The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1888-01-27
WoMEN coAl-t4ANplERa.
They Toll Faithfully From Morning Hi
Night for Mere PIttance.

They Toll Faithfully From Morning I'M
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 tc
empty the basket, and one ut 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 has
kets and pass them to one who sat
astraddle the bulwarlx and threw them
back into the coal boat. From morn
ing till might 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 u picnic
indeed, none rs bright, for at u picnic
there is always Il sort of listless appear
anee of having nothing to do. Here
all were busy; all were working, and
working with 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 a 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
blue kerchief tied under the chin to
keep out the dust Many of the gowns
were patched and some had holes in
them. but not single one had the
slightest appearance of untidiness. 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 hardship. What right have
they thus to toll and be happy? In our
civilized Christian lands men are
taught that work is penalty and they
60 at as if they had a grudge against
their employers. Here these people
work for a 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 a
strange people. I have studied them
as best | could. Heretofore in travel
ing / have been able to hold some in
tercOurse with the people whereby we
could interchange ideas. But l have
not attempted to talk with these, even
| through an Interpreter. L have stud
led them as 1 study the crows flying at
eventide to their rOosts; as l study the
ants climbing over hill and valley,
mountain and gorge in their ceaseless
tolls as | study the spider spinning
gossamer threads and with them max
ing upon the air geOmetrical figures
as l study the bees in musical hum toll
ing in their labor for sweets. l 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 L write
to make tour of Japan 1 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 II.
Harrison. in ChfcngO Mail