The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-03
THE SLAVES OF NEW YORK.
Women Who Earn So a Week Making
Garments.
New York Times

OF phlla1thropic women yesterday in Part
III or the superior court when Mrs. Tes-
sic Devio told. before the assembly com
mittee which is investigating the sweat
ing-shop system, OF her long hours or
Pcorly-paid labor.
Mrs. pevio lives, with her husband and
three children. in two small rooms az SOl
Monroe street. She might be a pretty
WI man. with her wavy dark hair. regular
features and oval face. If she had lived
in class of society where all mobility
of expression and vivacity of disposition
are not crushed out at an early age.
The skirt of her gown was Of shabby
black In hue. and the waist was light
print. She wore ths earrings which al
most always adorn the women OF Italy.
and fastened around her neck was a pref
~ lockef OF blue. with an initial on the
'front.'. The feminine taste for pretty or
raments is planted deep in the italian
woman'S heart. and she must be in.what.
even 10 her luNury-starved eyes. is a ies-
perate state of destitUtion before she will
part with them.
As Mrs. Devio's testimony was brought
out through an interpreter the members
of the committee leaned forward with
rapt attention. and there was silence IN
the little audience present
Mrs. Devio is one Of those women who
can be seen constantly in the lower parts
OF the city. carrying great bundles OF
mems and boys clothing on their heads,
and her pitlful story is only one among
hundreds.
She puts the last touches on little trou-
sers for small boys. turning up the hens
at the bottom OF the legs. and sewing on
the buttons. For this work she gets from
I TO 10 cents a dozen pairs, according 10
the quality OF goods.
How many pairs can you finish IN a
day" asked Counsel Mayer.
-Four or five Dozen" answered the in
terpreter for the witness
How many hours do you have 10 work
to do that?''
II commence at $50 or s o'clock in the
morning and work until IL o'clock at
night"
IL was then that the expression of hor-
ror came from the women present. and
the members of the committee exchanged
glances. while the witness herself was
calmly unconscious OF having said any
thing unusual
But. do not your children help your"
asked Counsel MAYER.
she says her husband helps her some
times" replied the interpreter, but her
children are TOO young. One is years
old, another 3, and the youngest only 1
year DID,.
Again We're tho hearts OF listening
mothers touched. They felt that each one
OF such tiny children needed constant,
tender care.
what is the most you can earn in
week ?" was the next question.
IL can earn $50 IL / work the whole
week all day and in the evenings
'You live eat and work in two rooms7"
Yes" was the matter-of-fact reply of
Mrs. Devio.
Are there are any other women in the
building with you who do this work? %
Eyes: they work on the same kind OF
trousers"
How much do they maker"
They make from 81 to $3.50 week. II
they make more than that they must
have help"
Mrs. Devo said that she worked for a
man doing business at los Broome street
She did not know his name. In the sum
mer her working hours are shorter, for
then she stops at or s o'clock in the
evening.
There had been little hustle Of CONVEX
sation behind the judges big desk during
the later part of Mrs. Devio's testimony
and soon after she stepped down from the
witness chair the green OF new bank
notes could he seen In her hand.
4 constant chorus OF ''Da. da-da, la.
da" had been coming from outside he
railing in the Court room while Mrs. De
VIC was testifying When she finished
little Mrs Louisa Casello took the chair
and then the listeners knew that she was
the mother of the t5-months-old baby
from whom the sounds proceeded.
Mrs. Caselio is in the same business as
Mrs Devio. She is not yet Is years Old
and has done this work since she was IL
years old. She lives IN one room and her
baby is sick But she IS. nevertheless, n
very jolly little woman. She wore a
brightIy-colored handkerchief over her
head yesterday. and she was pretty in
spite OF decidedly grimy cheeks.
Before she was married she did not have
any cooking 10 do. and by hurrying she
could finish morn than four dozen pairs
OF the little trousers I'm single day
This she said. with a laugh that was con-
tagions Now that her baby is sick. shes
does not work.
ale ought 20 he quiet and let me sew.
she said ''but he gets too angry"