New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-29
STUNTED BY LIFE IN MILLS.
PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF CHILD LABOR
IN LANCASHIRE

THE "HALF-TIMERs" ARE SHORTER. LIGHTED
AND PALER THAN OTHER CHILDREN
1t was customary some years ago to put chill
sdren who were only eight years old at work In
the factories of Lancashire. England. Then tho
law stepped in, and said that no one under ten
should be employed in the cotton mills. Eleven
Is now the age that must be attained before
the youngsters go to work there Never
theless. careful comparison between the children
OF the mill country and OF other parts of Eng
land. and even between the children who are
employed in the factories and those who arc
not in the same community. indicates that going
to work at such an early age in this particular
industry is injurious to health.
This subject has just been investigated BY
a correspondent Of THE London Daily News
He declares that the difference between Tho
typical Lancashire folk Of the rural dis
tricts and Of the mill towns in respect 10
height FORM complexion and vigor Is astonish-
ing The former well built. broad-chested.
muscular. Of lofty stature and elastic step while
the residents of the factory towns stunted.
pale and degenerate in size and vgor Obvious
as this disparity is among adults. the differences
is already apparent among the children. rms
fact suggests that a large part Of the unwhole-
the employment Of the youngsters at too tender
an age Even though they are permitted 10
work only half az long as the older operatives.
the conditions of their lives are not conducive 20
health and growth.
In Haywood, for instance. THE News c"rre-
spondent looked at 300 "Aalf-timers" and then
AT 1000 children that go to school all day ana
consequently do not work in the mills AT ALI
| n
timers had a healthy appearance. Measure
ments showed that their average weight WAY
| about II per cent below the average Of other
children at the age OF twelve. 10 per cent DIT
| thirteen. 10 per cent at fourteen and 26H per
cent at fifteen. The difference in height was
about two inches In favor OF the average scfool'
boy at the age Of eleven and three inches a'
| thirteen.
When the half timers" were questioned as I'd
| their health they complained a good deal OF
| headache and toothache. They said they ala NOV
| Ike the heat OF the mills nor the dust that "aS
continually flying about.
A local physician who had made Special
| study Of mill life said to The News" corrc-
| spondent that the atmosphere Of the factories
had a good deal to answer for. The temperature
| in the mills was often kept. at % degrees Tor
davs at a time The dust which fills the air -
1
| very fine and almost undiscernible, except rs
| one sees it in a sunbeam. This dust causes
choking sensation, and promotes bronchitiS
| There has been talk about the operatives wear
ing .respira tors to filter out the dust from tho
air before the latter is inhaled But this ~ I'M
! practicable Another cause Of sickness ~ tho
cn,uyIum that Is generated In rooms when arc
seldom ventilated and in which the ar ~
| breathed over and over again. How can mo
| blood he purified and life be impaired 10 '"'
| operatyes under such conditions?
Tea -drinking is also held responsible for I"
| good deal Of harm among the children Tea ~
a temperance beverage. and therefore the people
never consider it injurious. The children arg
allowed TO drink 1t In unlimited quantities ana
at all tirles Of the day. They usually take II 70
,xcess This eyn however. Is chargeabie not 70
tho millowners but to the parents OF the ha'i-
| timers.
| II would be interesting to know how far inc
situation here pictured is paralleled IN the iac-
,orv villages and mill towns of New England.
| TDoIJPY FTNERiIS