The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-03-12
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :

SlR,-
As one Of that numerous class, to which allusion
has been so frequently made within the last couple
of weeks, mean retail clerks engaged III the dry
goods trade, allow me to make one or two re-
arc fallacies, IN the views Of those whose warm
zeal in behalf of female employees, has, am con-
WINGED, incapacitated them to judge accurately.
Some of your contemporaries, sir, In urging the
claims OF those females who have recently been
agitating the question of their grievances, have
averred openly, that 1t were well II persons EN-.
ployed the retail dry goods stores would quit the
business, and make way forthe other sex, al an oc-
cupation better suited to them than to US and In
more than one instance it has, with excessive So
citude for our welfare, been suggested, that we
should betake ourselves to farming. Now, sir, to
stop moment to establish our right to choose
our career in life weud be a waste Of time; more
over, ii 1t were even true-which deny-that the
retail business is unfit for young men, think there
would be about as bad a chance to persuade those
who have been bred to it to renounce 1t, as there
would be of my success in undertaking to convince
those new lights OF their incompetency to write
good sense-of Independence Of their writing none
at all, but to betake themselves to Juggling, or dig
gng, for which they are better cut out But dropping
this topic, beg to state, that the substitution OF
female labor in the dry goods trade, would be un-
wise and inexpedient; and here l will explicitly
avow, that none has stronger sense OF the prcva-
lence OF, and greater aversion for the causes
which operate injurlously to female industry, nor
would any class 60 farther than the young men OF
my profession in removing them. But we know
too we'll what the labor is, the toll, the bodily and
mental exhaustion exacted from u.s. to suppose for
instant, our services could be supplanted by the
weaker sex, with any advantage to them, or TO the
public. That there are many small stores IN
the fancy trade where females might suit, Is
quite true; but / assert. that three.fourths
of the aggregate Of manufactured goods must
always continue to pass through male hands,
and that because the female frame--the
female mind, habits and rganizatlon--render
them unfit to incur the labor attendant upon this
vast department of our industrial operations Be-
sdes 1t is equally clear 10 me that even were they
competent to the labor, it would be no general adj
vantage, but universal evil. | am no hater OF
the sex, sir-far from II but never yet heard it
denied that communlty-a city--a country--the
world, was best populated when the male part OF
that population predominated On this assump-
ton, where is the wisdom Of that plan which
would transfer industry from male to female hands.
and In SO doing contribute to produce the numerl-
cal supremacy OF females over males! Those who
do SO, sir, take short sighted view Of the laws
which govern society-tor in promoting any pro-
ject tending TO enhance female labor, at the ex-
pensc Of male labor, they are pulling against the
welfare OF society. and in direct hostility to the
economy OF nature herself.
ii had time, and claim upon an adequate ex-
tent OF your paper, sir, | would add many reiec-
0ns upon this bubble of female ucrsus male labor,
which has lately made its appearance at present,
| will content myself with saying that wish the
| female community well-may they get plenty to
do and liberal recompense-but, as IA sincere
friend, now warn them against the bad and false
counsel OF those who would base their prosperity
on our adversely. There is no such fabric in our
trade, and we shall not allow them to weave it.
YARpsTIcK
Mr.. SmEAs LECTURE. gentleman was
quite successful in his advocacy Of the peaceful
volution principle: at Clinton Hall last night not
only was the audience numerous and respectable,
but the most cordial endorsement and hearty ap-
prevail Of all present bore evidence Of how effec-
tually his appeals in behalf Of civil and religious
liberty, went home to their hearts, Mr. Shea's es-
say is full Of force, replete with patriotic senti-
ments, and just appreciation Of British policy for
the last fifty years, and it would be serving good
cause to favor the public with its rehearsal.