, 1891-08-23

INSULTING YOUNG WOMEN.
Dastardly Propositions Made by Sol
Of the Payers of Low Wages.

Dastard1y Propositions Made by somv
of the Payers of Low Wages.
Women are the greatest sufferers from
low wages. The cruelest feature of the
wage situation is, that women standing
side by side with men in the same shops
and stores are paid far less wages for the
same work. This is an a~ristocracy of
sex that shames and bellies all our claims
TO democracy. This injustice in the
wages of women is already beginning to
bear a fearful fruitage.
During the past week n thoroughly re-
spectacle young married woman, whose
evidence is indisputable, and who, prior
to her marriage, had worked for several
years rs saleswoman in the Boston stores,
told me that at one time her employer
told her that, on account of the dull
season, he would have to discharge her,
but that he would give her a good recon-
incubation, and If she would take it to
another prominent dry goods house,
which he named, he thought she would
at c secure employment. She took
the letter of recommendation, and went
rs directed.
The employing agent of the firm to
which she was sent asked how much
salary she had been receiving, and she
answered, Five dollars II week"
He replied. 81 annot pay you that
much; | "A only give you three dollars
a week" to which she answered, 81 can
hardly live on what | have now, and |
could not possibly live on three dollars n
week" He replied, with an insulting
and meaning smile, "You would have to
depend on the outside friend for that"
She looked him in the eye and said, 81
want to earn an honest living, and l
don't want any outside friend" and at
that walked away.
She told her employer of her reception,
and he said he did not intend to dis
charge her, but had heard that this firm
were in the habit of doing this sort of
thing and was determined to find out if
it was true.
l received II letter from n gentleman
in Conway, N. H., "A few days ago, who,
without knowing that ! was intending
to discuss this question, wrote: AFTER
you have given the sweating system one
round, can you not take up the question
of the girls working in the big stores2 l
have just heard n well authenticated ac-
count of a man high in authority in one
of the largest stores, suggesting the way
to ruin a young girl from the country,
who said, when she learned what her
wages were to be, that they would not
be sufficient to give her n bare support.
This not only shows the attitude of these
wealthy merchants to the souls of their
working girls, but it shows hat they
are conscious of their attitude, and have
deliberately chosen to take it."
| am informed upon undoubtedly cred
ible testimony of another young woman
who came to Boston from the country,
and sought work in several stores, and
was so outraged at the vile suggestions
that were made to her about means of
adding to her salary that she went back
10 the house of her friend-a lady of as
high standing as any in the city-and
cried and sobbed all night long. She
said she would beg or starve before she
would submit herself to such outrage
again.
1t is impossible to urn these incidents
aside as Congregations. They are horri-
BILE, l know, nut the most horrible thing
about them is that they are true. But
you will say, perhaps, as some have said
during the past few weeks, at my expos
ure of the sweatshops, what good will
1t all do, this narrowing of peoples minds
with these cruel storiess"
do not know how much good will be
done. | only know hat | could not re-
tain my self respect and keep silent.
Shall we look to the sweatshop, or to the
chattel mortgage shark, or to the lecher-
GUS merchant to reform themselves
Rev. Louis A. Banks, of Boston.