The New York Herald Newspaper, June 11, 1853, Page 2

Your five ebildres, after your hasband’s death?” we inquired. e “By sewing shirts, sir.” “You must have been paid well to enable you to @o that. How much were you able to make every week 7” “Paid well!” said the poor woman, with a look ‘of surprise ; ‘I was paid fifty cents for five shirts.” “That is, fifty cents each 7” “No, sir; but ten cents apiece.” “How many of them could you make in a day?” “Well, sir, if I sat steady at them from morning ill night I could sometimes make three in 8 day ; ‘bat I was not able to keep up at that rate, ard there were many days that I would not be able toearn More than ashilling a day.” “How many hoars did you work to make that?” “About ten, and sometimes twelve, hours a day; but I had besides that to attend to my house and my ehildren. My eldest little girl—she is about twelve years old—used to help me. When I had the rheuma- ‘fiam I don’t know what would have become of me if Miss 8. Badn’t found me out and given me some amistanee. She was very good to me; I would never have been able to get along without her, and I know she has done a great deal of good to more than me, and I will always feel thankful for it.” The poor woman was deeply affected by the re- membrance of the kindness and assistance of this benevolent lady, who, we venture to say, has, with- ‘out the slightest ostentation, done more real good than come of our so-called benevolent institutions. It would be well for the poor if there were many like her, but such unaffected benevolence is very rare. “ Well, sir,” resumed the poor woman, “I could not get along at this work, so I had to give itup.” I told the lady who attended in the store, that unless she gave me something else I should never be able to support myself and my children—and, indeed, sir, we were on the brink of starvation at that time. I told her that I wanted some other kind of work, and so she gave me sheets to stitch, and some pillow- eases. They were very heavy linen sheets for the double berths of ships, and she told me to make them very neat, saying that she would give me ® gocd price. She didn’t tell me the price at the time, but I thought it would be better than I got for the shirts. I got a dozen altogether; but as I was in very necessitous circumstances, I could not wait to make a whole dozen, and I had to mend in the half dozen by my little girl. I thought I would get a high price for them, and was very hope- fal indeed, on account of her having told me so; bat when my little girl came back, and told me that she would not give more than two and sixpence for the dozen, and that she had got no more than fifteen pence, my heart was nearly ready to break. I worked hard at them sheets because I expected I would be well paid for them, and I made them as neat as I could, and took great care with the stitch- ing. But when my little girl said that was all she got, I didn’t know whatto do. At last, I went down myself to know if she wouldn't give me any more, telling her that I couldn't make a living in that way; but instead of giving me any more, she abused me in the most scandalous manner. Then I wasso vexed, that I said she shouldn't get the other half dozen until she paid me a fair price for what I had done; and, sir, if you were just to see the work, you would cay that they were cheap at two shillings a pair, instead of two and sixpence a dozen. “How much could you earn every week, sewing sheets like these?” “I could not live at all, at this work; it would take wo days to make a half dosen.” “But you must have had some other means of sup- port; surely you could not maintain yourself and family when you were paid so poorly.” “J had no other wey but that, at the time; but I have had to give up needlework altogether, and now I wash fora living. I get along better at this, although I don't make much over two dollars eny week. During the winter I found it very hard to manage, and if | had not got some fuel for fire from the Almshouse, in the Park, and a dollar a month, besides what some good friends gave me, myself and family would have starved to death. Some time ago I fell down the stairs, and was so bruised that I eould not work for some weeks.” “But your little girl,’ we suggested, “could she not obtain employment in some of the workrooms down town? She would be able to earn at least a dollar a week, and that would be a great assistance to you.” “T did try that,and had her at work in a fancy box store in Pearl street, and was in great hopes that we would, after a little while, be more comfort- able; but after she had been there four or five weeks, “ How long were you working for the shirt store?” “T think it was about four or five months altoge- ther,and during that time I did not average more Than a dollara week. That was more thana year since, and then they gave better prices than they do now. ButI don't complain of the poor pay only— they used to abuse my child so when she brought the work to them. One time I sent a half dozen of shirts down to them, and they wero very neatly Stitched, but the woman who attended in the store wauced my child, and told hér that they were so badly done she would have to take them back. A man who was standing by looked at them, and said he thonght they were very well stitched, indeed, and called another to look at it; but she interfered between them, got quite angry, and told him it was none of bis business. So she sent them back, after ripping the gussets. (This is a triangular piece that goes on the shoulder to make it sit right.) After thinking what I should do, I con- cluded to go to my friend, Miss §., and tell her all about it; so I went to her, and when I told her she ‘was greatly annoyed, and said she would go right @own and take the shirts herself. I thought it bet- ter, however, to let the child take them, and this time the woman said they were well done, beci there were some persons in the store who knew me. “Could you make as much at the shirts a3 you could at any other kind of needlework which you obtained at the store!” “No, sir; when I got them, I made more at pillow- cases and towels. I could make a dollar and a half a week at them, working steadily from eight or nine o’clock in the morning till twelve at night, but it was only once in a while that I could get them.” “ How many rooms have you for yourself and five children?’ “Three altogether, but they are all very small, and I get them for five dollars a month.” We were shown these rooms. They were in the attic, and, though small, they were kept very neat and clean, The only really valuable piece of furni- ture which we saw was @ stove, and that we were told had been bought some weeks ago on credit, and Jad not been paid for yet. The person, however, from whom it was obtained was nov» hard creditor, and, knowing the difficulty which the poor woman hhad in providing herseif and family with food, did not trouble her for payment. The only semblance of a bed we could discover, was a cot, on which was a straw mattress, considerably the worse for wear, anda few bedclothes. As we did not see any ther cot, we naturally supposed that some of the family must sleep on the floor. The remainder of the furnitare consisted of about four chairs, a couple of tables, and a few kitchen utensils. In reply to a question as to how she contrived to pay her rent when she conld not make more than tywo dollara a week, she said she was in debt to a considerable amount to her landlord, and that if he were not a good charitable man, and like many landlords, she would have been turned out on the streets. “ When Tam not able to pay Mr. D.," she said, “ he waits, for he knows if 1 bad it that I would not be in debt to any one. He was always very kind to me, and when my child was sick he bought many nice little things for her.” “ Have you been able to send your children to sehool?”’ we inquired. “ Not since my husband died,” she replied. “1 did formerly, bot, poor girls, 1am not able to send than wow. They are good children, and if they had employment I bave no fear of their not being able to i cried when I thought of their conditien, poor things. I never thought my children or myself would be ever 60 reduced, for at one time we were in very good cfroumstances. I have worked, alr, till twelve o'clock at night, from an early hour of a cold winter's morn- inj try and support them and clothe them com- formmly, but I could not do it. Idid a great deal of the work by the light of the candle, till I could scarcely see to stitch.” “« Are there any others in this house who are as poor as you?” “No, sir; all the women have their husbands, and live more comfortably than I do. Some months ago there were two shirt sewers who lodged with me, and who paid me three shillings a week each for cleeping with me in the win- ter, and for whatever fre they used, which was very little. They did not make more than nine or ten shillings a week, and they worked hard to make that. They were both very good sewers, and did their work nice and neat. I have.seen them sit and sew till they would be hardly able torise. They were paid nine shillings a dozen for the shirts which they made, but these had yokes and fall bosoms. After stitching tor some time at them, the price was reduced from nine shillings to six shillings, because the person for whom they were made said he could net afford to pay more. Before taking out this work they were obliged to pay a deposit of a dollar anda half. One of them was a woman about forty-five years of age, and the other about thirty. They were both very quick sewers, and if they got a good price for their work they could have lived very comferta- bly, but after paying me three shillings a week they had not more than five or six shillings for them- selves, and with that they bought tea and bread. It was very seldom they could buy meat, and they had always to eat their bread dry, for they were not able to buy butter. “ How much did it cost them every day for food alone ?” “Well, sir, as near as JI can judge, it took about ninepence every day; but some weeks they would not have enough to support themselves, and then they were compelled to borrow sixpence or a shil- ling to get a loaf of bread, and work hard the next week so that they would be able to pay it again.” “ Where are those women now?” we asked. “ One of them lives close by here, and is still sew- ing for a living; but, on account of the reduced prices, she finds it harder to get along now than ever she did before.” Our conversation ended here, and we left the house with the most melancholy feelings. Here wasa poor woman endeavoring to maintain herself and five children on little more than two dollars a week, and the assistance she received from a few kind-hearted friends like Miss 8. Often she was without the means of procuring bread for her children; and when lying sick from #xcessive work, they would have starved if they had not been taken care of by the poor people living in the house. Yet, the establish- ment from which she obtained work was what is commonly called a benevolent institution, and in its annual reports makes a great display of the good it has accomplished, and the number of poor who have been provided through its instrumentality with the means of a comfortable subsistence. Its mana- gers and directors, of whom there is a long list ap- pended to the report, are doubtless ignorant of the suffering of many of the poor creatures who receive “a comfortable subsistence” from it. ANOTHER CASE OF DESTITUTION—THE RE- SULT OF THE LOW PRICE SYSTEM. In a rear house in Mulberry street, occupying two rooms, we found the second shirt sewer whom we visited. One of the rooms was occupied both asa kitchen and a sleeping apartment, and the other, which was about six feet by nine, was used solely as a bedroom. Both of the rooms were of the worst de- scription, yet the rent of them was four dollars and a half a month. The poor woman who occupied them said that she had herself and two children to support upon about two dollars a week. She was enabled to pay the rent, however, by taking in three lodgers, a young man, his wife and child, who paid them about four dollars a month. One of her daughters, a young woman, nineteen years of age, was at service, and rendered her some assistance. She worked hard, that she might be able to send her children to school, for she was anxious to give them some education, no matter how little. We inquired how long she had worked cn shirts. “ Seven years,”’ she replied ; “and in all that time Tnever could make more than a dollara week. I get four cents a shirt, without putting in the bosoms or the collars, which are done by the women in the store for which I work. Some days, by working from seven in the morning till twelve at night, I have made five shirts. The man who employs me is very good to me, and when I am in want of a dollar always advances it tome. By putting on the collar and the bosom I would get one cent more, but I could not make so much at that, so I had to give it up,and keep to the bodies. One time I took some wrist- bands and collars,and got ninepence a dozen for doing them, but I couldn't make s¢ iauch at them either as I did at the shirt bodies. When my daugh- ter was at home she worked on caps, and made from twelve to fourteen shillings a week, but I thought she would be more comfortable at service, so I let her go.” We looked at the furniture, which was on a par with the appearance of