell.
Girls are universally employed here in the
'cond-class restaurants Their average pay
81 per week The occupation of continually
)nllng in contact and waiting upon low
radc of men lii hungry and consequently
wage and irritable condition demoralizes
ION. They become hardened also to the
lo.1nities daily perpetrated in cheap res
lulant kitchen A smile is rarely seen on
ieir faces. They become tagged out with
lcir continual morning till-night rush with
Ill. empty and half cleared plates. Ere
Icntly they take an order with disdain,
ave you before it is half given, slap Your
ate before you with an air which says:
Take that and be -" and when YOU tell
em that what they have brought is not
hat YOU ordered, there comes the final surg
.y nNni of ..nltnmnt for the whole masculina