Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-06-18
Women Their EmplOymtnts.

hVhhVu lHVu BHipiOl mOhtN
We clipped the following from some pa
per, we cannot now tell what. The writer
must excuse us. We cannot nfiurd to sup
press it, because we have carelessly lost its
credit:
To-day's Tribune gives an account of
meeting of the walters, in New York. Its
obiect-to elevate their class. This we like
just self respect entities them to the re-
spect OF others. They, too, were demand
ing on increase of wages !; this reminded us
of some impressions made in q visit II few
months sincc to the great city. We stopped
ut one of the fashionable hotels; in tho
morning, knowing that we could have break
fast nt any hour before eleven, we did not
hasten at the first ringing Of the bell. On
passing into the hull from our room, we saw
a fine looking woman bringing two large
pals Of water, and presently she commence
ed the laborious task of securing the floor
on her hands and kuces. In the Ordinary,
n morning paper was handed us to read
while our breakfast was in preparation af
ter ginnciug over It's columns, we looked
about to see what was going on. At n table
little distance from us sat young, healthy,
rately, TO grace the dinner table; another
wns rubbing goblets aud wine glasses; two
others were removing tho breakfast cloths,
aud folding them, while two others were
spreading the dinner cloths; another was
letting down aud arranging the window
shades, another fixing the saIi cellars aud
custOrs, and another rubbing the forks aud
spoons; two others occupied themselves
with our breakfast. Thus near n dozen
strong, healthy, vigorous men were doing
light duties, that any set of girls of twelve
years could do equally well.
"On returning to our room we stopped to
talk with the woman who was cleaning the
hnll. OF her we learned that she worked
for 50 so per week; that she had child
md nh nged mother to support; that every
night after work was done, wenricd as she
might he, she went home TO sleep. Why
was not the wear of her muscles, the cxpen-
dture Of her strength, of equal worth with
the labor Of those men who were receiving
from twelve to sixteen dollars per month ?
We did not ask If tho woman was honest, |
and in thinking of her we felt that were we
called to sit upon n jury where one in her |
class should be brought up for theft, we |
should bc very lcnient, and very difficult to
convince Of her guilt We saw two other
women securing hack stairs, and carrying |
heavy pnils OF water up aud down long |
flights; one of these was worn, sickly |
creature, the hectic already burning in her /
check. Delicate woman, thought we; mans |
idol, his "sninlcss ideal of perfection" your |
graces how perfect, how diyiue!"
The same morning we stepped into n car
to ride up town; it wns already nearly filled; |
n gentleman however rose, with the utmost |
suaviiy and prol1red us his sent II pleasant
comfortable one, and remained standing un-
til another was vacated. Presently woman |
with two children entered; the day was |
piercing cold, her dress, an old faded cotton |
gown, aud shawl, She turued her large
liquid eye, soft as gazelle's, from side TO
side, looking imploringly for n seat but
there was none for her until she reached the |
extreme end of the car aud crouched down
10y the door, where the cold wind blew upon
her each time il was opened there she fol- |
ded more closely TO her chilled heart her
bnbe, and strained over it the old shawl |
Aud so we said TO ourselI it was not our
womanhood which procured this seat, but !
Our soft, warm cloak and inrs.
"Women nre divided into two classes
one class are indeed the idols of men, their !
play things, their pets, their household di- !
viniirs; birds and flowers are not gayer in |
their attire, or frecr from care than these
women- but Mas the contrast which power
" marks. a poor woman is not out OF her
sphere saving wood, picking rags in the
gutter, peddling fish in the street, in short
doing any hard drudgery which will give
her subsistence. She mny plough in the
field, yoked with bullock, (in countries
where this is usunl,) work oil the quays, net
as porter, and fight her way through, for size
has the physical strength, the bone aud mus
Gle 10 conquer, and "might makes right
she comes here only in competition with the
material. ! have said there were two clas-
scs, hut thank heaven there is third, small
hut increasing: n class of "strong minded
women" who will not consent TO he slaves
or toys; their love of harmony is such that
it drives them from either extreme, and they
aspire to be always the companions of men
in all holy faiths and pure good works.