The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-18
new ENGLAND AND
The SOUTH TO-DAY
Continued from FIRST pase).


moved Into tho now textile manu-
featuring towns. In the light of the
changed conditions which aftcrwards
became prevalent in the New England
Textile manufacturing towns and the
similar situation existing to-day I'm the
South. It VIII be Instructive to consider
somewhat in detail this early class OF
opera tires aud the conditions under
which they lived.
Housing ana Living Conditions.
nc measures which made possible
'nis Intelligent ana efficient class of
miiiworkcrs is explained by late his
'oIiah OF Lowell, Mass. as follows
Whilc devoting his inventive skill
70 the perfectlny OF machinery. Mr.
Lowell. the author states. gave con-
'iuerhbie time Ia the Improvement of
those he employed. He had seen the
DEGRADED state Of the operatives in
England. and his chief endcavor. next
t after me httins Of his mill was to
INSURE such domestic comforts and re-
Stflctlons as would warrant the
parents OF New England in letting
their daughters enter his employment
he provided boarding houses. conduct
eo by reputable women. Furnished on
portunit'cs for religious worship, ana
:.
guard against, the evils which assail
the young who are beyond paren;u!
supervision.
The corporations were under ncces-
ATTY 10 provide food ana shelter for
those they employed. They ado,teh
slt. Lowelfs plan. so effectively insti-
tuted at Walthnin, and built boarding
houses and tenement houses. over
these rigid supervision was main.
tained, The food IN the former was
required 10 be Of Il certain standard
the rules governing the conduct Of
those who lived IN the boarding and
tenement houses were rather strict;
but they were wholesome"
Factory GIrTS story.
One OF the New England girls who
worked in the Lowell mills during
this period has left an interesting ac.
count of the situation which existed
during her employment. In writing OF
the methods by which the girls were
secured and the conditions under
which they lived and worked. her de-
scripuon affords a pleasing contrast
with the Lowell OF the present
Troops OF young girls came" she
writes. by stages and baggage wagons
men often being employed 10 90 to
other states ana TO Canada to collect
them at so much per head. and de-
iivcr Them at Tie factories
n very curious sight these country
girls presented to young eyes accus.
toned 10 More modern style of
things. when the large covered bag.
Ehse wagon arrived in front of a block
or corporation. they would descend
from 1t. dressed in various ana out.
iandish fashions, ana with their arms
brimiul of banLboXcs containing all
their worldly goods. on each OF these
was sewed a card, on which one could
read the old fashiomed New England
name Of the owner.
Those of the mill kris who had
homes generally worked from eight to
ten months IN the year; the rest OF
the time was spent with parents or
friends. 4 few taught school during
tho summer months.
The life In the cnrding houses WAS
very agreeable. These houses belonged
TO the corporation, and were usually
kept by widows (mothers Of mill giIls),
who were often the friends and udvis-
ers OF their boErdcrs
Each house was village or com
munity or itself. There fifty or sixty
young women from dlnercnt parts OF
New England met and lived together
When not ut their work hv naturR;
selection they sat In groups In thcIt
chambers. or in corner Of the large
dining room. busy AZ some agreeable
employment: or they wrote letters
read, studied, or sewcd. for. as p rule.
they were their own scamstrcsscs ANA
drossmakcrs"
Remarks his Dickens.
Charles Dickens. the novelist. during
his tour Of the United States, visited
Lowell. and has recorded HIS observa-
tons in his American Notes" Con.
corning the Impressions the living con.
ditions of the operatives made upon
him, he had the following TO say:
These girls, as have said. were
all well dressed: and that phrase ncces-
sariiy includes extreme cleanliness
They had servicea bile bonnets, good
warm cloaks. and shawls, and were
not above clogs and pattens More
over. there were places in the mills In
which they could deposit these things
without injury; and there were con
veniences for washing.
They reside In various boarding