The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1920-12-17
4 GLOOMY CHRISTMAS VI
FOR MILL OPERATIVES
Short Work and Shortened Pay Brings Terrible
Suffering to Hundreds of Families in Fac
tory Settlements


mills of this city working only
,art time and that on barely
more than half pay, and no pro-
spects in sight for other imme-
,1iate or more profitable en-
ployment there are dozens OF
families among the city's poor
est denizens which are facing a
bleak and dreary Christmas.
In many homes on Fleetwood Street
mr. SINNERS Avenue or most any other
s4rpet wherein these unfortunate people
dwell. one may find a cheerless hearth
Stone and a barren board seldom grac-
.J bv aught but the most frugal and
,npagre morsels.
Hungry-eyed little children in latter
cd and dirty dresses pitifuly attempt
20 plav in the muddy dooryards in front
of humble homes where cold and hum
GER make the outside more inviting
whenever the sun shines
There are families which wait in ap-
,rohension for the return Of their bread
winners day by day, fearful lest each
viii bring the end of the small employ
ment that enables them to keep body
and soul barely together. Families of
three to five persons who must strug-
Ole along on the slender support of an
income of eight to fifteen dollars
week. earned by spindling girls who toll
over whirling spindles nine hours day
and five days week.
There are families with invalid par
ents who have no other support except
this small income. Imagine five or SIX
reople trying to live on ten or fifteen
dollars a week and see how hard
struggle it is to maintain respectaolh-
ty. And then when one has to live In a
frigid home with dingy walls and bar
rem floors and empty cupboards, there
is no inducement to overcome the ap-
parent futility of decency.
A short while ago these mill workers
tho having neither ability nor education
to do anything better than toll IN these
mills. were fortunate enough to make
twenty five to thirty dollars week. A
few of them fortunately in good health
and By dint of much self-denial were
able to Law by little money. even buy
ing Liberty Bonds and here and there
a lot With the general readJus ustmen'
of other things however, the times have
changed a great deal. Some OF the mills
confined their operations to three day.
IN the week and the employees could on
" make half as much
After a time the mills Informed the
a,rpIoves that they might work full time
II they desired. But it was necessar!
that reductions of thirty to tltty pc
cent in the wages, be made. The mill
held out that money was being lost OF
that Dlan but interest in the employe
,.D.orragpd them to be liberal even tn
taoy were hired at loss. Employmeh
at reduced wages was optional win III
lnIlI hands, they might take up othe
worl, # they could find it, and incur
hard feelings on the part of former EN-
blowers. But there was no other Wor
here and they had neither money no
ability to seek other work elsewhere
it was necessary to go back TO the ol
Jobs
Now while working in dread OF VIVA
tho morrow will bring, they have q
money to purchase a few OF the NttI
pleasures expected at Christmas Wne
the children will hope for a Vlslt 1rol
Santa Claus. They can barely ou
enough groceries with their earning
they have no credit at the grocers' II
many have unpaid bills on their DooK
Many of these people have appealed
the Red Cross Chapter of this city al
organization is planning to dlstr1Du
many Christmas baskets. The Red Gro
is urging those who will, to contr1ou
clothing or food or confectioner1es, al
even discarded toys, which might Pc
haps contrive to add little JOY
some lonely childish heart.
Many of the poor people IN this >cl
have great deal of pride which max
them hesitate to admit their condltlo
The Red Cross has had to combat tf
condition which has caused many OF {
parents to deny their need and depr1
their children of many things viii
the organization wished to give the
Some of these people who nave OF
been making four Or five dollars we
because the City Power Plant failed
furnish current, won't admit they
in need, but will accept gifts which
not ostentatiously delivered.
Nobody can understand so well
roverty staring in the faces OF peol
in the desolate sections of this CT
without visiting these people. And
tho a visit in such a sordid atmosph'
bring nothing pleasant to refl
upon, perhaps those interested IN
manity will find some comfort IN
words of the man who said, 'lnasm1
We have done it unto the least
these, ye have done it unto me-"