ompleted work, they will not only refuse the promised payment, alleging
that the work is badly done, but will also refuse to return the money
advanced by the woman. The wretch well knows that the woman is weak and
helpless, and that she is ignorant of the mode of protecting herself.
More than this, she has not the money to go to law.

These are simple facts, and not "sensational items." The records of the
"Working Women's Protective Union" will corroborate them, and will
furnish many others.

"Among the employes of a certain Israelitish manufacturer of straw goods
in New York was a poor French woman, who, with her three small children,
occupied apartments in a rear tenement house in Mulberry street. What
renders this case of more than ordinary interest, is the fact that the
lady had once been in affluent circumstances, and at one period of her
life moved in the wealthiest circles of Paris. Misfortune befel her in
the death of her husband, who was accidentally killed upon a railroad
train. The bulk of the property of her deceased husband was seized upon
by her creditors. The widow, however, succeeded in saving from the
general wreck a few hundred dollars, and with this she emigrated to
America, arriving here in the spring, and bringing with her three little
children. Here she anticipated she would be enabled, with the aid of her
superior education, to provide for herself and family. For several weeks
her efforts at securing employment proved unavailing; but just before her
last dollar was expended, she succeeded in forming a class in French,
which she instructed for two months, at the expiration of which time she
was deprived of this her only support--her pupils leaving her for the
purpose of a summer's holiday at the fashionable watering-places. Other
efforts were made to secure the position of teacher of languages (with
several of which she is conversant), but all to no effect. Finally,
reduced to absolute want, the lady was obliged to resort to manual labor
in order to provide herself and little ones with bread. Unused as she
was to toil, her efforts to obtain employment were attended with little
or no success. Day by day her case grew more desperate, until, at last,
unable to pay the rent of her miserable attic apartment, she and her
little ones were thrust into the street. Homeless and friendless, with
not sufficient money wherewith to purchase a supper for herself and
famishing little ones, the lady wa