The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-11-11
WOMEN AS coAL-PAssERs.
AbEe-BsdIsd FeDizIze BabOreEs
Asoag the Vyharves IN JaDa-
aese Cities.

ne charmed traveller IN japan goes
- Nlgaeah 70 find disenchantment.
There ka sees the fair japanese maid
IN labor a. . cOal-passer and at long
GhoFs work. It makes one Of the
stranger sights Of the queer orient,
u5tA Its teeming millions Of peculiar
people, 70 zee 50 or 100 women at work
STsth an equal number Of men cOaing
> Ehip IN the pretty harbOr Of that city.
Gsisssi5 that at one time the work was
done almost exclusively by women, but
AA4 Iatterly the girls and women have
lpeea gradually giving way to their
cooke brothers or sons. Many contin-
- st tie work, however, and il VIII
probably be years before the custom
disappears. The coaling at Nigasad
g done from lighters, and q series Of
elevated and inclined platforms that
gsseBbls q step-ladder are affixed to
80 aids Of the vessel. They reach
STsa che deck Of the lighter to the
EnaiEF eek Of the steamer OF ship. The
zeal = handled in small baskets that
1TfI hsIG from 30 to 20 pounds. The
coolies form IN line on the ladder-like
osoSOid. and the baskets are quickly
paE-a1 from ore to another. The best
hazaO illustration Of the process is to
- foun6 81 the old American bucket
krlTeAo working on a roof fire The
sSal-Pas0sFs work very quickly, and
60 ring Of mixed coolies, working
Grou 0sTeFal lighters, has been known
90 s4Ts . ahip 45T tons IN an hour.
n - distribution Of the work
aEszR g FanR Of coolies the woman Is
shO1n 70 faVors. At the bottom Of
she Nh G1e first lift becomes larger
o. ths coal recedes IN the lighter, and
&c ths sop Of the line the lift over the
Fsil - hard, and the woman could be
fATsESd By placing her in the center.
On TIE contrary, however, she is seen
E1oFs often at the ends. The work is
veTy kard, and there IS the added dis
eomhture Of the flying coal dust, but
both nzeu and women seem very happy.
They laugh and jibe as they hurriedly
pass the seemingly endless line Of
laden baskets, The women donOt bear
the marks that the American or Euro
pesa "ETest-shop" leaves upon its vic
tims. They all seem to have health and
fts accompanying color. Some Of the
women, and particularly the older
ones, show biceps and shoulders that
would make some Of our men shame
faeeG Among the younger girls are
nazy that would be called pretty by
The ed1iFer Of japanese beauty. They
al vrVsF the native costume, and near
y ell protest their hands with rough
gfOvVa e bindings OF cloth. The evil
eTeo6FS 6Sss1e oppressive the color
= 49, hands Is she only h1dacatiOn Of
sez - the busy crowd.
Ia women are not paid as well as
ths raen, although they do as much
wsZk- Why the discrimination Is made
g rot apparent from the amount Of
work done or the treatment Of the
lRbO~aT. Latterly It has been the prac-
see - undertake the work by piece
@Cr contract and to make division Of
the grO4s earnings among the coolies
ooSsgs5. On basis previously ar
ranged by themselves. Wages vary.
bst ~ eents per day would be deemed
seTX good cOmPensa ton. and the ma
sortSy probably work for much less.
They are allowed extra compensation
when they work at night.-St. Louis
GisbO-DemOcrat-