the /house, and which we would suppose would not be valued at more than five dollars. There were four chairs,a ricketty table, a looking glass, some cups, saucers, plates, a pot and a kettle, which, with a few other kitchen utensils, | of furniture which ap- | were the only articles peared to be in the kitchen. The bedroom we did not examine, but from its general appearanee we should think it was as destitute of furniture. We were told that only a part of this was her own, the remainder belonged to her lodgers. The person for whom this shirt sewer worked had, she informed us, between three and four hundred persons em- ployed in his establishment, only a few of whom he furnished with work to take home. ‘ Sometimes,” she said, ‘I get washing and scrubbing to do, and then I make more than J could at the shirts.” Desiring to know how she lived on two dollars a week, we asked what kind of food she bought. “ Sometimes,” she replied, ‘Iam able to get a little toa, and some days we have to do with bread and molasses. On Sundays we generally cet a piece of meat, and live more comfortably than on any other day.” “ Why did you not try to get better work ?” we in- quired. “ Well, to tell you the truth, I am not able to do fine work,’ she said; “and as Mr. —— gave me steady employment, I did not like to leave him.” The shirts which she handed us to look at “were certainly coarsely sewed and woald not beara close éxamination; but so far as we could jud, the work on edch shirt was worth at least three shillings. There were about seven yards of eewing upon one, 0 that the poor woman in mak- ing four, sewed twenty-eight yards, which is at the rate of a cent for every two yards. The profit on each of the shirts was over two shillings—that is, more than double the cost of making them. Nine pence a dozen is paid for the collars, and six pence each for sewing in the collar and stitching and sew- ing in the bosom. The following isa fair estimate of the cost of the muslin and linen, the amount paid for the work, the profits realized, and the rice for | whieh each shirt is sold :— Cents. Three-quarters of a yard of linen, for breast and collars, at 3 shillings per yard ‘ : Three yards of muslin, at 8 conts per yard 24 For sewing the body of the shirt........ 4 For stitching the coflar..........+ gern ese 1 For stitching the bosom and sewing it in with thie collar.......6eecseeeee o¥voGaaewnens 6 Total , reas, Price at which the shirt is sold in the store.. $1 00 Profit realized from sale.......6060s0eeeeeee aT Now, here we have a profit of thirty-seven cents, alized on every shirt made by this poor creature, getalong. Ob,many times,” she continued,“ Thave | | | | ‘who is stwagglinig’ from day to day to Keep hervelf and children from starving. But we have dwelt long enough on these painful facts, and will leave them for the consideration of the public, with the hope that something effectual will soon be done for the relief of the poor shirt sewers. FRAUDS AND CONDUCT OF EMPLOYERS. There is, cofar as we are aware, more deception and fraud practiced upon shirt sewers than upon any other class of operatives in the city. The majority of em- ployers pay their workers their earnings regularly every week; but we are sorry to say there is a large number who resort to the vilest means to defraud those in their employment, and it is impossible for the poor women to obtain redress. Occasionally a flagrant case comes to the knowledge of the public through the press; but there are hundreds of such that are never made known. The Jaw which pun- ishes the thief for a petty act of larceny has provided no penalty for such gross injustice and fraud; and if it did, we doubt if it could be executed. Among the many of which we have heard, and some of which have come under our own personal observation, we will mention a few of the most flagrant- It is customary with some establish- ments to advertise for fifty or a hnn- dred shirt sewers, promising permanent work and good prices to neat hands and quick sewers. The morning the advertisement appeara the store is generally crowded with applicants, each of whom is required to furnish a specimen of her work before she is “ permanently employed.” The linen for a collar or a bosom is given to the woman, and she hurries home with it, full of hepe for the future. That night she sits up till twelve o’clock, stitching away till her eyes grow dim, and early next morning, af- ter a few hours fitful sleep, she appears before her employer with beating heart. He furnished her with the linen in the blandest manner he could assume, but when ehe returns with the work he receives it with an air of dissatisfaction, says she has destroyed his goods, and flings it om the desk, telling her that she is not fit to sew sacks. The poor shirt sewer leaves the store with tears in her eyes; and with her heart almost ready to break, returns to her miserable abode in a garret or a cellar, where she finds her children crying for bread. Is it any wonder that at such a moment the fortitude and strength of mind which sustained her under all her sufferings should forsake her, and that to procure bread for her starving children she should sacrifice herself? When the poor, broken-hearted woman leaves the store, the miserable wretch who keeps it picks up the work which he had but the moment before thrown down with well-feigned disgust, admires the stitching, puts it by, and chuckles over the success- ful trick he has just performed. In this manner he gets fifty or a hundred shirt collars and breasts done in one morning for fifty cents—the price he pays for the advertisement. The advertisement is published every morning for a whole week, and every day the same scene is enacted in his stere. There are some stores which pursue a more profit- able system of fraud than that we have just de- scribed. They require a deposit of a dollar on the material, with the understanding that it will be re- turned when there is no more work. Three or four shirts, or a large number of collars and breasts, are given to the sewer, with directions to return them with all possible despatch, and with the promise that she will get more work if they are neatly done. Af- tera lapse of few days the work is returned to the store; but, asin the former case, it is found fault with, and the store keeper says the material is so badly damaged that she must keep the dollax to pay her for it. Numerous instances of the kind“nave oc- curred, and we deem it but our daty to expos’ them whenever they come to our knowledge. We do not think it is wrong to demand a dollar deposit from a strange applicant, for in some instances we have heard they never return the articles; but we believe it leads to more injustice towards