The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-13
TOBACCO FACTORY HANDS.
WHAT THE NEGROES DO WHEN
THEY ARE PAID OFF.

scenes Around the Cary stree'
u.,.e,s-ra,ksw with some Old DARK
H.. tn. cigarette GirIs-Their Appear
ance on the street.
Saturday brings happiness to the wage
worker by the week, for on that day he gets
his stipend. In Richmond there is an ele-
ment of working people that runs away up
into the thousands, and embraces char
acter OF population that reflects credit on
the city. In all of the labor agitations that
swept over the country during the past, our
workingmen kept free from dangerous en-
tanglements, and our manufacturing estab-
lishmeuts and workshops escaped any oil
the commissions in trade for which that Pc
ricd was noted Richmond Is decidedly
manufacturing city, and holds within lts
limits some of the foremost factories
and f0undries in the United States. THESE
are filled with honest white men, OF charac-
ter and rcspectability. 10 such degree az
10 command the regard Of the community.
Only in the case Of the tobacco iac'odIee
does the colored element predominant. Inc
rcculior labor and the heat Of the tobacco
factories can be borne by the colored Ia
horer 10 a greater degree than by the whlie'
| In fact il seems that the former takes more
naturally 10 the tobacco factory than 10 any
other manufacturing industry. lhey can
stand close together, are not fettered by loco
motion. and can laugh. talk, and even sing 10
their hearts content while performing thelr
daily tasks. This causes them TO HOOK 10
the factories, and they are found to be rella-
ble and diligent workers, and are paid well.
THRoNGs OF LABORERs.
Some saturday afternoon, if one chooses
IN take tine trouble. and stroll down Cary
| street and through the east end Of the city,
the sight of the throngs Of laborers that
pour out Of the tobacco factories, VIII more
than repay the loss OF time.
The factory negroes have money IN men
pockets. their faces shine with expectation,
and thew laugh and chat in loud tones as
they seperate in groups and prepare Tor
the "spend act" They knock on" as they
call it. early i'm the afternoon. and assemble
| i'm the "b0ss' rOOm.r where they are hand
ed their pay. Sometimes, but very rarely,
there is some dispute, and then
the negro establishes his knowledge OF
freedom by an exhibition OF superiority
i'm the use Of the lip and lungs, IN claiming
what be calls "mine.' NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
his loud talk, he generally Is wrong, ana i
made 10 mnvo on and out Then he gathers
/ an audience. and repeats his grievance.
| ! esterday. tall. black man, OF
build that indicated descent from
the Mingo. most beligerent African
tribe. had crowd around him
near the door of tobacco factory on Cary
| street. He had lost time. and had been
"docked." He claimed that he ought 70
have received full pay. His ragged
pants were held up by one leather
gallows, sleek with preparation ana grease
He brought bis maui like hands together
with a force that would have told on the
cocoanut head Of any Of his listeners
if he had struck them. ana Missed
from his red-line lips the words: 81
want mine, enni gwine have IT
you heame-Id drag de moon down
but have it, knows de law. doan keer OF
cen white. Noukan knock me down anC
st0mpme but do me right, gimme NINE
PREPARE FOR MARKET.
r. As soon as they get their pay they marcl
home. change their clothing. and get ready
I. for market. An old gray haired veteran
came out of factory 10y himself YESTERDAY
evening, stopped on the side walk, wipet
his face on his sleeve. cut his eye at the sun
and counted over his money.
GLOW long have YOU been working in th
tobacco factory. old man." was asked.
"Bin here every since fore the war; us
to be hired out"
"What do you do in the factory
''lse twister now
Pay YOU pretty well:'
He hesitaied and answered slowly, "
know ! work pretty we'll"
\ new issue negro came along. lie seem
ed 10 be miable-lOOking and ready to talk
"What DO the boys do after they are pai
of SaturdaysW
= Most Of ZEN looks out for somethin I
eat for sunday lse seen niger 20
market and spend half his money iust thing
Some of IN by big bunch er fish, and whe
, dey git home dey amt got nothin' bu
/, heads
"What did he do with the fish,
"DOne drop of; fool Niger buy bi
bunch for little money and dey rotten
..IIe can tell a good watermelon though:
e II bet you. and he gwine have one shure
4 cit his dram. too. and Of yer dOan mind he
I iii TO fightin' and have 10 rested
AT the cigarette establishments larg
! number sometimes as many as three q
four hundrcd) Of girls are employed. Ihes
5 are paid of early on saturdays, the lacl'
. ries closing work - bout noon. Inc none
e is brought TO the girls at their STANDS
= Then they retire 10 the dressing-roo,n, 40
g their street attire, and when they step OF
j on the street their appearance would mss
pate the idea that they had anything to
with the preparation Of the WOrld-wlu
known cigarette. one Of the greatest Del
r. etits that this little piece of merchandis
i confers upon the world is the estaDllshe
: employing its making gives 10 SO many a.
r serving girls.