Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-23
Statistics OF Anne ricau Working Wo

The fourth report Df col. Carroll -.
Wright, L. = commissioner Of Labor,
comprehend. generally 3ii distinct in
dustrics, deals with the artual eases of
l1,i21 w"n,n, or from q TO per cent. of
the whole uumh.r engaged IN the occu-
pation4 examined into, aud comments
upon the eonditi, ma ct affairs in u large
cities. or the Baltimore saleswomen, for
instance. the report says that ~ q class
they are superior In education aud man
ners to any In the nirrd States.
In Boston lodging house life ia a feature
of the working Woman cxi 'tenec, says
the repor There Is sometimes no par
lor or reception roou attached Ia the
lodging house of the working girl, aud
she u forced To receive her friend. In her
chamber or not to receive them AZ all
such n condition tends either IN the d.
rection of crushing out social inter
course. especially between s,xes. or Of
carrying 1t beyond the limit of prudence.
hut there ARE some conreDsations. The
report adds Music. literature. art,
lectures, are all within easy reach. and
the working girls Of Boston avail them
selves Of such privileges to a great ex-
tent. A button-hoe maker gave ~ her
reason for not living in the suburbs,
where living WAS cheaper that she would
then be debarred from lectures, concerts.
aud oratorics. 4 necktie maker con
tributes excellent verses to a first rate
magazine. Suspender makers. who have
taught school. belong to Browning clubs.
and discuss the tariff
In Philadelphia the moral teuccncies
Of the working women are of distinctly
high order. The majority of girls have
church affiliations aud contribute To- the
success of religious Institutions in some
way. Very many teach >undav-schooIs
The educational facilities ard the inter
est Ia reading. lectures, music. and art.
are noticeable.
In no southern city has the exclusion
of woman from business been so rigid :
In Charleston and the tradition that res
probability Is forfeited b, manual labor |
so influential and powerful. . The special |
feature OF the Charleston shops is the |
well-horn, well-educated girl side by side |
In the least attractive pursuits with the
"crocker." The percentage ot working |
girls living at home Ia higher in Cincin-
natl than In any other city but the homes
are usually uniuviting. German food
and drinks are largely consumed. and |
continental customs prevail. SUNDAY
concerts and dance halls are more popu-
lar than the churches.
Creole character and customs give an
Individuality to the working life of New |
Orleans. Like their French progeuitors. |
the Creoles live well on what Americans
would throw away F; hence the excessively
low pay which prevails In some employ
ments does not entail dire poverty. Even
from the pittance earned by the sewing
women there is always enough 90 buy n
lottery ticket. In the cigar and tobacco
factories the girls are of Il better class
thar in northern establishments Of the
same industry. aud the saleswomen are
noticeably refined and educated.
Two features In the condition of New
York city dwarf all other considerations
the tenement house aud the Influx and
concentration Of foreign immigration.
The crowded condition of the poor and
struggling is beyond belief, One note
worthy cause Of immortality is the taking
Of men ~ dodgers for the sake of extra
Income. Another Is the long distances
girls are compelled to traverse after dark.
Another is the crowdiug Of friendless
young women to the metropolis, where
they live without home restraint, suffer-
Ing every conceivable discomfort. subject
to long periods Of idleness, which they
often enter upon with an empty purse
"Even among the lowest grades, how
ever" the report says, ''there is ready
response to gentle treatment and innate
politeness that can spring only from a
kind heart The .ruest heroism Of life
I and conduct vas found beneath rags and
dirt.
In Richmond the bad health Of the
working girl Is noticeable. Many families
have been treated free by certain physi-