The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1904-07-01

schemes of reform, but nothing
moved him from his holy purpose.
The lives of the children in the
cotton and calico works had specially
stirred his pity and indignation. Their
employment began between the age of
seven to nine, but cases were known
of babies beginning work from three
to four years of age. Hours for young
girls were intolerably long, often last
ing from sixteen to eighteen hours a
day.
The conditions under which the work
was carried on were abominable, most
of the eyes, the wages were extremely
low, and education they had none.
Such was the condition OF the little
ones for whom Lord Ashley pleaded
and obtained reluctant hearing be-
fore the parliament opened, IN Feb
ruary, 1S45, by the young queen her.
self, but on the Goth of June his bill
for the protection of these little slaves
became, through his unwearying eff
fury ago Macauley wrote:
ut may here be noticed that the
practice of setting children premature
ly to work, practice which the, state,
the legitimate protector of those who
cannot protect themselves, has, in our
time, wisely and humanely interdicted,
prevailed in the seventeenth century
to an extent which, when compared
with the extent of the manufacturing
system, seems almost incredible. At
Norwich, the chief seat of the cloth
ing trade. little creature of six
years was thought fit to labor
An idea has therefore long prevailed
that child labor has been killed, that
this modern st. George had slain the
dragon that devastated helpless homes
and preyed on unprotected lives.
But in the last days of the nine
tenth century it was still true that
little children oiled with weary hands
and worn fingers, in ceaseless round
Of labor made almost uncomfortable by
the fact that school had to be wedged
into the, day of these little "half-tim-
ers,' as they are called, as well as the
grind of hard and pitiless work 1t is
true that the factory could no longer
claim children under eleven years OF
age, but the garnet workshops of the
slums We're always open to the little
toilers where no factory inspection
could interfere
The manufacture of dolls and the
making OF dolls clothes is an industry
in which many children are engaged
Dolls, the idea conjures up happy
hours, tender memories l can see
through the mist of years even now,
a certain waxen face which | thought
the most beautiful in the world and
l never smell the fragrance of the
hawthorn blossom without remember
ing a certain window through which
this precious doll was passed, when
1 was in quarantine for some childish
illness, and this vision of beauty laid
in my arms that sunny spring morn
ing.
And yet the happy children who
clasp their treasures little know what
the word means to white faces, bend
ing in dark garrets over dolls clothes.
London newspaper correspondent
who, following i'll the steps of the
"Children's Earl" has done much to
effect the reform which has just been
made law, interviewed one of these
little workers, and asked her age.
Nelly was only eight years old, thinly
clad, with shoes in holes, a pathetic
little figure, with a face already drawn
and sad. She explained that she lived
with her mother, brother, one sister,
baby and me- the Oldest of the lot;
that her mother made dolls clothes
for living and she helped.
How much to you get in a week.
Five shillings, but sometimes not
so much, and they all lived in one
room"
What part of the work do you dor
"All parts, sir. l can make dolls
jackets and shirts and petticoats and
bodices, and everything wot it wears
"Anu when do you work?"
'In the dinner times, but most in
the events and nights"
How late do you stop up, helping?"
Till nearly TO-
What sad stories the gaily dressed
dolls could have told their little fos-
ter-parentS.
Another mite of eight helped her
mother who made boxes. Twopence
dozen was the price paid. The little
pale face looked up and said:
Il have helped mother ever SO long,
ever since I was quite little'''
why. you are little now" said her
interviewer. How long have you
worked two or three years."
Il 'eipcd 'er ever since l can remem-
ber,'' was the answer.
These are home industries, into
which factory inspectors are not ex-
pected to inquire; but the verdict of
the school mistress was the same, as
child after child passed under review.
They have to toll and moil at early
morn and late at night to keep the
hungry wolf from the door,
One of the children, girl of thir-
teen, was a barmaid in a shop in
Bethnal Green. Her school hours
kept her employed most of the day,
but the dinner hour and evenings were
devoted to this calling, and nights on
Saturdays.
How late do you serve?" the child
was asked.
Till abaht 1even, sir
How much do you get?"
"A shillin' week and my food"