| The Illustrations on this page afford our readers a view of the locality of the new movement which has created such a furor among the working-people of the Northern States. The story is a brief and simple one. Mr. Sampson, a large shoe manufacturer of North Adams, Massachusetts, finding that the expenses of his business were fast outrunning his profits, proposed to his workmen last spring a slight reduction in wages. After taking the matter into consideration the workmen sent him word, through a committee, that, if he would permit them to inspect his books, they would decide whether the state of his business requires such a reduction. Mr. Sampson naturally declined the inspection of his private affairs; and finding the workmen unwilling to come to an understanding on any other terms, he determined to see what could be done with the Chinese. Accordingly he sent a confidential agent to San Francisco to procure the services of a certain number of Celestial immigrants. The agent, as is well known, succeeded in this mission. It should be understood that the immigrants came east of their own volition, and that Mr. Sampson’s enterprise has no connection whatever with that of Mr. Koopmanschoop. |
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| One of our illustrations represents the work-room in Mr. Sampson’s manufactory, where the Chines are employed. They are put to one branch only of the business—that of fastening on the soles. The cutting, stitching, and finishing are operations performed by others in other apartments. The men are intelligent and smart, and very readily learn the management of machinery. Since their arrival in North Adams, their deportment has been excellent, and the prejudice at first existing against them is said to be gradually giving way. |
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