the workwoman than it does towards the employer. Acts of dis- honesty are very rare among shirt sewers, and indeed among ell our industrial classes. Besides, an honest employer, we think, would rather lose a dollar occa- siona!ly than allow the practice to be converted into a mcaus of imposition upon the sewers. We have a word to say to the shirt manufacturers, before dismiss- ing this part of our subject. Do not treat your workers as if they were utterly destitute of feeling, or allow those in your employment to do so. NUMBER OF SHIRTS MADE IN NEW YORK— THEIR VALUE, AND THE AMOUNT PAID TO SHIRT SEWERS. We have estimated the number of shirt sewers in New York at five thousand, each of whom makes one shirt a day—this, of course, includes all kinds, coarse and fine. Allowing two dollars for each shirt, we find that their total value is ten thousand dollars; so that the value of all the shirts made in this city year- ly is $3,130,000, which is rather under than over the actval amount at which they are sold in the retail stores. Each shirt sewer earns on an average two dol- lars and a half a week, making the aggregate yearly garnings about $600,000, More than one third of all the shirts made here are sent to the South and West by ovr wholesale shirt manufacturers, of whom there are about twenty altogether. THE SHIRT SEWERS’ CO-OPERATIVE UNION. Several attempts have been made to establish in- dustrial aseociations for the benefit of the seam- stresses of New York; but they have all, with one or two exceptions, signally failed. Whether this was from want of experience, mismanagement, or want of integrity in those who were entrusted with the management of thgir financial concerns, we have not been informed. Some existed for three or four years, and doubtless did some good; but it was not of apermanent character. There are at present, we believe, only two in the city—The Mariner's Fami- ly Industrial Society,” and “The Shirt Sewers’ Co- operative Union.” The latter was established in March, 1851, for the purpose, as its constitution states, “of benefitting the shirt sewers individually as members, and collectively asa body of opera- tives.” It propoed to do this, first, by placing them in a position to secure to themselves the fall product of their labor; and second, by placing them beyond the caprice of employers, by teaching them to em- ploy themselves. Each shirt sewer, on entering the association, is required to pay an initiation fee of twenty-five cents before she can become a mem- ber. As the shirt sewers were not possessed of the means themselves to establish a store for the reception and sale of work,a number of benevolent ladies advanced the necessary funds for the purpose. These formed a Board of Managers, who were required by the constitution to relinquish their authority to the operatives when the scrip should be redeemed. As the society has never been able todo this, the managers have retained their authority to the present time, The store of the Union is situated in Bleecker street, near Broadway, and employs at present be- tween forty and fifty, seamstresses. Last summer, about four hundred dollars worth of work was stolen from the store; but the los was repaired bya fair which was held scon efter, for the benefit of the as- sociation. Since then it has succeeded very well, though not as well as might be expected from its benevolent character, and the claims which all sueh societies have upon the publie patronage. Some of the sewers, we were told by the store- keeper, can earn four dollars a week,)but we under- stood that was the utmost, and to make so much they have to work early and late. The majority, however, do not make more than three dollars a week, while | there is a considerable number whose weekly carn- ings do not exceed two dollars. We were shown some of the work done by the sewers, which would compare favorably with any exhibited in the first stores in Broadway. The breasts are stitched with remarkable neatness, and a few specimen shirts are embroidered with admirable taste. We wonder, however, that the store is not more extensively pat- ronized, and think there {s nothing to prevent it from competing with any in its vicinity, for we under- ‘and that in come of them, the sewers obtain » higher price for their work. MARINERS’ FAMILY INDUSTRIAL SOOIETY. This society was organised about nine or ten ago, for the commendable purpose of providing work “at a fair remuneration, for the female members of the families of seamen; and to relieve the necessities of such families of the same as are incapable of labor, including their widows and orphans.” An act of in- corporation was passed by the Legislature in April, 1849, but we believe the State does not contribute any- thing towards its support. It is maintained at present mainly by donations and the profits realized by the sale of the work. As these are very small, it is im- possible for the managers to pay what might be called a fair price for the work; besides, the sick whoare unable to earn anything, are entirely depend- ent upon them. But a small proportion of the werk done here consists of shirts, and these are princi- pally made of coarse material. The last annual re port says that ninety women were either fully or partially employed in making 10,028 garments, dur ing the past year. For this they received $1,838 64» which gave to each seamstress an average of about $200, or four dollars per week. There were many, however, who did net get more than two dollars, and we know of one woman who did not get more than one dollar and » half a week. A WORD OF ADVICE TO SHIRT SEWERS. The impoverished condition of a large body of the shirt sewers has often excited the sympathy of the community, but no permanent means of relief have yet been devised. Associations have been founded for their benefit, but the little good they have thus far accomplished, after repeated trials, has proved, to our mind at least, that it is impossible to amelio- rate the condition of the great body of the shirt sew- ers through their means. Now, let us not be mis- understood—we do not censure, but rather award them our praise, for the partial good they have done; but we say they cannot relieve one tenth of the des- titution that prevails among this class of our popula- tion. We know of only two associations of the kind in New York, and both of these do not employ more than one hundred and fifty women. Now, why can’t the women work for themselves instead of working for stores? The dressmakers do so, and they can make four, five, six, and sometimes eight and ten dollars a week. The plan is simple, and if adopted we have no doubt will be of more real eervice to the shirt sewers than any that has yet been