The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-05-19
SLAVES OF THE NEEDLE.

Does it ever occur to the grand danes and fash
ionabe mondaines whose luxurious equipages block the
Rue de la Paix of afternoon that beyond the sculp-
tured panels and the massive mirrors of the salons
in which they try their beautiful there is
veritabe barracks, in which army of seamstesses
and apprentices ply their deft fingers hurry to and
fro' and toll from morning till night to produce the
creations which are the envy and admiration of
the world? There must be women who occas-
1onally bestow a thought on the clever pale-faced
girls who spend their lives in making dresses which
they wear; but if there are they do not seem
to have accomplished much for those who pass their
days in stuffy and i-ventated workrooms Of
course there such things State regulations
the younger girls not permitted to be employed
more than given number of hours per day. But in
the height of the season. when the Baronne X must
have her robe de soree finished for a grand recep-
ton, or prominent actress has been promised her
elegant costume in time for races the regulations
apt to be disregarded.
They cannot, however, be neglected with i'm
punity for if the shutters be closed precau-
uons taken to prevent the fantest glmmer of light
hterng through to the outside, and betraying the
fact that work is going in the ateers after the
usual closing hour, the Government Inspector is ant
to pay surprise visit and the door must be opened
Should any girl under the legal age be found on the
premises heavy fine is inflicted on the employer
Because of that many stratagems resorted to in
order to get the apprentices of the way I'm
medatey the peremptory knock of the Inspectress
heard at the door they hurried out by another
exit and when the official is admitted she finds herself
in the presence of only young whose ages per-
nit them to do overtime without transgressng the
law.
"The inspectress,' said the forewoman in
troubled voice. At that moment her eye fell on Jean
nette bright little apprentice, only II years age
She was quick intelligent child, who trotted up and
down stairs all day long with cotton and silks, TAX
ing corsage here and skirt there, and generally
running the innumerable errands which are the
chief occupation of the light-footed She
had never before been kept late in the workrooms
but this was an exceptional day, and overtime meant
few sous extra for Jeanette and staying with her
grown-up sisters, and made her feel quite important
person, the orewoman had given way to her pleading
request that she might be allowed to stay on But
here the nspectress
Here, Jeanette" said the "surveillante" and,
seizing the girl quickly by the shoulders pushed
her into a cupboard and locked the door. An in
sant later the nspectress made a tour of the rooms
and, finding nothing to report, bade the girls good
night Needles were piled more swiftly than before,
and finally the lovely dresses packed into their
boxes ready to be delivered the first thing in the
morning The lights turned out, and the tired
seamstresses went home.
few hours later anxous-faced woman in
rusty black, made her way to the Rue de la Paix and
begged the night watchman to tell her what had be-
come of her girl Jeanette. He said she had gone
home long ago. But the mother knew better. While
they talking the forewoman came hurriedly up
the workroom stairs, brushed past them and ran to-
ward a cupboard. With feverish haste she unlocked
it, and then fell in swoon the floor. A moment
later Jeannetes mother casping the lifeless form
of her little girl to her breast. When the under-age
apprentice pushed into the armore" it had been
forgotten that she deprived of air, and after the
visit of the Inspectress one had missed the child
Nowadays when the Governments employees make
their rounds of the workrooms in the Rue de la Pax
they always look inside the cupboards.-Paris Cor
respondent London Globe.