The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's WorkPenny, Virginia
General
The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's Work
Penny, Virginia
Women -- Employment
It is best to learn early in life. The Germans excel.
=189. Linseys.= An agent for a manufacturing company of linseys and
flannels in Rhode Island, writes: "I employ fifty-eight women in
spooling yarn and weaving, and pay from $3 to $5 a week. Our men are
paid $1 per day, because they are able to do more. Men run three looms;
girls, two. The organs that manufacture vitality in women are not
allowed, by lacing strings, to attain more than two thirds their natural
size. If nature could have her way with them, especially when young,
they would earn more in the weaving shop than men, because they are
naturally quicker and smarter. They are paid something while learning,
which requires three months. Good female workers have always been scarce
since I have been in the business--twenty years. We might employ more,
if we could get them. April, May, and June are the most busy seasons.
They work twelve hours. To shorten the time two hours would make one
sixth difference, which the work people would not be willing to lose. We
have more families than single help. Those who board pay from $1.75 to
$2.25 per week. The boarding houses have to be helped by us, to enable
them to take boarders at these prices." Mr. T., writing from Rhode
Island, mentions, in addition to the branches stated above as performed
by women, that of warping. He informs us, the work is not more unhealthy
than housework, but complains that his women are careless, in bad
weather, going to and from the mill. "Wages, when running full time,
average from $3.75 to $6 per week. Weavers are paid by the yard,
spoolers by the bunch, warpers by the web, and extra hands by the week.
Men's wages are from 75 cents to $1.25 per day, but men's board is from
50 to 75 cents per week more. The prospect for work in the future
depends upon the state of the country. Spring and summer are the best
seasons for work. From March 20th to October 20th, the hands work from
seven to seven; from October to March, until 8 P. M. Their wages are
according to the number of yards woven; so of course it is to their
interest, as well as our own, to run full time. We find male labor
scarcer than female. Most of our hands are Americans. Our mills are well
ventilated and well warmed. The company have a boarding house under
their own supervision, but the women are at liberty to board in private
families, and some do. The majority of young ladies in our employ are
farmers' daughters, not really compelled to work, but prefer to do it,
and in most instances use the means for obtaining an education.
Instrumental music is taught in a seminary near the mill, by a young
lady, who obtained her education with the means gained by working in
this mill. We have from one to three nights every week devoted to
literary societies, reading circles, &c., in all of which, the ladies
from this and neighboring mills take an active part. Some eight or ten
who worked at the mill during the summer are now attending school. Board
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