Energy books

Half-an-hour only was allowed for lunch. Early in the morning, the
women were routed out in no gentle manner and by six o'clock the
unwholesome breakfast was over, and every one hard at work....
The girls were physically depleted from their hard work and poor
nourishment. Their hands were "blistered and puffed, their feet
swollen, calloused, and sore." One girl said, "Many a time I've
been so tired that I hadn't the courage to take my clothes off.
I've thrown myself on the bed and slept like dead until I got so
cold and cramped that at two or three in the morning I'd rouse
up and undress and crawl into bed, only to crawl out again at
half-past five."
As to wages, under the wretched "living-in" system the girls received
but eight dollars and ten dollars a month in money. But even those who
lived at home in no instance received more than twenty-five dollars
a month, and in many cases widows with children to support would be
trying to do their duty by their little ones on seventeen dollars and
fifty cents a month.


Pages:
83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107