presented to their notice. In the first place we would advise them to place a sign on the fronts of their houses, somewhat after this style— Ps ecocececeoooeosoooocooee © SHIRT SEWING DONE HERE, ON THE MOST REASONABLE TERMS, ocopo Seco000 eoocooo oc oo OOOO OOOO OOOO Or after this fashion— 200000000 000000000000000 o ° ° SHIRTS MADE IN EVERY STYLE, ° ° ° ° WITH NEATNESS AND DESPATCH. ° o ° ©0020 eeccoesoooocoooSoOOSoO We have heard many of our friends say that they would not deal in stores for their shirts if they could only find persons to make them, and there are thousands of persons throughout the city who would rather pay one or two shillings more for the mak- ing of one, if they knew that,it went directly into the pocket of the worker. But persons who keep shirt stores must have their profits, and they incur, besides, heavy expenses in the pursuit of their business. Now all this must be paid out of the labor of the poor sewer ; and consequentty, for the support of one estab- lishment, one or two hundred shirt sewers must be kept poor. We do not find fault with the employer for this, but we see no reason why one or two hun- dred persons should suffer for the benefit of one. Now, we hope we have made ourselves clear upon this point. Let us illustrate it by a few facts: For the making of one shirt an employer pays half a dollar, and receives three or four shillings profit upon the sale of it. If he has one hundred shirt sewers em- ployed, and each is able to make one shirt a day, he realizes from forty to fifty dollars daily. Out of this he has to pay perhaps a thousand or fifteen hundred dollars a year for the rent of astore, work rooms, and the salaries of his salesmen, or saleswomen, clerks, and whatever help he may require, while the residue, amounting to two or three thousand dollars a year, is required to support himself and family. Now, we will regent this proposition under an” other aspect. There are hundreds of married women in New York, who would willingly hire shirt sewers to make up their linen, aud board them in their own houses, besides paying them a better price than they can get from the stores. For young women who have none but themselves to support, engagements of this kind would be very acceptable, we have no doubt. A sign like the following would answer all their purposes :— ecocoosscoso cooceooeocecec$5 ° ° SHIRT SEWING DONE OUT ON REASONABLE 0 ° TERMS. eoe00 °° ecooo eoococoooococoooN A few shillings would purchase a sign like this, and the shirt sewers might continue working for stores until they received sufficient custom to enable them to set up entirely on their own account. THE SONG OF THE SHIRT. We cannot better conclude our account of the shirt sewers than by republishing Hood’s “ Song of the Shirt.” It is peculiarly appropriate in this place; and our readers will find, from the scenes of destitu- tion we have presented from real life among a por- tion of the shirt sewers of New York, that the misery it describes is not exaggerated, but painfully true. We hope it will not be read with a feeling of indiffer- ence, and that the facts which we publish today may be the means of relieving this oppressed class of our working women. The best way to aid the shirt sewer is by patronising those who set up on their own account. Let those who have abundance of means, and who feel so disposed, furnish them with a sign, and, if necessary, a few articles of furnitureto make their rooms look neat, and they will do more real good than they could in any otherway. We hope many days will riot elapse before we shall see signs, such as those we have suggested, posted up on every house occupied by a shirt sewer.:— With fingers weary and worn, With eyelids heavy and red, A woman sat, in unwomanly rags, Plying her necdle and thread. ititech—stitch—stiteh ! Ta biraede hunger, and dirt; And still with a yoiee ef dolorous pitch She sang the ‘Song of the Shirt!” “ Work—work—work ! While the cock is erowing aloof ! And work—work—work, ‘Till the stars shine through the roof It’s 0! to be a slave, Along with the barbarous Turk, Where woman has never a soul to save, If this is Christian work ! © Work—work—work ! TL the beain begins to swim; Work—work—work | Till the eyer avy and dim ! Seam, and gusset, and band, { Band, and cuseat, snd seam, ‘Till over the buttons I fall laa And sew them on ina dream 0! men, with sisters dear ! O! men, with moth It is not nen you're But human creature: Stitch—stiteh— In poverty, hunger and dirt; Sewing at once, witb a double thread, A shroud as well as a shirt, But why do I talk of death ? That phantom of grisly bone; Therdly fear his terrible shape, Tt reems go like my own. It seems £0 like my own, Because of the fasts I keep, “Oh, God! that bread should be so dear, And flesh and blood #0 cheap | Work—work—work ! My labor never flags; And what are its wages? A bed of straw, ‘A crust of bresd und raga. That shatter’d roof—nnd this naked floor— A table—a broken chair; And a wall so blank my shadew I thank | For sou otimen falling there | “Oh! but to breathe the breath Of the With the And the grass beneath feet, For ‘one #) To feel as I used to fc Before I knew the woes of want And the walk that costs s meal! “Ob! but for one ehort hour! ‘A respite however brief ! No blessed leisure for love But ovly time for grief! A little weeping would ease my heart; ae Shels bey bed rs must stop, fer every drop imdera needle Ky thread |” or hope, owanly rags, Flying her needle and thread— stitch—stitch—stitch | Tn poverty hunger and dirt, And still with a voice of dolorous pitch— Would that its tones eould resch the rieh— She sang this ‘Song of the Shirt!” The Russ Pavement, SUPREME COURT. Before Judge Roosevelt, CORNELIUS B. DE BAUN AND ANOTHAR, AGAINST HORACE P, RUSS AND GEORGH W. REID AND OTHERS, Mesers. Komgen and Talmadey avd W. Curtis Russ & Reid; Robert J. Dillon for the Corporatiog; auf Frederick A. Talmadge, ‘specially employed by owbhes of © pavement, property in favor of ‘The motion for the plaintiffs to file security for the damages the defendants will sustain by reason of the temporary injunction issued te restrain the execution of the Russ and Reid contract for paving the Bowery, came <p this morning before Judge Roosevelt, sitting at Cham- ‘m. Curtis Noyes, for plaintiffs, asked that the motion postponed, in order to enable the plaintiffs to prepure i rs in answer to those introduced by the is & Reid. He stated that the papers had been serve on the atiorneys for the plaintiffs as late as Tuesday after- noon, Mr. Willard, in behalf of Mesrra. Russ & Reid, opposed the application to adjoura the motion, He stated that the Jnjunet{on ‘was a great injury to the defendants, and that they should be indemnified