Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-02-15
CHILDREN WHO WORK.

Just now when everybody Is busy
thinking of what they can do to add
to the happiness of some child, 1t is
perhaps well to turn to the other side
of the picture. There are in New
York and other great cities, thou
sands of little people who are busy
from early morning until late night
helping provide for the nine, ten and
more children with which every FAM
lily in Little Italy is blessed. Fathers
wages simply will not go round
among SO many mouths, and some
times the little dark-eyed boy or girl
joins the army of workers when chill
dren 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 artificial flowers. The
children fell down the bindings at the
bottoms of the little trousers with a
few long struggling stitches. They
sew on the buttons at the Knees, put
ting the needle through once or twice
SO that the button is all ready to fall
off the first time some boy dons mis-
new trousers. Sometimes they make
button holes, and If 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 or 8
cents dozen pairs. Those that have
buttons all around the waist, pockets
and flies felled down with fine
stitches bring from 16 to "a cents a
dozen.
The chief artificial flower season
comes in March. April and May.
Boxes and stems are given out from
the factory, and one to the other.
Daisies and buttercups are the east
est to do. and bring only 10 to IL
cents dozen. Pansies and peoples
come next, and roses and forget-me-
nots are the hardest, bringing from
rs to 80 cents dozen.
In Little Italy there are many little
girls of ten who work from z to 10,
at night, in the rush season, finishing
daisies and buttercups. It hardly
seems fair, does it, while your 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 favor
lite 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 better
grades of candy in tissue papers and
pack and carry boxes.
They begin at $3.50 week. 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 de-
lightful as it sounds.
A wealthy lady made Christmas
party for a company of Italian chill
dren. She had a gorgeous Christmas
tree, music, supper, and as crown
ing trsat for each child box of fine
chocolate bon-bons to carry nome.
What was her surprise to see all her
candy boxes left upon the chairs.
Questioned as to this remarkable
state of affairs, the children respond
ed in chorus: "Oh, VIE don't eat
those, we make them"
Poor little shavers! Candy had be-
come sickening to them!-Indiana-
polls News.