The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-13

swarmed with Italians of every age like
bees in a hive. There was any amount
of hitter from ash barrels and junk shops
lying about, and most Of the men, 1t ap-
pcared, were scavengers. The women sat
on the steps gay Scarfed and berinSed
and chatterng like a lot OF maSples.
Th8r little girls were to be seen beside
thcm-tiny bits of humanity that one
would have liked to see froic and run,
but with such grave and serious faces
that 1t was impossible 10 believe they
would ever do anything Of the kind. The
mothers were sewing at the little knee
pants" which one sees advertised in the
popular clothing houses for forty-seven
cents, sixty-nine cents etc, and each
small. serious girl had a pair, too, and
was plying the needle with busy fingers.
No school time, no joyful vacation LOT
these six and eight-year-old mites; moth
ing but wearied eyes and tired fingers
and one long grind from morning Till
night.
our first reception by these Italians
was anything but cordial. We got in
a room where a half dozen women were
sewing on sweaters garments. An evil
faced Neapolitan followed us in TO act
as Il guard for the women, / suppose.
These latter looked quite capable or pro-
tecting themselves. They were or the
StI DlE l4nRtQt H'doC AAllAt - - VI AN''+'e'--
women. such as one sees at the d,mps
or rining the contents of ash barrels,
and they don't hesitate to use knife
or a meat axe for weapons in an encount-
or with an adversary. This was told us
afterward by a friendly policeman who
had had knife pulled on him by re-
male fury living in the room where we
stood.
our spokesman, the labor leader, ex-
planned that we were after the hours
of labor, the rates Of pay, &c, for work
done on clothing. "Nanta to hnd
work-a?" repeated the Italian. as II in
credulous Of our mission and knowing us
to be intruders. He didn't know, or pre-
tended not to know, what we wanted
about work" but ne was in no gentle
mood over the intrusion. The women,
who had gathered in a group about us
passed from open curiosity, and babel
of high-keyed talk at our first appearance
to laughter over what they deemed the
righteousness of the affair. and then TO
jeers at the visitors. our guide and
chaperOn felt anything but comfortable
during the course OF the interview.
Did you see how that Italians eyes
glared?" he said when we got outside
on the open street. 1T wouldn't have
taken much for him to stick a knife into
us. l wouldn't enter those barracks alone.
particularly at night, for any money.
Those fellows would stab an enemy or
d stranger who made himself offensive
without a thought"
The labor man was well scared. l
thought Of the wide difference in national
character which separated the Essex
street Hebrew receiving every visitor
resignedly and answering all questions
with a patient meekness born of centu-
ries of Russian expressions and these
surly Italians jealous Of their isolation
and ready 10 meet unwelcome intrusion
with the stiletto
ON our second visit TO the 'barracks"
we were accompanied by two staiWart
policemen, and a fellow who kept home
for old and broken glass and bottles In
the front of one Of the shanties acted as
Interpreter There was an average OF
four rooms on each floor of the first house
and each room had its family regularly
installed, eating, sleeping and sometimes
working within its four grimy walls.
Under such conditions the children
clothing was completed, which may be
seen in Broadway show windows and Is
bought by cleanly and respectable people
without the least suspicion Of filthy an
tecedents.
Let il not be understood that the lower
order of Italian is intrusted with the main
part Of the work in putting together a
garment. He is not considered skillful
enough for that When the cutter has
fashioned the cloth in the factory and
the machine operator has sewcd IL in
some Hester street sweaters den, it goes
into a third hand. that of the Italian