The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-15


fGA commenting upon a SAD thie oh
wv chldron's wrongs. committed 10
me by a mother, Il seemed SO IN
credible to me, that I must sos-
pend judgment until other evidence
in No one has offered woEo o. go. 10
OF the story told by this woman ~ -
effect that small children are aiio" AZ
1ohor In min and shop from seven A NJ.
70 five and Six P. NJ. AND TINS -, q 80 81,
where education is compulsory INC evil
IS hideous! l quote, and Win euip = 90
born OF belief forced upon me- "hA1 = sou
then:
We, who have sheltered MONIES, "heie
the children arc tho most cheIlsneu treas
rres cannot appreciate as reaAlties tho
-,o,,,-ss r-anbtcally indicated in this
mothers letter We. who hold AS prin-
CHILE Of byetenio faith and practice the
old nursery rule to "let children sleep
until they awake OF themselves. take in
slowly the image OF tho shiVerins niue
creatures dragged from their beds before
daylight, hurried into their CLONES hur-
r,ed through their breakfast ana hurried
off to the mills through slush, snow or
hitter black frost, to be in line when the
seven o'clock whistles blow. Still less can
we believe IN the long hours of toll that
wear away the day Of eleven hours, and
.he weary homeward tramp through the
~intry twilight
LII 0T one, rel UHO 10 circuit Inc S@to 80 ca
It's cruel details until 1t is confirmed by
other witnesses. It Is incredible that such
q system can prevail in a humane com
r7unity It time when the air is rio with
reforms ot all sorts.
l but set down tho tale as IT is given TO
me. If 1t be true ii all Its gruesoIne par
tcuIars. then 1t is time for philanthroplo
legislation to awake out of sleep ana cor
rect abuses that would disgrace heathen-
he rfo N exaggerated Oy
mothers jealous love for her overwrouent
little ones. | shall thankfully record re-
butting testimony.
Instead Of ..rebutting testimony comes
another letter from the mother:
II was very much surprised Wnen
read your letter in this department NJ
doubling what I had written IN regard 10
chiId-labor IN the mills. It is very easy
TO prove the truth Of my assertion oy
standing ut one of the mill gates In the
morning from six to seven ana see me
number Of small children that go TO work
at half past six and work till six at night.
Their fathers ere laborere and get small
pay, they must live and eat, so the chill
dren ,nust work before they are able.
Where are they going TO get sohoolinsl
In England @ child can only work haIr
day and 20 to school tho other half I'll 1t
is !. years old, but in free America tney
work all day. "A MOIdEh-
II le nOt q biuCc ooA BofSAAA-
ment sent distinguished woman phllan-
thropist abroad to represent 1.-The Amerl-
can rational Red Cross" her credentials
bearing the legend, ION the part OF the
United States"
The object OF these conventions. which
are held every FIVE years" says the dele-
gate. 'is to study improved methods In
our work. This conference Is OF unusual
Importance, as the horrors Of war never
seemed more apparent nor the ministry
OF the Red Cross moro necessary.
AS spring opens. the various societies in
all parts CT the United States, organized
10 oppose the slaughter Of song birds and
the spoliadon OF nests, grid up the loins
Of brave spirits end demand that milliners
and their fashionable customers be pro-
hibited by law from using feather trim
ming Or, X the law Will not interfere,
they appeal 10 tender-hearted wives and
mothers TO boycott the Offenders against
homes and humanity.
When I suggest that superfuous kittens
be chloroformed and rampant rats be
smeared with tar irate officials of protec-
tive societies threaten to disgrace me in
the sight OF Christian America unless
within given time you modify your ut
terances."
] have before me at this moment a let
ter reprosching me for never having said
word against wanton robbery OF birds
nests on the part OF bad boys"
Have you no pity for innocent suffer
ers?" cries my aSsailant.
Yet in two months not voice has been
raised, not a line been penned to protest
against slow torture OF mere babies the
robbery OF growing children OF their right
TO liberty and education. In all the length
and breadth Of this great land we are
proud 20 call ours, where is the society Of
women which insists upon the enforce
ment Of laws, virtually dead letter, that
would make these outrages impossible?
Who bends q plying ear to the cry OF the
children? 80 .-s .4ss.