Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-10-27
THE SHROUD INDUSTRY.
A Business Which Gives Employment I
Over One thousand New York Girls.

A Business Which Gives Employment to
over One thousand New York Girls.
New York is the recognized head
quarters for the clothing of the dead rs
well as OF the living. There is nothing
about shroud factory to indicate the
character of the product. Even the
rows OF coffins and enticing varieties OF
cuskets in the ware room below seem
to belong to another business altogeth-
er. The show cases that are visible
from the head of the stairs, with their
display of the latest styles in shrouds,
appear to have been left there. per-
haps, by some previous tenant, and
bear no possible relation to the use the
rooms are being put to. 1t is very dif-
ficult to imagine that these light heart
ed girls who chat so merrily over their
machines are turning out burial robes
by the dozen, but such is the case, and
to them the work is no more dolOrous
than the making of shirts.
If you are curious, come with me to
one of the largest factories in the city
within few blocks of Cooper Union.
in the Bowery, and see for yourself. As
the door Of the shop opens the noise is
almost deafening. Between the clatter
of the machines on the one hand and
the chatter Of the girls on the other.
one can hardly hear himself speak. II
is ten o'clock-early for us, perhaps.
but not for the girls. They have been
at work since eight, and one-quarter OF
their day has already been spent. In
the center of the room is double row
of sewing-machines, varying in size
and power, and all fastened to two long
and narrow tables with little rounG
places cut in the sides, into which the
operators snugly fit. At the other enc
of the room are several counters form
ing a quadrangle. Within this square
sit dozen young women chatting ant
sewing, while a tall, middle-aged
motherly woman snips out of yard
upon yards of black, white and brown
cloth patterns of shrouds. Shrouds will
long skirts, and shrouds with no skirt
at all. Shrouds for the rich and shroud
for the poor. And such patterns the,
are.
This elaborate design in white satin
with soft ruching around the neck ant
fleecy ruffles around the wristbands, /
modelled after a wedding-gown as near
ly as is possible considering the differ
ent use it is to be put to. 1t will grac
the funeral OF some rich patron OF
fashionable undertaken. This plai
black garment. with u false shirt bosor
and collar which ties behind with
cord, is patterned after an evening suit
1t is intended for a man of middle age
and costs quite as much as suit wor
in life. Besides these there are robe
of brown and combinations of brow
,, and black, some faced with satin, som
with silk, and others plain even t
, severity. These form the cheape
I grades of goods, and are worn by me
or women OF advanced years. Th
white-robes are all intended for tn
young. Some of these are marvelou
, pieces OF work, and, If embroidered b
hand would cost small fortune. Thi
F., little gown would hardly reach frol
your hand to your elbow. The tin
neckband is ruffied and tied together
! front with white satin bow. The Ii
tie sleeves are covered with embroit
cry and the skirt is elaborately trim
!: med with lace. 1t is baby shrout
and is the smallest size that is made.
The styles in shrouds are continual
changing. Every fashion used by tf
/; living contributes to the robing of tt
:: dead. Each large factory has its sp
: cial designer, and not even death ca
: still the competition between them.
v Ioffor