The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-12-10
WOMEN AS LABORERS
IN BErnruM OLD woMnN DO THB
WORK on FARM HANDS.
Societies for the Advancement Of wo-
men Would Find Fertile Field
within Domain OF Tyrsnioai Old
King Leopold.

King Leopold.
Today the land Of Kind Leopold
is perhaps further behind the times
in its treatment OF the gentler sex
than any other country of Europe.
Here women still does the manual
labor OF the land as she once did II
all over the world. The voice Of
progress, whose modern note IL
spelling emancipation everywhere
else, has not yet sounded for the wo-
man of the little strip Of land 17a
miles by 112 that rejoices in the
name OF kingdom.
The Belgian woman Ia the Nations
farmer, miner, laborer and mechanic.
She tolls from dawn till sunset at
the heaviest kind OF work. and none
pities or makes an appeal for her.
The little country, OF whose exist
ance she is the corner stone, IN one
Of the most denseiy populated In the
world, and every square mile Of terri-
tory must support 4s6 persons. That
It is able TO do so is only because Of
the industry. the slayish willingness
of tho women OF the country to do
the kind of work from which other
nations have freed her.
The soil OF Belgium 10 well ad-
apted to agriculture. The once i'm
passible morassss Of the Morini and
the Menapi have been drained and
converted into fertile fields, sur
rounded by dense plantations. A
system Of canals helps the Scheldt
and the Mas In their work In irri-
eating the land. and the variations
Of climate from very hot summers to
extremely cold winters give advan-
tsges that are denied TO the neigh
boring country Of Holland.
But the seed sown by nature would
never be reaped II the work Of do
Ing II were to be left TO man.
The population Of the country.
some seven millions, 10 divided into
the proportion OF three rural DWELL
ers TO one who lives In the city. and
probably the same proportion. three
10 one, would show the number Of
women and children as against men
who toll In the fields.
Centuries OF habit have made man
regard the Belgian women as n nat
ural wage-earner. II he In indust-
rious he works In the factory, while
she goes out and raises the farm
produce that is eaten on his table
and when there Ia a surplus sold.
Young women and old think moth
ing Of working q Ia hour day In the
fields, where wheat. barley. rye, oats.
hemp. fax hops, dye plants and CHI
cory are prepared for the markets.
In the hundreds OF acres devoted
to vineyards, whore is produced q
fair, but not famous wine, II is wo-
men who do the bulk of tho work.
and the gourmand who drinks bot
tie OF wine with Belgian label has
women to thank for his enjoyment.
But Il is not alone at farming that
tho women Of Leopold's realm toll
for their keep.
Incredible as II may seem. they
are actually miners, and no small
part OF the valuable mineral output
Of the country results from their
efforts.
2 In this country. the miners, sub
iect of 30 much solicitude, are mon,
but In Belgium the same dangers.
privations and eIhaustins work are
the portion OF women.
In all the Belgian mines women
work at the surface, handle coal,
push wagons and do tho work that
breaker boys accomplish in the I'm
tied States. In some of the mines
they are not permitted to 90 below
The surface. but in others they act
nally compete with the sale miners.
30 in all the csntsrs OF the various
minerals at Liege. whsrs copper 10
wrought, at the black marble guar
Hes Of Diant. the slate Quarriss of
and canmine mines Of
LAege, there will bo' found women
working. and In most cases very
Trsteful for the opportunity.
At the great seats of the linen In
iustry, Courtney and Bruges, In
West Flanders. Client in East Plan-
iers, Brussels In Brabant, Asohlin or
in Antwsry. Tourney In
Hainauit, women are employed In
sreat numbers and are more skilled
han men. But no account OF their
Ibility is taken IN the wages paid
ham. which are for the most part
'itifuiy small.
When Dowie. ~ part Of his dream
4 . modern Zion In the United
ltatss, brought Q number of lace
workers. from Belgium. with the idea
4 making fortune from their work
10 made them no extravagant offers
4 salary. yet their Income was a.
much In one day AZ II had been In
month IN their native land.
But the lot of these linen work.
20 and lace makers IL q dream OF
uxury compared TO what some othor
,slstan women must endure.
What DID She Mean.
"Jinx is looking puzzled" |
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