against that injury with- eut delay. He contended that complainants, in at- tempting to restrain the prosecution public improvement, demanded b: voice of the tsx:payers of this ci couraged i tia toate to d 8 case. ir. Brady urged the necessity of immediately disposi of this motion.” He contended that it was e oar idea, first advanced in this case, that the owners of a pa- tent right had no right to solicit a contraet from a city Solperetes anda city corporation no right to avail it- self of the improvements in science, and of the skill and ingenuity of persons who have perfected themselves in a partfeular branch of art. em ir. Noyes strenuously urge: jponement of the motion, ad cemplaized that he Was foreed into eourt un. prepared. Judge Roosevelt ordered the motion to stand over until Eaturday next, at his chambers, a gieat work of the almost unanimous , Ought not to be en- Coroners’ Inquests. DEATH OF A BOY AT THE HOUSE OF REFUGE. Coroner O’Donnell held an Popa on Thursday, at the House of Refuge, on the body of John Callaghan, one of the inmates of that asylum, sged thirteen years, a native of New York, who it seems came to his death caused by serous apoplexy. The evidence of Mr. Ketcham, the very efficient superintendent of the establishment, was given as follows:— rn, taid—I am the superinten- Jebn W. Ketcham, swor dent of the House of Refuge; the deceased was admitted into this house cn the 2lst of October, 1852, from Ran- Galle Island, by commitment of the Governors of the Almehouse; when admitted, he stated that he knew tothirg of his father; his mother resided somewhere in Flizabeth street; he seldom raw her; his name was Joha ft he gave his age as thirteen years, and must have been thirteen yeara and nine months at the time of his death, which occurrrd on Monday morning, about cleven o'clock in the forenoon; the deceased was gene- rally rather a dull boy, not of much intellect; on last Friday afternoon, he was taken with a stupor, anda short fit of insenribility; he soom recovered, and, efter lying in bed on Friday night, he rose about half-past five On Saturday morning, and appeared to be better; he took his meals tolerably well until Monday morning; at about half past five o’cleck on that morning, he complained seri- ouely of his herd; bis head continued eching violent: ‘until eleven o’clock, at which time he suddenly expired, The evidence of Mr. Ketcham was corroborated by t! ture in the Hospital; and Dr. Uhl, who made th Lg mortem exaniination, testified that he opened the head of deceased, and found the brain very much congested, and the ventricles filled with serum. ee this examination, the Doctor testified as his opinion thst death resulted from serous apoplexy. . The jury rendereg a verdict of “death caused by serous spoplexy.”” DISINTERMENT OF A STILL-BORN CHILD—A CURIOUS CASE—CERTIFICATE OF BURIAL GIVEN BY A BHOE- MAKER, Coroner Hilton held an inquest on Thursday, on the bod; of a Etill born child, which had been buried on a certifi- cate made bya German shoemaker, named Quenzer, re- siding at No, 318 Third street. The wife. Margaret Quen- zer, Gesignates herself a midwife, and attended the mo- ther of the child. The following 18 @ copy of the certifi- cate, verbatim :— 1853— Beret by that this shild of Mr Moris Gali ve ere’ at this shild of Mr a8 dead at the Th of June 1563. in the ‘Houre No. aL, Colambin New Yorx den 7th of June sqreet, Corthi lew York den 7th June. 1853— Dr M. QUENZER. Information having eome to the Coroner, he instituted the following inquiry, and witnes:es were sworn :— Margeret Quenzer, sworn, said—I reside at No. 318 Third strcet; I sttended Mra. , the wi f Marcus Gollid, of No. 91 Columbia street, about 6 o’clock on last Monday morning; she was cenfined of » male child; it was at full time; I could tell by its nails; it was born dead; my husband gave a certificate of burial; my husband ia a shoemaker; he is in the habit of writing certificates for e burial; he wrote the certificate now exhibited for me. Marcus Gallin, sworn, raid—The mother of the deceased child is my wife; the deceased was born last Monday came hoi morning; Iwas not at home at the tim about seven o'clock; the child was th bend of Mrs. Quinzer is a shoemaker she could not write, but to to her would give me a certificate; never saw my wife or child te my knowledge. Sumuel Pinner, sworn, said—I reside at 534 Grand street; I have charge of the Jewish Cemetery in Ninety- eighth street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues; Mr. Gal- lin brought me the certificate now showa to me, and I buried the child on it; it does not bear the appearance of a regular certificate; Idoubted its being genuine, but it was signed Doctor, so I thought I was safe. Dr. James H. Hyatt, sworn, said—I have examined the deceased, and my opinion is that it wan sti!l-born. ‘On the ebove testimony the jury readered the following verdict : That the deceased was stillborn, and we stroog- ly recommend the proper authorities to keep a strict sur: veillance over sextons and others having charge of ceme- teries, feeling satisfied that ee wrongs are daily com- mitted under their special privileges. UNKNOWN MAN FOUND DROWNED. Coroner O'Lonuell held an inquest on Thersday, at the foot of 148th etreet, North River, on the body of an un known man, found desd, floating in the river ut that place. ‘The boy was without clothing and it is supposed the deceased was Lathing at the time he lost his life. The Corener describes the ceceatod te be about thirty-five yours of age, five fect eight inches in height, and brown hair. Oa his breast was # wark in blue jrk; also, the representa, tion of a rose, with blue ink, on his wrist. Verdict, death by drowning. Kiviep me FALunG rrom A Scarroup —Coroner Gamble on Wednesday held an inquest at 183 Fast ‘Iwenty-third street, on the body of Philip A. Deits, aged twenty one yeare, born in Newark, a mason by trade, who accident ally fell from @ scaffold on which he was at work in Six- teenth street, peering injary which resulted in his death pees afterwards. Iveppears by the evidence of the wife of the deceased that she was walking witha neighbor, and accidentally came along Sixtcenth street, and seeiag a crowd collected at come buildings in ceurse of erection, inquired the difficulty, and was told a mason had fallon off the scaffold and was killed; she inquired the name ef the man, and found it to be that of her husband. Tho jury revdered the foowing verdict :—That deceased came to bis death by injuries accidentally received by falling from a scaffold, a distance of about sixty feet, on whiek he was at work. A Cunp Burnt 10‘ Deatn.—Yesterday Coroner O’Don- nell held an inquest at No. 269 Water street, on the body of a ebild ramed Mary Cookley, aged eiglt years, who came to her death by the upsetting of » lighted csndie, thereby setting fire to her clothing and burning her per- ron, whieh eaused her death. It appears by the evidence that the parents of the deceased had left the house to attend the wake of @ brother’s child, leaving the decoased and an elder daughter to take charge of the apartment. After amusing themselves for a short time) the deceased fell asleep, and upsetting the candle set fire to her cloth- ing and hai nd before the flames could be extinguished the poor chilé was burnt fatal manner, causing her death ina few ho ifter. Uxxxowx Max Fourn Drowmep —Coroner Gamble, on Wednerday, held an inquest at the foot of Burling alip on the body of an unknown man,aged about twenty fire years, apparently « nat! of Germany, found floating is the dock foot of rai ‘The deceased had long, light color. ed hair, with o tee on the chin; he was dressed ina green cloth frockYcoat, with brass buttons, maroon color ed vest, embroidered, black its, and red comforter round his neck, cosrse linen shirte, with the mark A A. No, 2 written the: The jury rendered « verdic! of “death by drowniny Row Over ny A Wacoy Axp Kitten —Coroner Hilton, on Wednesday, held an inquest at the New York Hospital, on the body of James Tuliy, Cg forty years, born in Ire- land, who came to his deat by injuries accidentally re- ceived by falling from, and being run over by ® wagon whi @ WAS Ae at the time, corner of Broadway and Canal streets. Verdict accordingly. A Crp Kitten By A Dirt Cart —Coroner Hilton, on Wednesday, held an inquest at 135 West Sixteenth street, on the body of « child fcur years of age, named George Henry MeFadden, who came to his death by being ran dirt cart. The jury rendered the following ‘That deceased came to his death by injuries lly received by being run over by a dirt cart in Fifteenth atreet; and that, from the evidence, the jury call the attention of the authorities to the proper pum bering of the dirt car Charge of Murder on the UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT. Before Justice Nelsen. RAAL OF DANIEL MOLORY, op mms amr noses; (CHARGKD WHE THE ov Juxe 10.—Cro dea “os the yy ae yor as 00. Gating this extraordinary and protracted trial, tt “4 | more thronged sppearanes this mor: Ww yers and laymen being anxious to hear the > tiducted by th el Gases oguanes tht’ was Se 1e wel 10" eloquence was phe @ halls on this occasion. = decrtsira ts sogtines jury on of Capt. Molony. The learned Counsel spoke Ins strain of the mont touehizg sloquence for three hours and a quarter, re viewing and commenting upom the evidence ps the pro- seeution, which he pronounced contradictory in iteelf— contradicted not only by every cireumstaneo ef probabi- lity, but by every clroumstance of pousibility. "ile con- cluded by pronouncing the ascusation » false conspiracy, concocted by Waddington, feninns one who, wit patronage, rose from an humble position before the mast te the command of vessels—a man who, when Waldron, one of the witnesses for the prosecttion, taghnaed him- self, took the truss from his own suffering body and gave itto him—a man whe gave his clothes to the poor be railers, and to Emanuela of boots, the 6 een Proved, was Hind, af Mastate to the grant paatangers, eon ° poor em! the esteem of all ef them, who now and have thro the office of his »king to be allowed to testify to the character kindness of Captain Molony—a man whose goed- ified to b: ihe pessengsre; by te r of ene who has éntrui his son with him, an@ by the agent of one of the largest shipping houses in this ity, who had the opportunity of ascertaining his eha- racter from sailors—a man who, living in a meigh- boring city, won the love and frieadship of all who knew him, and who came to this eity, without fee or reward, to testify to his cha- raeter. If the testimony for Captsin Molony be not false, would the jury believe that a man whose conduct ‘been marked by kindness from his boyhood eould se suddenly be transformed into the tiger that he has beem- represented to be? But he is mow the victim of as fouls oy igaery ever assailed & man or attempted to take his life. le has suffered much, He» has been taken from: his ship, avd has suffered in the opinion ef the eommu- nity; but he has not suffered in the opiuion of those who know him well; but though he has suffered mueb, and is almost broken in fortune by providing the means neses- sary for bis defence, his eounsel and himself have eonfi- dence in the integrity of the intelligent Jury before whom he astauds, that they would maturely consider the evi- dence before they would render a verdict which is to com- this young man te the scaffuld'’s infamy and the felon’s doom. Mr Hoffman believed that Capt. Molony would come out from ¥ ordeal unseathed; but if there was one man among-t the jury who has stuck to old judices or to new—if there was one who had fc an unfavorable impression of the circumstanees by the case for the provecution—he trusted that he would uow rejoice with bis fellow jurors in relieving Capt. Molony from this cherge. at the conclusion of Mr. Hoffman's addresa pee was eoniderable applause throughout the erowded cour! _ Mr. Fullerton then rose and addressed the eourt and jury for the prosecution. He spoke for nearly three. ‘ours, ina very able, argumentative and eloquent speech, analysing the testimony and commenting upon the vari- our facts deposed to by the witnesses for the prosecu- ticy and the éefenee. Tha court then adjourned to Saturday’morning, at 10 o’clock. when the Judge will charze the jury. [In the report of Mr. John Collins's’ testimony, he is wade to ray ‘ thst a man could not be ‘to the davits urless he wan all as one of those we read of im ancient history.” It should be, ‘a man could not be lashed to the stretcher, unless, &¢.’”) Jertey City Intelligence. Iurortant Dsctsion,—The Supreme Court have given judgment in favor of the Mayor and Common Couacil im the Cole cace—being an action brought by Jersey Ci against said Cole to recover assessments lawfully ard on the large landed pro; ety | ing in the westerm part of this city, and Delougtog defendants. The proceed- ings were taken from the Lower Court on superseders, to the Supreme, where judgment was rendered this week, asabove, Th $10,000 is stated as being due from the property ta ade ~ ad IPROVEMENTS.—Agreeably, e provisions of a grant made by the Comman Council to the Cunard Steamshlj Compeny, the latter are engaged in extending wharves. It is proposed to carry them out a distanee of three hundred feet from the present outer bulkhead. Theatrical and Musical. Bowery Tomarae.