s forced to beg; which course, up to
this time in her unfortunate career, she had looked upon as barely
preferable to death itself. She had a few acquaintances among the
parents of her former pupils, and to these she resolved to apply for aid.
Her efforts in this direction were but a repetition of the old, old
story. Her friends, who, during her prosperity, were lavishing their
attentions on her, now that misfortune had overtaken her, refused to
recognize her, and thrust her from their doors without a penny. Fortune
relented one day, and rewarded her efforts with a situation in a
manufactory of straw goods. To be sure, the compensation was small;
still, as bread enough might be secured in this manner to keep the wolf
from the door until something better might present itself, she resolved
to accept the terms of the straw manufacturer, and entered upon her
duties. For a week or two the sum earned by the unfortunate lady was
faithfully paid her, but on the third week the pusillanimous nature of
the Jew cropped out. She had bargained to manufacture straw hats at
eighty cents a dozen, or six and two-third cents each. At this rate, she
managed to earn two dollars and fifty cents per week. Upon applying for
her wages at the close of the third week, the employer informed her that
he had discovered that six and two-thirds cents apiece was too large a
compensation, and that from eighty cents he had resolved to reduce her
pay to seventy cents per dozen, and accordingly presented her with her
weekly payment, first deducting one dollar and forty cents from her
wages. Pressed as she was for money, the lady refused to accept these
terms, and at once set about seeking legal redress. Learning that at the
'Working Women's Union' of Bleecker street legal advice was furnished
free of charge to such as herself, she laid her grievances before the
officers of the institution, who at once placed the affair in the hands
of their legal adviser, who soon brought the rapacious Israelite to
terms. At the time of her application to the institution the lady stated
that she had been without fire, and, with the exception of a small loaf
or two of bread and what few potatoes her children were enabled to gather
from about the stalls in several of the markets, without food for several
days."

The wrongs inflicted upon the working women are many. "There are
hoop-skirt manufactories where, in the incessant din of machinery, girls
stand upon wear