Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-09-26

ANS "a LILO A~0Aho " sLN ASRoeotlOAA vi GtlO
liquor traffic. Is this r5ghta
What shall be done for our Females
We are n~otconcerned for the large number
of the fair sex, who are web to do IN the
worldwide are well provided for with sub
stantial and wealthy fathers and husbands
who have a plenty to do IN nursing their
plump children and experimenting demes-
tic affairs. We are sorry they are not all
in such a good case; and we are sorry that
there are any idle ones who excite our COM
misseration. Blu we are concerned for the
large numbers of virtGous, Industrious poor
females, whose occupation and means of sup
port, is about to be swept from them by the
increase of the rapidly sceumu2atFng demand
for Sewing Machines. Thousands of these
~virtuous poor, whose sole dependence, hereto
fore, has been upon the diITfgent use Of their
needles, who live in our cities, towns and
villages, are doomed to be thrown out Of this
means of subsistence. If g better substitute
can be provided for them, It will be fortu-
nate. IF they can.be provIdgd with subsis-
tence and a competency by occupations less
injurious to health and happiness, than the
needle, it will be a glad step for females
when Sewing Machines were invented.
We rejoice that there are SO many Of our
strong, active, healthy country women bet
ter provided for; whose occupations, though
frequently hard are healthful and invigora-
e ting, and who are content wit their lot
f Far better would it be, if many of the poor
industrious townsw omen were with them in
the country, eating the bread of industry
. and inhaling the pure atmosphere.
e But the question is, what is to become OF
the large number in the towns, who have
e heretofore depended upon their needles p
e Many of them will still be needed to cary on
millinery, mantua making and the slop work
G of the clothing stores, but still there will be
left a large margino of unemployed persons, we
ID fear, who cannot make a subsistence without
a resort to other occupations. But shall fe
lie males enter the occupations Of the males ant
At engage in those pursuits hitherto occupied
le exclusively by the men
re We think there are several vocations O
this class in which they may be employee
of with advantage to themselves and to commu
nifty. Some of them, of course comparative
list ly few in number, might very safely and prop
erly be introduced into the profession of met
icine. The trial has been made at the Nortl
and it is succeeding. Why no at the South
a..
As nurses and in special cases of disease, il
&C. t~elligent, well qualified female physician
might answer admirably, and we should |
asst glad to see it tested South.
om Many are, and many more might vel
"a properly be introduced as teachers of CHI
dren. Small boys, better than girls, if poss
4 bic, might be taught and managed by fema
ties Instructors better than by males. Many
5 them make most capital teachers.
E. Merchandise, in our Judgment, opens a fl
his field for female talent, taste and skill. I
lie, employment. of respectable and young
ON males as clerks, would be attended with t
best of consequences. Nor are they devc
ner of the necessary talent for merchants, aft
S. they have served an apprenticeship as clerl
FER But are there not some of the mechanic
trades in which they might very safely a
Of properly be introduced? There are som
de- doubtless, in which it may be done to advs
tage, but none strikes us so forcibly now,
the printing business. Females might
made greatly useful as compositors. The
tivity of their tiny fingers, would find am
=. scope at the case, and the employment mis
be made very remunerating. Females
- charged very improperly, oftentimes, W
having too much tongue. That is not allo
0 Bile in a printing Office; but strong as
1ne propensity may be in the sex to talk,
Lev necessity for silence at the case, and the
'me p~ortance of keeping a secret in a printing
a. flee, are so apparent. that we have no do
sen- the trial would be attended by the most be
"no fetal results.
We have thrown out these hints for the {
,f on sideration of our readers and the public,
ping that the well meant effort to do a n
lanv useful and worthy class of our females 60
will be appreciated.