Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-23
Letter of the Women of the South 10
Mr. George Peabody. hHA

The letter below is to be forwarded t.
Mr.. George Peabody as soon as the Gig
natures of ten thousand Southern womeI
can be obtained. Copies are now being
circulated through all the Southern
States, with space sufficient for fifty
names. Ladies of influence in the re-
spective localities where circulated have
the matter in churge, aud ss 5000 Go The
desired number of signatures have been
obtained the copies are to be collected,
all the names to be attached together, and
forwarded as above stated;
DEAR SIR: The earnest philanthropy
of your character induces US to prefer
making the following representations to
you personally. instead of conveying
them TO you through the distinguished
gentlemen whom you have appointed
agents of your beneficence. s
Although you have intrusted the ex-
penditure of this sum to these trustees,
so high is your character for prudence
and judgment, that we are certain any
advice from you as to its disposal will
be all powerful with them.
The present state of that section of
your naive country in which we live, is
10 every respect distressing; but there
is one circumstance which deserves
especially to employ the kindly brain
and hand of the philanthropist--we refer
to the condition of the women of the
South. Until the late war we had never
been compelled, owing to the form Of So
ciety under which we we're born and
reared, to labor for our own support.
Afluence was the rule, poverty the excep-
ton. During the war, when it became
necessary for us to exert ourselves in
the most arduous and unaccustomed
duties, our conduct proved that we
lacked neither the will nor the ability to
Iaber persevereingly, and to bear with
fortitude every burden which it pleased
God to lay upon us. The issue Of the
war has deprived thousands of US Of our
only means of support. Harder to bear
than this, its terrible vicissitudes of
slaughter and disease have taken away
from many Of rs toe stsopg arms and
brave hestls Of those who wosld haze
counted it all joy to labor for us.
We do not complain of this; we yield
to the will Of Him "who doeth ell things
WE'LL" and who doth not willingly af-
fict the children of men," We do pot
ask for any help except the opportunity
TO help ourselves. Owing to the former
condition of society in the South, there
are only two occupations open to US
teaching spd aeving For the former
pursuit many Of ls are RnGt either from
temperament or from not having been
educated expressly for this occupation.
The latter employment is 20 sedentary
that many Of us have not strength and
hea...h to enable us to pursue it. How
ever. in spite Of these hindrances, so
many ofus have been compelled to engage
in these pursuits, that the remuneration
which they afford has necessarily become,
as a general rule, pitifully small, owing
to the great competition in both.
We heljeve that portion Of your noble
gift could in 10 possible way be so use
ful 10 our impoverished section % BY en-
plovinr it in the establishment OF 50 in-
s,i,ution whose whole desigu should be TO
open new fields OF labor 10 the women OF
the South, aud TO tit them to Cultivate
these with ability. Such 81 institution,
Whea cnce established, could easily be
made, in great Fert. t.self-supporting BY two
measures First, By Allowing ell house
hold work 20 be performed bT the in
mates. Second, By letting the epploT-
ments which are taught to BE Of snch
zatrrs that many Of them shall be remu-
TO the school, even while The
pupils are learning tbem. I
These rules would also have the desir.