“THE AZORES ISLANDS – The Unity Club Listened to an Excellent Lecture Upon the Subject – The Unity Club, which met last evening at the Unitarian Church, corner of Tenth & F Sts., was favored with a highly interesting lecture from Dr. McDaniels on the scenery and various beauties of the AZORES, together with a general outline of a Portuguese life, their superior mechanism (? – ed.), wages, etc., all of which Dr. McDaniels has learned through observation. He showed some very fine specimens of lace made by the Portuguese women from the inner fiber of the aloe (or what is known in this country as the century plant). This lace was of a quality which surpasses in elegance anything ever manufactured in America. He also exhibited an elegant shawl, which required three months and four days’ labor by a Portuguese woman to complete. This shawl, after completion, was sold to Dr. McDaniels for $4.35, which goes to show how comparatively low wages are in that country. Ordinary day laborers get 14¢ and 16¢ PER DAY for their labor, while skilled labor is worth from 26¢ to 30¢ PER DAY (equivalent to approx. $4.86 [unskilled] to $9.75 [skilled] pay daily nowadays – ed.). But women’s wages are still lower. After the lecture a number of photographs and views of a great many Portuguese individuals were spread out for the inspection of everyone present; which all enjoyed. There was no general discussion as is usually indulged in at the club meetings, but an adjournment was had until next Friday evening.”
(*Source: San Diego DAILY BEE newspaper – Saturday, March 24, 1888 – Pg. 1)