Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-15
No. i95

ful teeth in the Azores, in Cuba. or with our own colored people-the coai-dust per forming the work of 8 magnificent denti- frice.
 Their picturesque costume varies st diff ferent mines. At some they gre 6 ragged lot indeed st their work But st nearly all those pits, which are the property of single, or partnership, owners, the frBlun- dell" costume of the great Pemberton mine, located two miles from Wigan, is in the main in use. This was originated by the late Hon. Mrs. Blundell, wife of Colo nel Blundell, N. P, owner of the Pember- ton, fund being provided from the purse Of the deceased lady to furnish annually as free gift to each pit-brow lsssie at that mine, one suit for working use
 1t IS of stout blue serge, and consists of jacket, which is 6 sort of blouse in shape, short petticoat reaching nearly to the knees, pair of trowsers precisely like a mans, ana clogs instead of shoes. Their hair is first done up tightly in a kerchief, and the whole is inelosed in & sort of gathered bag, which fits tightly about the forehead and around the back of thsneck. Some wear mems caps for head gear. These costumes, which attract no atten- tion whatever in mining regions. save from strangers, are donned before the women leave home in the morning, and are worn until they return at night. They are most cleanly women and a bath is invariably taken when the brow or 'Ebroo cearr is thrown aside for the day. Then the pit brow lassie is Arrsyed as becominely as | any of her class in England, and on the | village street or at church of & Sunday | you could not pick her ont from among ! her companions, unless for her fine color. | form and & positively classic boise and | grace of carriage possessed by no other working women of England I was in company with Vicar Wood, of Pemberton, a part of the time during my visit to the Pemberton mine. In view of all that had been changed against this form of wo- mans labor, and particularly ss the claim had been consistently made that its infiu- ence was 'unsexing" and demoralizing, I bluntiy asked him what was the real char acter of these thousands of women for | morality.
 "Well," |" he thoughtfully replied, '.it WAS one of the conditions made by the Hon. Mrs. Blundell that no pit women here at Pemberton should receive the annual gift of a suit of clothes who did not bear re- | proachless character. I have charge of the distribution. There has not been but one instance where a refusal of the gift has been found necessary during the past ten years"
 In almost countless conversations with the pit-brow women, have not found one who did not seem happy and contented in her labor. For this class any labor at any wage is godsend in England. Most of them are rather proud of their distinction. All prefer it to any other toll to which they have access. Their hours are from
 six in the morning until half past four in
 the afternoon, with & half hour for break fast and dinner; and their wages range from seven to twelve shillings per week. Their meals are taken in their own room st the mines, where there are rude bench les, tables, and, winter or summer, huge coal fire, at which their coffee or tea is warmed. Altogether, I should seriously regard the pit-brow lAsses As the handsom- est, healthiest, hsppiest and most respec- table working women in England.
 EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN.