The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-20

sition Of affluence and ease to absolute want.
Every one can call to mind many such cases.
No class of our people is more entitled to
sympathy and succor, than these generally
silent sufferers. The good Samaritans CT
our city have been busy for months past
devising ways and means for the relief OF
these unfortunate victims OF the war. The
s.Mutual Aid Association" and the "Home
for the Widows and Orphans of Confederate
Soldiers" both have this object in view, and
the many charitable associations that have
arisen from the debris of the late volun teer
militia organizations of the city have been
formed for like purpose. They are all en-
gagged in noble Christian work, and we
wish them God-speed. But the relief fur
nished by these organizations and by the
still more extended eleemosynary system OF
the city government, is limited in scope
of temporary character, therefore always
precarious, end, at BEST only the gifts OF
cold handed charity.
The best plan to help people, is to put
them in the way of helping them
selves. And here has always been the
great difficulty, 80 far as ladies are con-
cerned. The occupations open to them are
very few. Keeping clearinghouse,
teaching school, and sewing, is the whole
compass of the callings usually considered
respectable for ladies. ALI cannot keep
boarders; some capital or credit is requi-
site, which many cannot command; and
the mistress of clearinghouse has at
best a toilsome, thankless, and often
improbable life. To teach school, a
certain degree of education is requisite.
It is true, most Of our young ladies,
if not all, may he supposed to have the
necessary qualifications for some part in
this arduous work. But the number of situa-
tions is limited, the competition great, and the
pay, we believe, generally very small. The
almost universal introduction of the sewing
machine has greatly diminished the chances
of livelihood for any one dependent on
the needle for q support. And these chances
are still further reduced at the present time
of general financial depression, when econ
omy is the order of the day, and very few
ladies can afford to indulge in the luxury
of seamstress, milliner or dressmaker.
It becomes necessary, therefore, to look
around and see if there be no other avenues
open to female industry. Are the DEGREES
of society inexorable? Is the crust of 80
cial prejudice impenetrable Are there
not many occupations now filled by men
that of right and from their nature should
belong to ladies What arduous duties are
required of the retail vender of dry goods,
fancy goods, confectionery, china and glass;
ware, shoes and boots, etc., that young
woman could not discharge just as well as
the "nice young man." who now measures
out tape and ribbon, or weighs candy be-
hind tho counter? Could not woman sell
sugar, coffee, tea and spices as well as the
splendid creature in pantaloons, who now
presides over the solemn mysteries Of the
retail grocery trade?
Drug stores and book and stationery es-
tablishments should be open to them, for
they could sell calomel and hair dyes, Miss
Braddon's novels or inkstands, just as we'll
as their masculine counterpart now per-
forms those serious duties. They would
also make good book-keepers, lawyers
clerks, etc., and in the larger cities of
France and Germany have long been en-
ployed in these capacities. Time was when
it was thought woman could not teach
school, and in some countries the prejudice
fingers still. Our present arbitrary posi-
tion on the subject of female avocations is
lust as void of reason and full of prejudice,
aud must inevitably yield to the spirit Of
progress and the e1igencies of the times.
1t will be asked what is to become of the
mo-, 'isplaoed. Let the untitled acres
in every district in the State answer. Men
can shift for themselves better than women.
Let them resort to other occupations. Let
them delve, hew and dig, if they can find
nothing else to do. To maintain their su-
periority they must show the "weaker sex"
that they are cast in sterner mould, and,
as they are stronger, are willing to bear
the heavier burdens of life
Our purpose in these remarks is praeti-
cal, not speculative, and we earnestly hope
that some of our merchants will act prompt
ly on the hint, and give the experiment a
fair trial.