Paul Blanshard

While many Americans lived comfortable lives in the 1920s economic boom, farmers and factory workers saw their incomes decline as the cost of living soared. In the following excerpt, an unnamed cotton mill worker in Greenville, South Carolina, describes her life to reporter Paul Blanshard. The article appeared in The Nation on March 19, 1929.

Ihave a husband and five children. I'm a weaver. . . . I get paid by the day. . . .

Iget up at four to start breakfast for the children. When you got five young 'uns it takes a while to dress 'em. The oldest is nine and she helps a lot. The others are seven, five, four, and three. . . .

After I've got the children dressed and fed I take 'em to the mill nursery, that is three of 'em. Two go to school, but after school they go to...