White Slaves | Page 2

sympathy for the victims, and my indignation against the
cruel or indifferent causes of their misery, that I determined upon a
thorough and systematic investigation of the conditions of life among
the worthy Boston 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