Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-05-04
WOMEN CCAL-HANDIERS
They Toll Faithfully From Morning TIL
Night for Mere Pittance.

Night for Mere Pittance
Among the workers are women and
girls from about thirteen years up. To
each gang there would be three or four
men-one to empty the tub, one Ia
empty the basket, and one at some
heavy point near. So rapid were the
motions that they seemed often TO be
worked by machinery. Small girls and
boys were present to gather up the bus-
kets and pass them to one who sat
astraddle the bulwark and threw them
back into the coal boat. From moru-
ing till night these people worked,
stopping only at noon for an hour or
SO for their two ounces of rice and their
lacquer boxes of fish and vegetables
Not an angry word was ever heard.
All were jolly. laughing, and talking.
Now and then some woman would say
something to her neighbor at the ex-
pense of us who were watching from
the quarter-deck-then one by one look
and laugh. A brighter. happier set of
people have never seen at IA picnic
indeed, none us bright, for at II picnic
there is always II sort of listess appear
ance of having nothing to do. Here
all were busy; all were working. and
working with a heart. One of the two
days our ship was loading, four or five
other ships near by were also doing the
same. In other words these people are
not at picnic-but this thing goes on
more or less through the whole year.
the great Japanese coal fields being
close by. They are all clean and tidy.
Many of the girls had their hair done
up in true style. Over every head was
n blue kerchief tied under the chin to a
keep out the dust. Many of the gowns
were patched and some had holes in
them, but not Il single one had the
slightest appearance of rntidiness. All
were clean, all looked cheerful, all
were ready to laugh, and all seemed
happy. Yet the men who did the
heavy work received only fifteen and
twenty sen day. the women ten and
twelve. and the children five and seven:
add to this two ounces of rice for their
lunch. These people are the wives and
children of fishermen and farmers in
the near neighborhood, who do this
kind of work when the crops are laid
by and when their husbands and faith
ers are out at sea after fish.
We noticed many of the young
women and children with delicate,
well cut features and sweet expressions
of face. They evidently do not regard
work as II hardship. What right have
they thus to toll and be happy In our
civilized Christian lands men are
taught that work is penalty and thew
go at as if they had II grudge against
their employers. Here these people
work for II pittance, and then seem to
feel kindly toward the man who pays
the pittance for their work. As / have
said in my other letters, they are
strange people. | have studied them
as best l could. Heretofore in travel
ing i have been able to hold some in
tercourse with the people whereby we
could interchange ideas. But | have
not attempted to talk with these. even
through an interpreter. l have stud
led them as l study the crows flying ut
eventide to their roosts rs | study the
asts climbing over hill and valley.
mountain and gorge in their ceaseless
tolls; us l study the spider spinning
gossamcr threads and with them max
ing upon the air geometrical figures !;
rs | study the bees in musical hum toll
ing in their labor for sweets. | have
studied these people and leave them
with keen regret that had not more
time to give to the study. If any of
you should be induced by what write
to make tour of Japan l envy you
that your pleasure is in the future and
NOT like mine, all-aye. all in the past.
This morning early we weighed an
Choir, and | had for the last time trod-
den upon the Mikado's soil.-Carter H.
Harrison. IN Chicago Mail.