The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-23
Young Belgian Women Per.
form Labor the Men Avoid
ACCEPT THEIR LOT SMIliNGly
They Toll on From Gay 10 tay Wltlfut
Complaint and Hope for Ultimate
Relta.e.

Brussels, May 3-Notwithstan nding all
tions that prevail on social reform among
the laboring classes, and the dreams of
the modern socialogists OF both hemi-
spheres, the problem OF how Belgium can
supply decent employment TO its southern
girls remains still to be solved.
The little kingdom OF Belgium Is. be-
yond doubt. one Of the most thickly
peopled countries on the earth; moreover.
II occupies a arst-class standing as a
commercial nation. and even surpssses,
tndustrally, any other country in pro-
portion TO it's size.
The area ef Belgium is only il.373
square miles, which IL one-fourth the size
Of Pennsylvania. On this small spot
more than S0oe. .ooo human beings are con-
tirually striving for their daily bread.
The national traits OF the Belsians are
somewhat similar 10 that OF their south
ern neighbors. the French. The migra-
tory impulse IL not strong with them.
they interest themselves I'm and pride
themselves upon the development OF their
prosperous little country.
The experienced miners will at certain
times. cross the frontier into France. TO
spend few months working in the mines
OF that country. because they are not
deep nor so dangerous as those OF their
native country. and pay better wages
GO TO FRANCE
In this way number OF Belgian coal
miners are yearly drawn into France.
some Of them permanently. leaving the
burden OF support OF those unable TO
work upon the girls. who as rule re-
main at home. compelling them 10 assume
the perlous ma ascu,ine labor 1000 feet deep
L.. ~. N.x..~ ~. II. .tx
Undoubtedly the American girls pity
their Belgian sisters and condemn the act
OF employing the weaker sex upon dan
gerous and strenuous labor in subter-
rsnesn galleries. just "a the Belgian SER
want girls and farmers daughters have
pitied them for many years. nevertheless.
the girls at work I'm the mines make light
OF their sympathizers. and seem more
than satisfied with their miserable lot.
None of them would voluntarily exchange
N for the position OF "A servant girl. Com
plants seldom arise from their lips. no
matter what grave danger the days
share Of work may involve or TO what
wrtched condition Of servitude they may
be doomed
The mines wherein so many young girls
are spending the Very best days OF their
youth are undisputedly the deepest I'm the
whole world. some reaching depth OF
400 feet. and their interior is insufficient
ly ventilated the air is impure. the heat
intense. and highly explosive fire damp
issues in great quantities from the num-
berless crevices. capable Of transforming
hundreds OF toiling bodies into lifeless
masses in an unexpected moment. Mum
erous instances Of such disasters are on
record.
9 DRESS IN. LINEN.
The clothes worn by the unfortunate
girls during working time are made OF
blue linen of the lightest weight. and con-
sist OF large pantaloons. the ends OF these
bfurcate garments being tied around the
legs just above the shoes: also a jacket
wherein the body can freely exercise it's
muscular strength. The hair is skilfuiy
enveloped in a handkerchief. thus pro-
tecting the head from coal dust well
as II ii had never approached a coal mine.
The whole OUTFIT costs about 20 cents.
and is changed twice a week. In fun
dress the girl OF the Belgian mine re-
sembles a bicyclist OF her sex arrsyed in
boomers.
The age at which the girls are allowed
10 commence this deplorable struggle for
bread is from IA years upward. and every
morning before leaving home they kiss
and bid their mothers a kind "adieu." as
II they expected never to return alive
from the dangerous place wherein SO
many of both sexes have met their end
Every working day in the year hun
Ore0S o! lnnOCtnt-lOOk1nE HlrlS can De
seen between and I O'Clock in the morn
ing. slowly descending to the deep pit
where they remain in the "fosse." as
io n IN nRs own wSsa sesnr Sp,
slightest ray Of daylight OF hearing the
least sound from the outer world. from |
which they are entirely excluded.
Their main occupation i'm the mine is |
manoeuvrfng small wagons from one sta |
iior TO another. carrying posts and fag |
OTIS, letting wagons down hill by the me- |
chanical aid of a lever. coupling wagons |
together in places where the driver can |
reach them Each laden wagon contains
300 pounds OF coal
In the mines nearly all the coal veins |
lie vertical touching SIXTY degrees This. |
Of course. Is what creates the greatest |
difficulties and frequently compels the |
girl to climb uphill. carrying at the same |
time heavy post to the diggers Tnr, |
post ordinarily measures two and one |
OF an ordinary milk can. She carries IL |
with great skill and adroitness by placing |
II on her right hip, holding IL with her |
hand on her left knee she fetches the |
post TO it's proper destination solely by |
the power Of her physical frame.
HER BEAU HELPS HER.
II her beau happens TO be at work
near the spot for which the post is des-
burden by carrying IL himself The girls.
OF course. enjoy the opportunity OF work
lns~ In the vicinity OF their sweethearts.
huu tno nHppy cOuple manages To really
enjoy live in this subterra mean spot.
The streets, or "voie'' as they are call
3D. wherein the girls vancouver the wag-
ons. are very inconvenient. the roof be-
Ing In some places only one yard high
here she must crawl to and fro. pushing
a wagon for a distance OF several hum
dred yards. carrying her safety lamp
which weighs over two pounds, with her
teeth: while doing this her face is only
Is inches from the black. dust-covered
ground.
Tha girls lunch consists OF merely three
slices OF bread covered with butter and
wrapped in a handkerchief. and a tin can