From September 20 until March 20 we went to work at five o'clock in the morning and came out at eight o'clock at night, having the same hours for meals as in the summer-time.
For my services I was allowed forty-two cents per week, which, being analyzed, was seven cents per day, or one-half cent per hour.
Old-Time Profit Makers.
The proprietor of that mill was accustomed to make a contract with his help on the first day of April for the coming year. That contract was supposed to be sacred, and it was looked upon as a disgrace to ignore the contracts thus made. On one of these anniversaries a mother with several children suggested to the proprietor that the pay seemed small.
The proprietor replied: "You get enough to eat, don't you?"
The mother said: "Just enough to keep the wolf from the door."
He then remarked, "You get enough clothes to wear, don't you?" to which she answered, "Barely enough to cover our nakedness."
"Well," said the proprietor, "we want the rest." And that proprietor, on the whole, was as kind and considerate to his help as was any other manufacturer at that time.
The opportunities for an education among the factory help were exceedingly limited, as you can well see, both from the standpoint of time and from the standpoint of money.
But, gentlemen, we are living in better days. We work less hours, get better pay, live in better homes, and have better opportunities to obtain an education.