rd may seem at points, it is a photograph
from life; and the various characters, whether employers or employed,
were all registered in case corroboration were needed. While research
was limited to New York, the facts given are much the same for any large
city, and thus have a value beyond their immediate application. No
attempt at an understanding of the labor question as it faces us to-day
can be successful till knowledge of its underlying conditions is
assured.

It is such knowledge that the writer has aimed to present; and it takes
more permanent form, not only for the many readers whose steady interest
has been an added demand for faithful work, but, it is hoped, for a
circle yet unreached, who, whether agreeing or disagreeing with the
conclusions, still know that to learn the struggle and sorrow of the
workers is the first step toward any genuine help.

ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, _March_, 1887.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER FIRST. WORKER AND TRADE 7

CHAPTER SECOND. THE CASE OF ROSE HAGGERTY 18

CHAPTER THIRD. SOME METHODS OF A PROSPEROUS FIRM 30

CHAPTER FOURTH. THE BARGAIN COUNTER 43

CHAPTER FIFTH. A FASHIONABLE DRESSMAKER 55

CHAPTER SIXTH. MORE METHODS OF PROSPEROUS FIRMS 66

CHAPTER SEVENTH. NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE GOSPEL 76

CHAPTER EIGHTH. THE TRUE STORY OF LOTTE BAUER 88

CHAPTER NINTH. THE EVOLUTION OF A JACKET 100

CHAPTER TENTH. BETWEEN THE RIVERS 113

CHAPTER ELEVENTH. UNDER THE BRIDGE AND BEYOND 126

CHAPTER TWELFTH. ONE OF THE FUR-SEWERS 139

CHAPTER THIRTEENTH. SOME DIFFICULTIES OF AN EMPLOYER
WHO EXPERIMENTED 150

CHAPTER FOURTEENTH. THE WIDOW MALONEY'S BOARDERS 160

CHAPTER FIFTEENTH. AMONG THE SHOP-GIRLS 173

CHAPTER SIXTEENTH. TWO HOSPITAL BEDS 186

CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH. CHILD-WORKERS IN NEW YORK 199

CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH. STEADY TRADES AND THEIR OUTLOOK 210

CHAPTER NINETEENTH. DOMESTIC SERVICE AND ITS PROBLEMS 221

CHAPTER TWENTIETH. MORE PROBLEMS OF DOMESTIC SERVICE 233

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST. END AND BEGINNING 244

PRISONERS OF POVERTY.

CHAPTER F