The dependent widower - Wanted, a backbone!

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The dependent widower - Wanted, a backbone!

Department of Commerce and Labor. Children's Bureau. 1912-1913

4/26/11

The dependent widower. Wanted, a backbone! This ablebodied Scotch-Irish farmer after 50 years of farm life some miles from any railroad, came to Meridian, Miss. two years ago to obtain better school advantages for his children, (so he told me), and this is the way the children utilize those advantages, one child of 11 and one of 15 work in the knitting mill. Two smaller ones go to school very irregularly. I found the fathers occuptaion during the several days I was there, and from a neighbor's testimony, to mainly consist of loafing around the corner grocery, toting dinner to the children, lolling around the house, and occasionally visiting the old farm. Regarding the effects of closing the Meridian Mill, he said; Most of the men got work at other factories around here, while some moved away, but the greatest hardship was on the children. Now they have to go to school." His sanctimonious disquisition on his love for the family was nauseating. In the back ground, (where the mill children are too often kept) is one of his youngsters, deprives of his right to toil. Meridian, Miss."

Child labor

National Archives and Records Administration

image

http://catalog.archives.gov/id/523420

4/26/11

National Archives and Records Administration