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One of the most energetic members of the Band was Mr Jeremiah Didlum； the house…furnisher； who did a large hire system trade。 He had an extensive stock of second…hand furniture that he had resumed possession of when the unfortunate would…be purchasers failed to pay the instalments regularly。 Other of the second…hand things had been purchased for a fraction of their real value at Sheriff's sales or from people whom misfortune or want of employment had reduced to the necessity of selling their household possessions。
Another notable member of the Band was Mr Amos Grinder； who had practically monopolized the greengrocery trade and now owned nearly all the fruiterers' shops in the town。 As for the other shops； if they did not buy their stocks from him … or； rather； the company of which he was managing director and principal shareholder … if these other fruiterers and greengrocers did not buy their stuff from his company； he tried to smash them by opening branches in their immediate neighbourhood and selling below cost。 He was a self…made man： an example of what may be accomplished by cunning and selfishness。
Then there was the Chief of the Band … Mr Adam Sweater； the Mayor。 He was always the Chief； although he was not always Mayor； it being the rule that the latter ‘honour' should be enjoyed by all the members of the Band in turn。 A bright ‘honour'； forsooth！ to be the first citizen in a community composed for the most part of ignorant semi…imbeciles； slaves； slave…drivers and psalm…singing hypocrites。 Mr Sweater was the managing director and principal shareholder of a large drapery business in which he had amassed a considerable fortune。 This was not very surprising； considering that he paid none of his workpeople fair wages and many of them no wages at all。 He employed a great number of girls and young women who were supposed to be learning dressmaking； mantle…making or millinery。 These were all indentured apprentices； some of whom had paid premiums of from five to ten pounds。 They were ‘bound' for three years。 For the first two years they received no wages： the third year they got a shilling or eightpence a week。 At the end of the third year they usually got the sack； unless they were willing to stay on as improvers at from three shillings to four and sixpence per week。
They worked from half past eight in the morning till eight at night； with an interval of an hour for dinner； and at half past four they ceased work for fifteen minutes for tea。 This was provided by the firm … half a pint for each girl； but they had to bring their own milk and sugar and bread and butter。
Few of the girls ever learned their trades thoroughly。 Some were taught to make sleeves； others cuffs or button…holes； and so on。 The result was that in a short time each one became very expert and quick at one thing； and although their proficiency in this one thing would never enable them to earn a decent living； it enabled Mr Sweater to make money during the period of their apprenticeship； and that was all he cared about。
Occasionally a girl of intelligence and spirit would insist on the fulfilment of the terms of her indentures； and sometimes the parents would protest。 If this were persisted in those girls got on better： but even these were turned to good account by the wily Sweater； who induced the best of them to remain after their time was up by paying them what appeared … by contrast with the others girls' money … good wages； sometimes even seven or eight shillings a week！ and liberal promises of future advancement。 These girls then became a sort of reserve who could be called up to crush any manifestation of discontent on the part of the leading hands。
The greater number of the girls； however； submitted tamely to the conditions imposed upon them。 They were too young to realize the wrong that was being done them。 As for their parents； it never occurred to them to doubt the sincerity of so good a man as Mr Sweater； who was always prominent in every good and charitable work。
At the expiration of the girl's apprenticeship； if the parents complained of her want of proficiency； the pious Sweater would attribute it to idleness or incapacity； and as the people were generally poor he seldom or never had any trouble with them。 This was how he fulfilled the unctuous promise made to the confiding parents at the time the girl was handed over to his tender mercy … that he would ‘make a woman of her'。
This method of obtaining labour by false pretences and without payment； which enabled him to produce costly articles for a mere fraction of the price for which they were eventually sold； was adopted in other departments of his business。 He procured shop assistants of both sexes on the same terms。 A youth was indentured； usually for five years； to be ‘Made a Man of and ‘Turned out fit to take a Position in any House'。 If possible； a premium； five； ten； or twenty pounds … according to their circumstances … would be extracted from the parents。 For the first three years； no wages： after that； perhaps two or three shillings a week。
At the end of the five years the work of ‘Making a Man of him' would be completed。 Mr Sweater would then congratulate him and assure him that he was qualified to assume a ‘position' in any House but regret that there was no longer any room for him in his。 Business was so bad。 Still； if the Man wished he might stay on until he secured a better ‘position' and； as a matter of generosity； although he did not really need the Man's services； he would pay him ten shillings per week！
Provided he was not addicted to drinking； smoking； gambling or the Stock Exchange； or going to theatres； the young man's future was thus assured。 Even if he were unsuccessful in his efforts to obtain another position he could save a portion of his salary and eventually commence business on his own account。
However； the branch of Mr Sweater's business to which it is desired to especially direct the reader's attention was the Homeworkers Department。 He employed a large number of women making ladies' blouses； fancy aprons and children's pinafores。 Most of these articles were disposed of wholesale in London and elsewhere； but some were retailed at ‘Sweaters' Emporium' in Mugsborough and at the firm's other retail establishments throughout the county。 Many of the women workers were widows with children； who were glad to obtain any employment that did not take hem away from their homes and families。
The blouses were paid for at tie rate of from two shillings to five shillings a dozen； the women having to provide their own machine and cotton； besides calling for and delivering the work。 These poor women were able to clear from six to eight shillings a week： and to earn even that they had to work almost incessantly for fourteen or sixteen hours a day。 There was no time for cooling and very little to cook； for they lived principally on bread and margarine and tea。 Their homes were squalid； their children half…starved and raggedly clothed in grotesque garments hastily fashioned out of the cast…off clothes of charitable neighbours。
But it was not in vain that these women toiled every weary day until exhaustion compelled t