—The entertainments of this consist of ‘La Tour de Nesle,” with Mr. E. Mra, Parker in the pescleel characters. Miss will sing the “Camp is my Home,” after which the very popular and local piece called ‘‘.A’Glance at New York,!? will be presented, with Mr. Chanfrau, thereat as More, and all’will conclude with’ the “ French Spy.’ Broapway ToeaTr® —Thii makes ber appearance for tl admired character of Bianca, Conway as Giraidi Fazio The performanee of this tragedy on a former evening, be- fore « crowded house, gave the mort marked eatisfaction. Miss Deare is one of the most promising actresses in the country. The entertainments will close with the farce of the * Double Bedded Room.”” Burton’s THEATRE —This evening is the last night of the season at this very popular and prosperous theatre. The pieces selected are Goldsmith's comedy of “She Stoops to Conquer,” and the beautiful drama of “Black Eyed Susan.” All of Burton’s celebrated company will arin the above pieces. Mr. Hamilton will sings favorite song, the orchestra. will play several inapiriting airs, and the amusements will conclude as usual, highly satisfactory to the audience, NavionaL THEATRE —The talented young tragedian, Mr. W. R. Goodall, is to personate ‘the Scaraeeee of George Barnwell this eventng, in the moral piece of that nanie ; the part of Rnoderic Diu inthe drama of the “Lady of the Lake,” sud Macsire in the drama called “Robert Macaire.” This being the last night of his ergagement, it ia presumed the theatre will be crowded. Wattack’s THEATRE.—The fine old comedy of ‘As You Like It,”” which has drawn the most fashionable audiences will be repeated to-night. We have never sea one of Shakspeare’s plavs produced in more splendor, both a« regards cas* and scenery—the chorussss are splendid, and both Julis Gould and Mr. Kea display their rich veices very efiestively. Wallack, Blake, Lester, Waloots and Miss Laura Keene are admirable in their parts, ‘‘Teady the Tyler’ concludes the entertainmente. §r. C1 TueaTRe.—The pieces selected for this afternoon and evening, at the St. Charles, com; “ Black Eyed Susan,” the ‘Dumb Bello,” the “Sevet Clerks,” © Captain lotte,”’ and ‘‘ Betay Baker.”? Axuvnicay Musrum.—The bearded lady continues to at- tract crowds of visiters to the: Museum, She is an un- doubted curiosity, and should be seen by'every one. The drama of “St. Mary’s Eve’ is to be repeated in the lec- ture rcom, both this afternoon and evening. Francoxi's Hirroprouz —The attractions announced for this afternoon and evening at the Hippodrome present an unusual array of feats. The excitement to visit this establishment continues unabated. Curisty's Orwra Hovse.—Christy’s undoubtedly popu- lar espe prem opera company advertise an attractive se lection of negro amusements for this evening, Woon’s Mixstres.—This popular and very talented company of negro minstrels have provided several attrae- tive features for this evening. : New Onteans SerenapErs —Th lesque opera styled “Luis Di Lasamermoor,” which been so su rcessfall; represented all this week by the above named talented company, is to be repeated to night. Owens’ Atrins Rauptes.—This peculiar ex tertainment is to be given doth this atteraoo 4 evening. pia excelent opportunity for pareats er rd w their little 1 ks. “i or EANVARD’S PANORAMA OF THE Hoty LAND continues 10 be exhibited at the Georama Hall, Broadway. SepGwick’s CRoTcHRTS AND QuAVERS.—This novel musi- cal entextainment will be given by Prof. Sedgwick, at the Stuyvesant Institute on Monday evening next, Those whe have heard the professor’s execution on the concertina, cannot fail in being prevent on thir oecasion, Miss ANNE LonspaLn receiver & benefit at the Broadway theatre on Tuesday evening next. Interesting From Spain. [From the London Times, May 21.] Private letters from Madrid of the 14th May, speak of the cold manner in whieh the English minister was re ceived at the levee held at Arangnez, on the 13th. That collness was not to be mistaken, it was evidently imten- tional, and was se marked as te have been noticed aad gotomented upen by several persons who were present. ‘The cause of this very unjustifiable conduet is clearly te be found in the decided resistance invariablygoresented by Lord Howden to the absolutist tendencit cee Isabella. [From the London Chronicle, May,21.] « There war a levee at Aranguez yesterday, (May 13th,) it being the birthday ef the King-Consert. The cold re- ception given by the Queen to the English representative was remarked. Lord Howden’s eonstant and efficient ep- position to the coup d’érat, and the absolutist tenden- cies of the Court, havesnade eer unpalatable ia that quarter, P From tHe PLams—Tas Overnanp Ewrera- ft. Louis Republican, dated In- nee, May 25, nay jsjors Hoare and Plake, and L'eutenants Robinson, Allen, and Evans, and other officers, with ten priva‘ reached Fort Laavenworth a dey or two ago, having | Sante Fe en the 3d instant. They ceme to attend a court martial of one of thelr namber. Aecompanying the party were Albert Smith, Guilerres, and ome or two from Ki Paro and Chihuahuas.’ They bring little news ef interest etber than that received by the mail. On thelr ‘way in they met large parties of emigrants to Callforaia from Arkansas and ths points south, with immemse herds ef cattle. The Pawneas were a little troubleseme to them. They had run off two hundred head of atock for Meni Hill, of Batesville, Ark., and killed oneef his maters. lace is now pretty quiet. Few emigrants are. arriving or departing. Quite # number are setting: ready for the plains in the direetion of Santa Fe and Chi- huahua. ‘Another despatch to the Republican, dated Independ- ence May 26, says:— The Salt Lake mail reached here last evening, the quickest trip to Laramie recorded—twenty five days from here to that pest and back again. It wi desl of difficulty the carrier from the valley to Laramie could get along. Soow in the mountains very deep; he though! two or three feet deep, and in many places four- teen feet. Betwoen Laramie and conse reat deal of rain bed fallen, in consequence ef which all the streame were hich, The mail party found it quite cold at times, No Indians om the route except a few Cheyenn>s and Sioux. Etmigrating parties were first met five miles this ride of Laramie, and from that point to the boundary line. There had passed Kearny up to May 20, 12 o’eloek, three thousand three hundred and forty-eight men, nine hundred aod five women, one thousand two hundred and reven children, one thousand three hundred and twenty wogens, thirty-four thousand one hundred and fifty-one cattle, one thousand six hundred and ninety-one hopes, seven hundred forty mules, and twelve handred sheep, ‘The bulk of the emigrants were met this side of Kearny, with large herds of cattle and flocks ef No ness on route of any kind,