The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-14

| NllhFllli1nu0nt
burgers mysterious absence, he observed thi,
operative at work Just prior to the SATURDAY,
evening shut down Every operative has tc
clean and oil the machine in his or hcl
charge at the close Of the DAYS work This
woman was apparently hurdcncd with flesh,
nut seemed 10 be little hampcrcd by lis
weight She sat squnrrly upon the toor,
shdlng trom point 10 point with the most
mller disregard OF appearances or her safety.
Fortunately the floor was worn smooth by
many previous similar movements.
BAND OF MARTYRS.
How the people employed in the Yocnna
mills live is one OF the problems local
mathcmatcans will never solve, IL is
doubtful II they ever tried 10 reach solu.
tion, for beyond very limited circle little
or nothing is known Of what they they rc.
celve or where II goes. Wages range from
| 10 cents To Sl.OO per day, according tn speed
and eXpcrtncss. The lSdol sisters. four in
number who were employed In the mills
several years, but finally gave up in diSpar,
We're among tee oldest aud most valued opcr.
auyeS, Two OF thcm--onc of them being the
| unfortunate WilliC-madc about 81 30 pcr
| week each. The rcmaingg two managed 10
! draw about SO0pcr week each and these were
| the best remember All were cmplovcd ON
| piece work, The niggnrllircsS Of shis com.
| pensation may bo better appreciated when
II is stated that the regular hours Tor work
arr from o'clock am, TO 7o'clocll pm,
with forty minutes at the noon hour for din.
nCr.
This would not be so atrociously illibcrnl
were the expenses Of living cut OH ON the
contrary they are on IN rcdouhlod force.
The reporter was directed into this channel
OF inquiry 10y u casual remark made by "A
citizon Of Water Valley while discussing iho
benefits To the town from having this insti.
tuition In our midst at is very little profit
g. any one save Wagner" said hc. and the
friend did not attempt 10 dispute IL. In.
quirics were made Of two parties formerly
employed in the mill but resigned rather
than starrc 10 death finally Their stories,
reduced 10 plain statement IN this: d. r.
Wagner II secretary and treasurer Of the
mill lie also owns general supply store.
or course, all the operatives are poor when
they begin work, and have no money to nay
rs they 30, Mr.. Wagner very kindly
REMEDIES rms EVIL
by advancing the ncccsSarics Of lite, hut In
such way rs to eventually make life he'd
OF roses for him aud his. On everything lac
deals with his employees at an enormous
profit. For example, when the market price |
for calico and other goods is cents pcr
yard, Wagner changes I or cents ON |
meats, II the price bc cents per pound, hc |
charges 10 cents II flour be- s. per barrel. |
hc charges them $500. lie cannot claim |
that this advance il to cover long aud unccr
tain periods Of indebtedness ray day i'm
the mill rolls around twice u month with uu.
failing regularity. Mr. Wagner dispense
the cash. Whatever is due him he never
ioErts to withhold, sending instead q r..
cciptcd bill for the amount Thus IL viii be-
seen no chances are taken Ia lose.
hut There Is another snurcc ~ revenue Tor
The nill, which Mt Wagner looks out for
Employees who have no homes or friends
elsewhere In the vicinity, arr provided with
iumc.hoN houses 10y thc managers Most
pi these structures contain four ruoms. and
'ust not exceeding SJnn each. For this the
occupant family are charged 81 80 n room.
pr 81 per month rental, payable In the same
manner ns the goods purchased, only that |
this revenue goes ~ the mill instead ut the
individual Wagner In Tie long run the |
earnings 81 all these Operatives ~ back to !
the mill or IL principal owner Ofcntimrs
the miserable people have nothing left at
the end OF the month Ia pay for fuel.
nEsrfAL GANG.
In his inquiric, on this point, the reporter
lskcd an honest looking and frcc.talking
cmnlc, who had enjoyed l7l five wears cS'
icricnco nj the mill, II she knew ~ any |
'thcr girls who had fallen from virtue In q
manner similar 10 Willie Tisdcll. There
~ four Of them living In n house lust across
hat hill, said she, pointing la the direction
clcrrcd Ia. There arr three houses In q
NV, and all of them live In the first house
ou reach The reporter at once sut out
or the place indicated There was no trouble
lndng lhcm They did indeed st upon a .
I'LL within wide clearing, and hal q we'll
cincd path leading up a. them. a. though |
were frequently Travelled. They were
hnughai frame structures, one story aud ID
ne room, with shed room In the rear Z
he first house reached was entered Moth. q
lg but few unmistakablc articles ~ female Il
earring apparel hhd momrniary silence y
the visitor A moment he stuud, d
Undecided where Ia turn, when voices, soft
nd low cmanniing from the rnr room. e
ttmctcd his attention They were the voices Y
man and woman, who showed no signs "
{ appearing In front tn see what was wanted 4
rs anybody at homer the reporter called. b,
GO up tu the next house, WIS the uu. q
pnccrncd reply. you'll find all Of them u
here" n
10 the next house the reporter went Tho n
enc encountered there would have easily ~
rcn mistaken fpr q swell Center alley nbudc r.
sin. one girl was fugpesiyDly stretched | N
u thc buro ilpur In scnut attire. another uC. | r.
ipicd rude attempt NJ o hnrl chair. lille Z
'u Old women mothers ~ the two girls n
4 aud conycrs,d on some tonic ~ thread n
ro gossip. Did they recover themselves "
]
'cd, they did nothing but glance around uI
an unconocrnod sort of way. a.
TnE STORY roLD AGAiN. Of
''Wclly' inquired the reclining female. IN "
-pUnHc to Tie visitors look ~ surprise '
i wish 10 see one " the girls who occupy
g house down there hc replied.
Which unpy'
You're too much Tor me. don't know =.
r name 'I
Then you'll have hard iimo finding ~
n. I'm sure don't know which one you y,
u don't want any one particular only
me one Who las seen service IN the IorOua
iton.mll."
AZ this the ono who occupied q chair arose n
Il advanced. II am one of them she
"a, and accompanied the rrpuftrr When r
~ had gone few steps from the house.
i reporter began his inquiries. h.
y would like 10 bear frum Your llps the =,
~ oi your downfall Wm 10 iu ilo lo. ,,, ~,
ln millY W
'Ycs, ar. II vas" she promptly replied, nc
nd any other girl who works there will go or
sam" way lts nothing but ==- ri,
use, aud hasn't been since ! can cmcm. -.
Who started you on the downward a.
We mover told any ono that and don't vii
nk ! ever will. hut II WIS q man who is 4,
work IN The mill now. Ne IL one of the ~.
.scs When my ruin got 10 be- common wv.
l he only laughed and sneorcd at me iol
i, II make, me boil a. think 0f iu" w.,
! am not here for any Idle o. ordinary M,
rpgse,' rcamurcd the reporter "and ! nI'
uld be glad 10 have the fail story. viii WI
: tell me, and remember that only want u.
isputable faftsYit VI