A MONSTER LAUNDRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8333, 3 June 1905, Page 5

A MONSTER LAUNDRY.

( English Journal.) The only place in the world where women earn higher wages than men :s the ' City of Troy, in the State of New York. The chief industries there consist of the making of collars and cuffs, and the laundering of half a State's linen. In the factories and laundries are employed something like 10,000 girls, who earn from £3 to £5 per week, according to their industry and positions, while the heads of certain departments are paid as much as £1 a day. Men are employed both in collarmaking and laundering, but as they only attend to the rough work, such as running the machinery, stoking, attending to the engines, etc., they receive wages which do not average more than £2 or £2 5s a week all the year round. . A short time ago the head women of .certain factories and laundries in Troy arranged a mammoth entertainment and dance, which was unique in its way. It took place in the biggest hall in Troy, and was attended by about 4000 girls and some 500 men. Each girl contributed 4s towards «ie entertainment, which entitled her to bring a gentleman friend if she chose. Onl> one girl in eight, however, was able to secure an escort, and it is declared by those who ought to know that somo men received as many as thix*ty or forty invitations. It not infrequently happens that a wedding takes place in Troy, and then, when the bride comes from one of the factories or laundries, there }s a big turn-out, for these marriages generally take place on a Sunday. As a body, however, the feminine Trojans do not favour matrimonyj probably from the fact that they find it hard to divest themselves cf an uncomfortable notion that some of the men have artful schemes on hand for getting possession of the " higher wage." • Weddings have taken place in Troy at which over 100 bridesmaids have been present, while thirty or forty is a very ordinary number. Fortunately for the groom's pocket-book, gifts to the bridesmaids are not customary, while, on the other hand, it is very unusual for a girl to accept an invitation to attend the- ceremony without providing some little present. In order to assist the young couple in the' early days of their housekeeping a "kitchen party" is often arranged, some time previous to the wedding, when all those invited are expected to bring some gift of a culinary nature. Much amusement is occasioned at those parties as each guest arrives, one bringing a rolling-pin, another a set of saucepans, a third a nutiEeg-grater, a fourth a kettle, and so on right through the whole gamut of kitchen necessaries until there is nothing left for the young cquple to provide. It is computed that the laundry and factory girls of xroy are paid close on £40,000 a week, or £2,000,000 a year, and so it is not surprising to learn that many or them who are of a saving . nature have comfortable little fortunes to their credit in the various dime banks and' other institutions. They are, moreover, well looked after by tneir employers, live in comfortable quarters, have their own clubs and societies, work regular hours, and lead healthy and pleasant lives. Altogether there is little doubt that Troy possesses the best-paid and most contented factory girls in the world. /