Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-12-08
Miscellaneous.
For The Buglc,
-.WOman.---NO. A.


few remarks upou the places which it seems
to us ought to be open to women's labor
Did l not Know how much more dull apollo
GIGS are than any thing else we can say, l
should tell the readers of the Bugle that
had not, in the beginning, any thought OF
occupying half so much space as have al
ready done, &c. But if my essays have been
dull, they (the readers) know it, and had
much rather convince them of the contrary,
than of that fact. And as no argument of
mine can so convince them, / shall just leave
them to Judge for themselves, and make
haste to finish my work and cease TO intrude
upon them.
Rather because it is needfIl to complete
the connection, than for any other reason,
would l introduce these specific points, for l
know that the great secret lies in having wo-
mans mind enlightened and her powcr slim
ulated to activity. After this, each ones
tastes and abilities must dictate her course.
At present, a few minds sufficiently intelli-
gent 10 see their true position, and sufficient
ly vigorous and independent to assume it,
have penetrated their soundings, and arisen
to take their proper place. But it is as yet
only a struggle, and the harsh discord that
marks the battle is about the combatants;
the blood and dust is upon their garments.
These can give but little idea of the beauti-
full harmony of our relations as they are to be,
when the "peace shall be conquered" Those
who bavc labored with a calm devotion to
what they believed TO be right, have won
the respect of the great and true, as noble in
dependence ever must, even when that re-
spect is awarded TO their ld6orS rather than
to their cause. 1t yet remains for the masses
quietly, and as a matter of unquestioned pro-
priety, TO take their place at such work as
has hitherto been considered as pertaining
exclusively to mans province. Of these we
might mention many, but only give a few
for illustration. i see no reason why wo-
men should not be cngagedin such branches
as are adapted to their tastes and strength,
of any mechanical business. A great deal
of the printing business is suited to their
physical powers. The painting and varnish-
ing of cabinet and carpenter work is pecu-
liarly fitted to them; also the trimming, &C.,
of coach-making. Why should not public
bakeries be conducted by them? They
could bake for the public as well rs for fa-
miles. And why should not women be an
derfakers, as well as mdertcoTkerS in tailoring?
1t would do my heart good to see an extern
sivc tailor establishment conducted and
worked wholly by women! And why should
it not be? Women are poor workbench you
say. They are only so because their labor
| has no premium which can stimulate them
to the effort needlul in acquiring SKILL
Poorly paid as they are, they can only strive
to get the greatest amount done, i'll order to
have wages upon which they can live. All,
there lies the great evil the curse of curses ;
women are not paid for their work. This
evil is attracting attention, and must some
time be redressed. And how? What means
can effect the result? 1t must be evident to
every one, that one great cause of the low
price set upon female labor, is the excess o
such particular kind of work as they do, in
the market. And why this excess? Simply
because so few kinds of business are per-
formed by women. When all the females
who labor for n livelihood, are engaged in
some two or three or ~half-dozen c~allings, can
it be otherwise than that such produce should
become a "drug" in the market! Let wo-
men so vary their occupations as to make
what is now regarded as woman's work We
ny scarce, hard to obtain: then those who
desire such work will be compelled TO pay a
premium upon it. Without this, reform in
female wages will never be brought about
for people are selfish, and what they can get
for nothing they will take at that price. Wo-
men must take pains to excel in such bust
ness as they undertake, and if they must
work at lower wages than men do, in order
to get in employ, let it be very little lower.
Is there any reason why woman's ingenuity
should be smothered in u cotton-mill? Has
she not higher mechanical capacity than for
treading a loom or spindle? Let the stimu-
liant once be furnished and they can excel as
well as men, in such things as require me-
chanical skill. Let them become underta-
kers in business, and with their own hands
place the produce of their labor in the mar
ket, rather than through the hands of en-
ployers and merchants, who are iattening
upon their hearts blood, by swallowing all
the profits of their hard toll. They must
demand to be paid in proportion to the guam
tity and quality of their labor, and not con-
tent themselves with pay, because they are the
tceaker ser. The starving ones cannot do all
this. Those who are, as it were, standing
in a deep pool of want, which is constantly
| -. u..aLI.al tInra- n,l L. ...L.al- LII :.