White Slaves | Page 2

poor. By the word "worthy" I do not mean to indicate a class of saints, but the poor people of the city who are willing and anxious to exchange honest hard work for their support. I have not, in the series of studies here presented, entered into a discussion of the vicious and criminal classes. I have tried to perform, as it seemed to me, a far more important task--to make a plea for justice on behalf of the crushed, and often forgotten, victims of greed, who work and starve in their cellars and garrets rather than beg or steal.
The larger part of the matter contained in these pages was originally delivered in a series of discourses from the pulpit of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church, South Boston, and retains here the direct form of the spoken address.
I desire to make a personal acknowledgment to some who have given me great assistance in making the investigations, the results of which are here recorded. I am greatly indebted to Mr. B. O. Flower, Editor of The Arena, for many kindnesses, and especially for the use of several interesting illustrations originally prepared for the magazine over which he so ably and gracefully presides. The Rev. Walter J. Swaffield, of the Boston Baptist Bethel, the Rev. C. L. D. Younkin, of the North End Mission, the Rev. Geo. L. Small, of the Mariners' House, the Rev. John G. May, of the Italian Mission, and that indefatigable reformer, Mrs. Alice N. Lincoln, have each put me under great obligations by their unwearying kindness and willing assistance. I am also greatly indebted to Mr. Sears Gallagher, the brilliant young South Boston artist, and to the veteran photographer of Boston Highlands, Mr. W. H. Partridge, for many courtesies in connection with the illustrations which illumine these chapters.
LOUIS ALBERT BANKS. BOSTON, September 15, 1891.

CONTENTS
I. THE WHITE SLAVES OF THE BOSTON "SWEATERS"
II. LETTER OF CRITICISM
III. REPLY TO A CRITICISM ON "THE WHITE SLAVES OF THE BOSTON SWEATERS"
IV. THE PLAGUE OF THE SWEAT-SHOP
V. THE RELATION OF WAGES TO MORALS
VI. THE WAGES AND TEMPTATIONS OF WORKING-PEOPLE
VII. BOSTON'S UNCLE TOM'S CABIN
VIII. SOCIAL MICROBES IN BOSTON TENEMENT HOUSES, AND HOW TO DESTROY THEM
IX. OLD WORLD TIDES IN BOSTON
X. OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE BOSTON PAUPERS
XI. COMMENT ON "OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE BOSTON PAUPERS"
XII. THE GOLD GOD OF MODERN SOCIETY

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PORTRAIT OF AUTHOR PORTUGUESE WIDOW IN ATTIC PORTUGUESE WIDOW AND CHILDREN LITTLE CHILDREN FINISHING PANTS INVALID IN CHAIR POSTAL UNIFORMS A TENEMENT-HOUSE COURT SUNDAY ON NORTH STREET CLARK'S MISSION NORTH END JUNK SHOP HOME OF THE MATHERS THE PEANUTTER INSIDE A SWEAT-SHOP PAUL REVERE HOUSE, NORTH SQUARE REAR OF NORTH END TENEMENT HOUSE COMMONWEALTH AVENUE DRYING "THE FIND" THE NORTH END MISSION A BOSTON "BRIDGE OF SIGHS" COURT OFF NORTH STREET CELLARWAY LEADING TO UNDERGROUND APARTMENTS SICK MAN IN UNDERGROUND APARTMENT AN ANCIENT TENEMENT ITALIAN FRUIT-VENDERS AT HOME COCKROACHES BY FLASH-LIGHT BANANA SELLER UNDERGROUND TENEMENT WITH TWO BEDS TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING EXTERIOR OF A NORTH END TENEMENT HOUSE WIDOW AND TWO CHILDREN IN UNDERGROUND TENEMENT THE BANK OF THE UNFORTUNATE OUT OF WORK A CHEAP LODGING-HOUSE THE "GOOD LUCK" TENEMENT HOUSE THE SAND GARDEN CHRIST CHURCH TOWER ON THE CUNARDER ON THE WAY TO THE RABBI PASSING THE QUARANTINE DOCTOR SURGICAL THEOLOGY BUILDING USED BY THE BRITISH AS A HOSPITAL VICTORIA SQUARE OAK DOOR AT ENTRANCE READING-ROOM AT FACTORY FERRIS BROTHERS' CORSET FACTORY QUARTER SECTION OF ONE OF THE WORK ROOMS THE QUEEN OF THE DUMP TRAMPS WOMEN'S HOSPITAL WARD AT LONG ISLAND GETTING A BREATH OF FRESH AIR ATTIC AT RAINSFORD ISLAND MARINERS' HOME CHILDREN PLAYING IN COPP'S HILL BURYING-GROUND DIGGING IN THE ASH-BARRELS IN WINTER FOUR SHINERS SOUTH BOSTON RAG-PICKERS

I.
THE WHITE SLAVES OF THE BOSTON "SWEATERS".
"Hard work is good an' wholesome, past all doubt; But 'tain't so, ef the mind gits tuckered out."
--JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL: Biglow Papers.
A wise man of the old time, after a tour of observation, came home to say, "So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such, as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter." If this report had been written by one who had been climbing with me through the tenement houses of not less than a score of Boston streets, conversing with the sewing-women, looking on their poverty-lined faces and their ragged children, breathing the poisonous air of the quarters where they work, and listening to their heart-rending stories of cruelty and oppression, it would be an appropriate summary of our observation. It is my purpose, at this time, to take you with me on a tour of observation. As well-lighted streets are better than policemen to insure safety and good order, so I believe