Cannibals all! or, Slaves without mastersFitzhugh, George
General
Cannibals all! or, Slaves without masters
Fitzhugh, George
Slave labor; Slavery -- Justification; Slavery -- United States; Working class
"623. In some of what are considered the best regulated
establishments, during the fashionable season, occupying about
four months in the year, the regular hours of work are fifteen,
but on emergencies, which frequently recur, these hours extend to
eighteen. In many establishments the hours of work, during the
season, are unlimited, the young women never getting more than
six, often not more than four, sometimes only three, and
occasionally not more than two hours for rest and sleep out of the
twenty-four; and very frequently they work all night.
"625. Miss O'Neil, Welbeck street, an employer, says--'In the
spring season the hours of work are unlimited. The common hours
are from six a. m. till twelve at night--sometimes from four a. m.
till twelve. Has herself often worked from six a. m. till twelve
at night for two or three months together. It is not at all
uncommon, especially in the dressmaking, to work all night; just
in the 'drive of the season,' the work is occasionally continued
all night three times a-week. Has worked herself twice in the week
all night. In some houses which profess to study the health of
their young people, they begin at four a. m. and leave off at
eleven p. m., never earlier. Has heard there are houses in London
which work on Sundays.
"628. Miss ---- ----, manager--'has been ten years a "first hand,"
which signifies the party who takes the superintendence of the
business, as overlooker of the young persons, cutter-out of the
work, &c. The common hours of business are from eight a. m. till
eleven p. m. in the winter; in the summer from six or half-past
six a. m. till twelve at night. During the fashionable season,
that is from April to the end of July, it frequently happens that
the ordinary hours are greatly exceeded: if there is a
drawing-room, or grand fête, or mourning to be made, it often
happens that the work goes on for twenty hours out of the
twenty-four, occasionally all night. Every season in at least
half the houses of business, it happens that the young persons
occasionally work twenty hours out of the twenty-four, twice or
thrice a-week. On special occasions, such as drawing-rooms,
general mournings, and very frequently wedding orders, it is not
uncommon to work all night; has herself worked twenty hours out of
the twenty-four for three months together; at that time she was
suffering from illness, and the medical attendant remonstrated
against the treatment she received. He wished witness to remain in
bed at least one day longer, which the employer objected to,
required her to get up, and dismissed the surgeon. It frequently
happened that the work was carried on till seven o'clock on Sunday
morning. If any particular order was to be executed, as mournings
or weddings, and they left off on Saturday night at eleven, they
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