The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-11-23
MonKINo woMnN n gAPAN.


All Americans engaged In textile in
dustries cannot fail to be vitality inter-
ested In the following concise account
OF the women Of Japan who work in
textile mills, with whose product the
American article comes in competition
IN every Asiatic market The women
OF the poorer class IN Japan are en-
gagged in wage-earning labor to a far
greater extent than American women
imagine. weaving being their chief oc-
cupation. japanese women weave as
American women sew, FOR a living.
and IN some districts much Of the
weaving Is done In their homes. IN
other places there are regularly equip
ped mills. with modern machinery, In
the factories over $4,000 women are
employed. whose wages vary from a
sum equivalent to about 25 cents day
10 less than Is cents The men get
from 25 cents to 40 cents a day Many
more women than men are employed,
IN ages ranging from IL years 70 30
years. In some OF the mills there Is
system OF prizes for faithful service
IL others there IS an increase OF wages
three or four times a year as the work
er becomes more skilled. Nearly every
mill has some form Of recognition Of
improved work and steady service, and
the girls are encouraged to thrift as
well as industry. In many Of them a
system OF either voluntary or compul-
sory saving is in force and 10 per eert
interest Is paid on all such deposits Of
whatsoever character. although In the
case OF compulsory savinga they are
forfeited II the girl leaves before the
expiration Of her stipulated term,
which Is usually three years. That the
system is beneficial may be assumed
from the fact that often they have ac-
cumulated 800 or $3.50 at the end Of
three years. This Is not strange when
the cheapness OF living Is considered.
Breakfast consists Of boiled rice and
pickles or bean soup: for dinner rice
and vegetables are served. and for sup
per. rice and nsh or meat Some Of
the mills and factories have boarding
houses attached. at which board Is
given TO the girls at the lowest possi-
bic prices, amounting to not more than
eight or ten cents day. A uniform
costume Is worn BY the employees in
some factories. and is purchased from
the arm for about 81. which Is paid In
four or FIVE monthly instAlments Ev-
erything else required. 2lch as shoes.
umbrellas and bedclothes is furnished
by the mill In Toxic the mill-owners
have 5egun to provide some education
for the employees. and after work hours
they are taught reading. writing and
sewing The girls are divided into a
night and a day force. each working
about eleven hours They have fve OF
six holidays during the year and q
week at the beginning Of the new year
They also have several hours week
for rest. while the machinery Is being
inspected for repairs. The work does
not seem TO hurt the operatives. as the
sick rate Is exceedingly low. says az
authority In one mill. Tor instance
I MNflN AtfNl atNta aiN NAANA"trAt AANAt
is q daily average OF not more thar
four cases Of sickness. A physician ID
attached 20 each factory. and women
who are sick are allowed one-half thell
wages 1n cases OF injury received ir
the discharge OF duty full wages and
a consolation gin" are allowed. Wher
q trouble is pronounced incurable N,
/ mill-owners defray medical charges
which are about three cents a day. and
pay the patients expenses to her home
Most Of the illness Is some form oI
lung trouble. The operatives are Esn
ally engaged through AGENTS who guar
antee the girls trustworfhiness ans
capabillty. For this service each CIR
pays the agent 20 cents on going {,
/ work and two cents a month durini
her three years term Of employment
There are ln Toxic mills a number o
employees who have been 10 the sam
mills over twenty years. Japanes
women OF the middle clsss sre catering
professional life more and more. Their
are now many trained nurses who hav
studied 10 the hospitals a few physi