Song of the Shirt "somewhat altered", Ennis, 1859

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Sduddy
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Song of the Shirt "somewhat altered", Ennis, 1859

Post by Sduddy » Thu Dec 10, 2020 10:49 am

The Clare Journal, Mon 1 Aug 1859:
Ennis Petty Sessions – Friday.
How Needle Women are Paid. Margaret Brigdale summoned Mary Anne Carney for the sum of 3s for work done.
The complainant, a decent, delicate looking young girl, who looked the very personification of poverty, and one of that class of poor wretched needle-women, from whose poverty, sufferings and sorrows, Thomas Hood, of blessed memory, drew his inspirations, when he wrote his immortal “Song of the Shirt,” was, it appears, employed as a “Sprigger,” by the defendant who was an agent to a house in Galway in working one of those elaborate and ornamental pieces of fancy needle work with which the fair votaries of fashion decorate their persons, but to which may be applied, in a somewhat altered shape Hood’s well-known staves:
“Daughters, mothers and wives!
Daughters, mothers and wives!
When you’re wearing such things
You’re wearing out human lives.”
Margaret Brigdale, on being sworn, stated that she was employed by Miss Carney on a piece of sprigging for which she was to receive 4s., when finished; that having completed the job, which occupied her two months, she brought it to Miss Carney who found no fault with it, but transmitted it to Galway, when having called for payment, she was handed one shilling payment, for the work with occupied her two months.
Miss Carney, a genteel looking young woman, stated in reply, that she was merely an agent to a person named Sadleir in Galway; that the work was badly done, and on her forwarding it to the establishment in Galway, he said the work was not worth a penny, but that out of generosity he would allow a shilling. She was merely employed to give out the work, and did not consider herself accountable for payment.
The bench expressed a wish to see the piece of work for which payment was demanded, but the plaintiff stated that she had forwarded it to Galway, where it was kept, and the shilling-payment sent.
The bench inquired what time the complainant might have been occupied at the work.
Defendant – Fortyeight days is the time allowed.
Bench – And a shilling payment – that is a farthing a day.
The bench considering that the work might have been a little defective, decreed the complainant 2s and costs.
The lines of the poem are:
O, men, with sisters dear!
O, men, with mothers and wives!
It is not linen you’re wearing out,
But human creatures’ lives!
Stitch – stitch - stitch,
In poverty, hunger and dirt,
Sewing at once, with double thread,
A Shroud as well as a Shirt.

Sheila

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