The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-20
SLAVERY AND LABOR.
Discussed by Odd Volumes
Yesterday--PIans For
Breakfast.

A special conference of the Odd Vol
umes was held yesterday afternoon at two
o'clock, prior to the regular fortnightly
meeting, at the residence of Miss Sher-
wood, to consider plans for the annual
breakfast in May. A number of speakers
for the occasion were considered, but
nothing definite will be done in the matter
until next meeting. The breakfast will
probably be held in the Jersey City Club
House and the decorations will be in
violet.
The regular meeting consisted Of two
papers, one on abolition of Slavery in
America and Europe by Miss Bowen,
and another on ''Organized Labor by
Mrs. John A. Walker. Besides these. Mrs.
George Chesley, of Brooklyn, who was
guest of honor, gave some personal reanin-
iscences of the Isle of Jersey, in which she
brought out the influence of the old slave
days and the superstition of the people.
Miss Bowman spoke of the early days
of the Greek and Roman slaves. She
drew the attention of the CLUB to the fact
that these slaves could be willed away
at the death of their masters TX so
much real estate, but compared their con-
dition to the lack slave of more recent
date. These Greek slaves, she said, might
even save enough from their earnings to
purchase their own freedom, while their
condition was much more comfortable
thar that of the black man. Denmark
was mentioned as the first country to
abolish slavery about the beginning OF the
present century.
Mrs. Walker opened Ter discourse with
a few statistics of Labor. She said that
while the recent RAPID mechanical inven-
lions threw a number of men out of en-
ployment, the skilled laborer was net the
only one who suffered. The manufacturer
must feel the loss as well, as each new
invention put hiia % the expense Of reft-
ting his factories.
Mrs. Walker further mentioned several
new inventions which are not yet
thoroughly known to the public. One was
a discovery in the manufacture of pot
terry. whereby two hundred dozen articles
might be turned out daily in place of the
fifty dozen. as at present. Another in
vention was a pneumatic hammer, and
still another. a pneumatic atomizer.
Strikes. the speaker said, We're nothing
new. They began way back in Biblical
times, when the children of Israel refused
to make bricks without straw and have
continued ever since. One Of the evil
effects of strikes given was that they
deprived the laborer Of his liberty.
Trades unions were also mentioned as an
evil of the same class. Mrs. Robert Lyle
read a paper on "Current Events"
Mrs. e. F. C. Young will entertain the
club at its next meeting, May 8, when
Miss Sherwood will read a paper on 1.-THE
Press There will also be a specialist to
speak on the same subject, and Miss Bur-
dick will talk on "The Public Library"
After there will be but one more meeting
of the d Volumes and the breakfast.
Among those present were:-Mrs.
George Chelsey, Mrs. A. ]. Drayton, Hiss
Annie Traphagen, Mrs. Roy Inglis, Mrs.
Mattocks, Miss Noble, Miss Adriance,
Miss Bowen, Miss Buffet, Mrs. Cornelius
Bret, Mrs. Frank Cavalli, Mrs. Talbot
Chambers, Mrs. II. v. Condiet, Mrs. A.
Denniston, Miss Doremus, Mrs. George
Eaton, Miss Gaines, Mrs. Jonn Headden,
third, Mrs. Robert Lyle, Mrs. Grace
Marshall, Miss Jear Mcbride, Mrs. H. b.
Merrill, Mrs. Robert Meyers, Miss Helen
G.. Noble, Mrs. James Robottom, Miss
Sherwood, Mrs. Frank Stevens, Mrs. John
A. Walker, Mrs. E. F. c. Young and Mrs.
FAIRY Day.