The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-07-09


light nights when red lips meet, and the
young lovers, heart-pierced, tremble on
either side. The iron is brought from the
mills in strips from twelve to fifteen feet
in length, and it then passes through about
fifteen different processes before 1t Is
marketable hinge. On arriving at the
works, the hinges are picked in vitriol,
and then lime water. This gives the iron
a glossy and bright appearance unobtain-
able any other way. The strips are then
given to the "blank cutters, who cut them
into the different sizes.
Next they are taken to the punching
machine, which is run by steam. The girl
''puncher' picks up blank from box by
her side with the left hand, conveys it to
her right and places it sidewise on the
plate. The automatic punch comes down
and goes through the blank, which moves
forward and falls through the machine into
a box placed beneath. punching" is put
ting holes through the blank, so that when
the hinge is finished it can be fastened by
nails or screws whenever it may be used.
The punched blanks are then taken to
the ''countersinking' machine. 1t is a
beautiful upright piece of mechanism, with
long steel drills down the center, which
look like silver. A little girl, called a
"helper," fills Il long plate with hinges.
1t is then taken by the operator and put
ON movable stand which, by running
back and forth, smooths out and enlarges
the holes on one side only. By this pro-
cess the head of the screw or nail used to
hold the hinge can be driven in so as not
to project, but to fit perfectly.
As the operator "countersinks' one plate
full the "helper" fills another, so that there
is no delay in the work. After this work
is completed the plates are taken to the
splitting machine, where every plate is split
which composes one hinge.
The "split" plates are then 'nipped, "
bound and polished.
have met in these, girls who had been
school teachers and who had wearied Of the
duties of trying to drill into the coming
generation that new spring suit does not
foretell full pocketbook nor big head a
night of work, and they sought the factory
in preference to the place of a servant
One girl ! met was fine musician, but as
the city is full of music teachers she came
to work in the factory. In order to keep
her hands in good condition for the piano
she wore gloves while working. She said
at first she was ashamed of her occupation,
but she soon found that there could be
ladies in a factory, as well as elsewhere.
Salesladies without number had deserted
the counter and starving pay for the fac
tory. Their pale, sallow cheeks soon par
took of a rosy hue, headaches and back
aches grew to be thing of the dreary past,
and they got as cheerful as country girl
who had never tasted coffee and knew not
the word dissipation.
Several girls have romantic histories,
having been born in afiuence, which had
taken leave of absence without permit,
leaving them alone and helpless, Factory
girls are seldom, if ever, old maids. They
marry, and prove good wives and mothers.
1t may appear strange, but the difference
in the girls of the different factories is re-
markable At one time one of the factories
was filed with intelligent and good girls.
A forewOman was introduced, and the class
of workers gradually grew worse until all
the good ones were gone and their places
taken up with indolent, dirty girls, who
spent the night in wild revels and the day
in putting in the time.
The iron works are more particular
about the class of girls employed than
many other places, and it is safe to assert
that no dry goods store employs more per-
feet ladies'. The girls never receive more
than one-third the prices given men and
boys, yet the employers say they could not
endure men if the girls were to leave.
Girls never lay off on regular DRINKS after
"pay day." They never strike, are orderly,
quite and faithful. What more can be
asked.