Lyddie: Chapter 21 - Turpitude

Title Page from 1800s Dictionary

Webster, N. & Walkers, J., Goodrich, C. A., ed. (1853) An American dictionary of the English language. New York, Harper & brothers. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/11000153/.

Lyddie dreads work the next day and is annoyed to find Brigid absent. One of the other girls tells her that Brigid isn’t feeling well, but then admits that Brigid was told not to report that morning. Lyddie has time to begin work before a man from the agent’s office arrives. He asks Lyddie to follow him to the office. Lyddie is informed that Mr. Marsden has reported her as a troublemaker.

Lyddie attempts to defend herself to the superintendent and can honestly answer that she never signed a petition for the ten-hour day. She asks why she is being called a troublemaker and suggests that Mr. Marsden be called. When he arrives, Mr. Marsden has to concede there is no problem with her work. He asks for her dismissal on the basis of “moral turpitude.” Lyddie is bewildered but understands she is powerless. Dishonorably discharged, Lyddie is told she may collect the last of her wages. Lyddie knows she now cannot work for any mill.

Fact Check: Fired from the Mill

Were women often fired from the mills?

What do we know?

Mill workers could be fired for a variety of reasons and had little power to defend themselves. Once fired, a woman would have a hard time finding work in any other mill without an honorable discharge. Her options were limited: go home or find a different type of work.

What is the evidence?

Primary Source:

(From) A record book, of honorable and dishonorable discharges, kept on one of the Corporations…

(note: Only the first names are given in this report; the original documents contained last names.)

Jan. 3, Lydia ______. No. 1 spinning room, obtained an honorable discharge by false pretenses. Her name has been sent round to the other Corporations as a thief and a liar.

Jan. 3, Harriet _____ . In the No. 4 spinning room and Judith _____ in No. 5 weaving room, discharged as worthless characters.

Jan. 9. Lydia _____. From No. 2 spinning room; left irregularly; name sent around.

Feb. 15. Hadassah ______. From No. 3, lower weave room; discharged for improper conduct—stealing.

March. 8. Abby _______. No. 2, spinning room; discharged for improper conduct.

March 14, Ann________. No. 2 spinning room, “discharged for reading in the mill.”

March 25, Harriet ________. In No. 4 carding room, Laura _______. In No. 4 spinning room, Ellen ______. In No. 1 carding room and George ______ from the repair shop, all discharged for improper conduct.

Miles, Henry Adolphus. Lowell, as It Was, and as It Is. [Lowell Mass. Powers and Bagley et, 1845] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/01011486/.

Primary Source:

“We have witnessed from time to time the cruelties practiced by brutal overseers and selfish agents upon defenseless operatives, while they dare not speak in self defense lest they should be deprived of the means of earning their daily bread.”

Mehitable Eastman Voice of Industry, September 4, 1846

Secondary Source:

Women were fired on overseers’ charges of labor agitation, disobedience, lying, and misconduct. The mills established a quasi-military justice system to deal with insurrection. Workers who were “dishonorably discharged” were blackballed by the other mills in town.

Moran, William, The Belles of New England: The Women of the Textile Mills and the Families Whose Wealth They Wove. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2002.

See it yourself

Walk down a spiral staircase like the one Lyddie and Brigid used at Lowell National Historical Park
www.nps.gov/lowe

Writing Prompts

Opinion

Imagine yourself in Lyddie’s situation – confronted by the agent and the overseer about your behavior. Write a defense for yourself, being sure to highlight the actions of all involved.

Informative/explanatory

What is the overseer’s reason for wanting to dismiss Lyddie?

Narrative

Lyddie feels uneasy about going to work the day after the encounter with Brigid and Mr. Marsden. Describe a time when you felt uneasy, anxious, or nervous about a situation. What did you do to help yourself feel better? Orient the reader by establishing a situation. Organize a sequence that unfolds naturally.