Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-11

Mrs. Helen Campbell has drawn graphic pictures
OF the suffering OF the poor sewing women in New
York, says Lucy Stone in letter to Boston
paper. Already charitable people are Offering aid.
The human sympathy, which is never lacking
where there is real need shows itself afresh in the
case OF these poor sewing women. But charity Is
not the thing for a permanent necessity. The
case calls for some provision by which these
poorly paid workers can be made self-supp0rting
and more. They should be enabled not only to
supply present needs. but to lay up something for
old age or for rainy day. Work which Is re-
Which these women are equal, should be found for
them. This could easily be done, at least for a
very large per cent OF Them and those who were
lert TO sew would command better wages.
There are thousands OF women who suffer for
lack OF domestic help La another way as much as
any poor sewing woman can. The most pathetic
letters ever read came TO me from young
woman in Wisconsin, farmers wife. The
harvest season was coming. Her husband had
ridden for days looking In vain for help for his
wire, at a time or year when every man was
wanted in the fields. The woman was already
oyerburdened by the work which she had done,
unrelieyed, for several years. She had, besides
her own family, all the 'hands' on the farm to
had come meantime to warm her heart, but TO be
an added burden on her hands. She wrote me: "It
seems as though should go Wild i must be up
early TO get breakfast for the men. / must sit up
late TO put away the supper and % the dishes. My
mending basket piles up higher and higher, and /
have not time to take a stitch; my children cry
and cannot comfort them nor teach them, nor
DO a mothers duty to them. and not woman any,
where to help me-" She had borne up under it
till falling strength and health compelled the
farmer TO lease his farm or lose his wife. Here
would have been home for some woman, with
s food and good wages that could have
been saved In the bank. All over the farms at the
west are multitudes Of just such cases.
In the western towns it is hardly better. In
small country seat In Nebraska saw the wife of
the hotel keeper doing all the work for eighteen
men, as well as for transient guests. Till night
she had not moments rest. Two little children
fI.avo
time 20 care for them. No other woman was near.
When it came dinner time she put the dinner she
had cooked on the table and then shut the children
out OF doors while she waited on these eighteen
hungry men. One little boy turned his grieved
lip up as the door closed on him. but she had to
wait on the table and the child must be out OF the
way While the first course was being eaten saw
her pass the window outside with the little one in
her arms. covering its face with kisses. In mo
mtnt she was back again at her post. Dinner over
she was washing up the pots and kettles. The
door being open between, heard the eldest child,
himself almost a baby, say TO his mother OF the
other little one 500 keep this baby in am AFRAID
The horses will step on him." She called him
mothers little man. and with pot In one hand
she swung the child by one arm with the other
into the now deserted dining room and shut the
door, IL was her only way to keep him safe. She
had nne face and figure and was digmfed In
manner. Ii was easy To see she was not a mere
drudge On the wall hung photographed group
or IdceN, her own among the number. In answer
to my inquiring look she said: "I'hose are photo
graphs or the class graduated WITH Here was
an educated woman, now strong and well, but sure
To break down before many years under such
load.
These instances only illustrate what is really
great want. Now, instead OF Offering charity.
would ii not be far better TO put these hafSaryed
sewing women, who need food and homes and bet
ter wages in communication with women east and
west who are per1Shing for lack OF such help as
these women can give? Advertisements for such
places should be made over the names OF reliable
committee and references given and received.
Railroad fares should be paid and the workers
enabled To go where their work is needed and
wnere 1t would be ilcOuStant demand.
some sewing women have no knowledge OF house.
work. Very well. Let them work fOr their board
while they learn. They would have plenty OF food
and i good home. They would be better OF than
they are now Wien their =. 80 or s. or q week
mas 10 pay Tor their Scanty food and fuel and
wretched rooms and nothing Is left. Good house
wives would willingly teach one accustomed to
Work II she would remain for wages after she could
earn them. What would not the two women
have instanced gladly have done In the way of
teaching, II at first only washing Dishes making
beds anu sweeping could have been done for them,
even II it had been done badly: II seems to me
this Is lie solution OF the question for women who
Ddrtiy make living AT sewing. They must be
put in communication with those who so bitterly
need domestic help. Many OF them would no
doubt take kindly TO houSewOrk. They would
feel the sense OF comfort and permanence and
warmth OF family life. They would save the
larger part OF their wages and in time have a
small but real independence.
III underpad sewing women will take well-paid
domestic service, they viii not need charity.
Lucy STONE.