TOO POOR TO STRIKE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1001, 24 June 1881, Page 3

TOO POOR TO STRIKE.

Tho suicide of a London shop-girl, who killed herself because she was “done to death ’’ with hard work, has attracted attention towards this class of women, and still more painfully to tho fact that tho efforts hitherto made to obtain for shop assistants tho right to sit down when they are not actually engaged in serving customers have practically had such insignificant results The question is really interesting to us. If ladies, as a class, would refuse to deal with the merchants who are so cruel to the female assistants as to lofuse to furnish them with neats, proprietors of shops would soon find out that it was for their interest to act well by their women assistants. In some places tho girls have not been allowed to sit down under any circumstances. “ Wave you scats provided for you?” “No.” “ Are you allowed to sit wiien yon are not serving?” “Well, we are not supposed to do it ; but we do when (and here eame a frightened look round) we are not neon.” “ You have no right,then?” “ Oh. no.” These tacts make one long that women could afford to strike, but they are too poor tor that. But just as the cry of tho captive has before now entered the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, so the sorrowful sighing of these may find entrance, and may —though inarticulate as that of the dumb animals—produce the desired freedom. In the meantime, women must not forget to do what they can. They must combine, and act quickly in the cause of women who cannot help themselves.