The little slaves of the harp [[electronic resource] ] : Italian child street musicians in nineteenth-century Paris, London, and New York / / John E. Zucchi

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910782710803321
• Autore: Zucchi John
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Montreal ; London, : McGill-Queen's University Press, c1992
• ISBN: 1-282-85581-6; 9786612855818; 0-7735-6326-1
• Descrizione fisica: viii, 208 p., [8] p. of plates : ill. ; ; 24 cm
• Collana: McGill-Queen's studies in ethnic history
• Disciplina: 362.7/99
• Soggetti: Child labor - France - Paris - History - 19th century; Child labor - England - London - History - 19th century; Child labor - New York (State) - New York - History - 19th century; Street music - France - Paris - History - 19th century; Street musicians - France - Paris - History - 19th century; Street music - England - London - History - 19th century; Street musicians - England - London - History - 19th century; Street music - New York (State) - New York - History - 19th century; Street musicians - New York (State) - New York - History - 19th century; Child musicians - History - 19th century; Italy Emigration and immigration History 19th century
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliography and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Front Matter -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- Emigration and the Street Music Trade -- “Les Petits Italiens” in Paris -- “The Organ Boys” in London -- “The Little Slaves” in New York -- Italian Legislation 1868-1873 -- Conclusion -- Sample Contracts between a Padrone and a Parent -- The Italian Law to Prohibit the Employment of Children in Itinerant Trades, 21 December 1873, no. 1733 (series 11) -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index
• Sommario/riassunto: The padrone were often known to the families of the children or were ; from the same villages. While some were cruel exploiters who compelled obedience through terror and abuse - a view promoted by a few, well-publicized cases - the lot of most of these children was similar to that of child apprentices and helpers in other trades. Public reactions to the child performers were different in each city and reflected the host society's view of the influx of foreign immigrants in general. Although England, France, and the United States developed legislation in the mid-nineteenth century to deal with children in factories, they did not attempt to regulate children in street trades until later in the century because they saw the work as a form of begging. The battle to get Italian child musicians off the street dragged on for years before legislation and new work opportunities - often as onerous as or worse than street performing - directed the children into new trades.