Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31
Childhood in Little ItaIv

just now when everybody is busy think
ing of what they can do to add to the hap
piness of some child, it is perhaps well to
turn to the other side OF the picture There
are IN New York and other great cities
thousands of little people who are busy
from early morning until late at night
helping to provide for the nine. ten and
more children which which every family in
Little Italy is blessed. Fathers wages
simply Will not go around among so many
mouths, and sometimes the little dark
eyed boy or girl joins the army of work.
ers at the age when children of the better
classes are still referred to as ''the baby"
fortunately it is the home work which
enables the employment of such small
hands This is principally of two kinds
the finishing of boys clothes and of arti-
hclal flowers. The children fell down the
bindings at the bottoms of the little trous.
ers with a few long, struggling stitches
They sew on the buttons at the knees. nut.
ting the needle through once or twice sc
that the button is all ready to fall off the
hrst time some boy dons his new trousers
Sometimes they make buttonholes. and il
the child is smart and girl, she can begin
to do this when she is seven Many girls
OF this age help exc out the family living by
finishing boys trousers at 6 or 8 cents q
dozen pairs. Those that have buttons al
around the waist. pockets and flies felleC
down with fine stitches bring from 16 to p
cents Dozen
The chief artificial flower season comes in
March, April and May. Boxes and stems
are given out from the factory and the fin.
ishing consists in attaching the one to the
other Daisies and buttercups are the
easiest to do. and bring only 10 to IL cents a
uozen- PansieS and poppieS come next and
roses and forget-me-nots are the hardest
bringing from % to 30 cents dozen.
In Little Italy there are many little girls
OF ten who work from until 10 at night
in the rush season, finishing daisies and
buttercups. 1t hardly seems fair, does it
while you more fortunate children are out
in the really fields picking the really and
truly blossoms? When these little girls are
older they will go to work in the flower
factory, for it is favorite trade with the
Italians. Italian girls never do any work
which will keep them away from home over
night.
The candy factory takes more of them
than anything else. They dip the almonds
peanuts or cream in the chocolate. They
wrap the DETER grades of candy in tissue
papers and pack and carry boxes.
They begin at $3.50 asweek Three years
later they may be getting s.. Despite our
laws to keep the children in school. it is
safe to say that the great mass of italian
children go to work at thirteen. Perhaps
you think working in candy factory would
be the most delightful occupation in the
world? The following story will prove that
candy making is not SO delightful as ii
sounds.
A wealthy lady made a Christmas party
for a company of Italian children. She had
a gorgeous Christmas tree, music, supper
and as browning treat for each child a box
of fine chocolate bonbons to carry home
What was her surprise to see all her candy
boxes left upon the chairs. Questioned as
to this remarkable state of affairs, the
children responded in chorus, ooh, we don't
eat those, we make them.
Poor little shavers! Candy had become
sickening to them!