Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/321

 THE SWEAT-SHOP IN SUMMER 3 7

the other stunts the mental, moral, and spiritual growth of all those engaged in the fight for bread. When prosperity is flaunt- ing itself before the people's gaze, it seems incongruous that thousands upon thousands of citizens, nominally free, are in the thraldom of slavery more harassing than that banished forever by the Civil War. The black slaves were sure of food and shelter, while the white industrial slaves lead a most precarious existence. It is not pleasant to live with famine staring one in the face, and, in spite of the ingenious schemes for living on five cents a day originated by people with satisfied appetites and warm rooms, it is a serious matter for a woman alone in the city to try to live on two or three dollars a week. Such unfortu- nates who earn this pittance in the sweat-shop usually give up the struggle to maintain a decent appearance, and go about with the slouching gait and dull-eyed discontent that indicate a hope- less heart. The joy of service is unknown to them, and one cannot wonder. It is a simple thing to grow enthusiastic over the zealous delight that should be in the soul of the one who works with his hands, but the actual emotion is a dread travesty on the idealist's dream. Joyful thoughts are a mockery when one sews all day long in a dismal, unsanitary room and is only half fed. The sweater is fathoms below the factory operator in all that goes to make life more than mere physical existence.

I observed much while I toiled among the sweaters. It was no light task for one unaccustomed to machine- and hand-sewing to sit for hours and stitch, stitch, stitch, with every nerve tense in the effort to accomplish as much as possible ; it was no childish prank to endure the aching bones and dizzy head and weary eyes that are a part of such work. But I have purposely ignored much of this for two reasons. In the first place, I claim no heroism in enduring hardships, because they were self-imposed and for a purpose; and, in the second place, it would be neces- sary to charge much of my discomfort to inexperience. Any unusual physical strain brings with it undue weariness. So, while there is no significance attaching to my fatigue, it should be of keenest moment that there are thousands of women victims of a system vocal with the sobbing of children and the groans of