Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1884 — The Wife’s Work-Basket. [ARTICLE]

The Wife’s Work-Basket.

Let the workingman lose a button from his coat or tear his trousers and how does the tariff then work ? Does it pity him and overlook such a little matter? By no means. Letthefol; lowing be proof of this: Peroent. Needles, sewing 35 Thread 80 Beeswax 30 Scissors 35 Buttons 35 And to complete the contents of the work-basket there should be named: Per cent. Pins. so Needles, knitting, darning, etc 35 Needles, crochet 35 Now read this with care, bearing in mind that these poor girls are compelled to provide their own cotton, needles, and thimbles: These seamstresses make a regular heavy pantaloon for 7 cents per pair. They are capable of making ten pairs per day of twelve hours. Boys’ pantaloons they make for sto 5 cents per pair, making fourteen to sixteen pairs per day of twelve hours. They work mostly seven full days In the week; someti'i es they will stop Sunday afternoon, but all work Sunday, and their average weekly earnings are about $3.81, providing no time Is lost. Overalls and jumpers they make for 80 to 48 cents per dozen. They generally work In “teams” of two, and they make ahopt three dozen per day, or In a working day of thirteen to fifteen hours they earn from 46 to 62 cents each. Oonld there be devised a more searching and oppressive system of “blood taxes.”—New York Herald.