The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-27

males and females are paid by the 900 ems but une-
service II performed correctly, Is subject 10 many
uncertainties which come from sickness, lack or
attention and unfamiiarty with and unadaptiolllty
TO manual foTmB whether these complaints are well
grounded or not, II Ii certain that they have great
weight IN keeping down the wages OF women, and
In reducing their sphere Of usefulness to its mini
mnm limit
As saleswornen, and IN all occupations requiring
address and accommodations to Customers, II u
universally held among employers that females 90
not display that aptitude which should enable them
TO demand equal wages with men. They hold that
saeswomen are not sought for and patronized ~
their own sex; that they never possess practical
acquaintance with the goods they offer over the
counter; that customers have TO approach them
with TOO great reverence, ana that refusal or
neglect TO purchase often becomes a question OF
personal Kindness. Besides, It Is claimed that they
have not the physical endurance which induces men
to make the widest DISPLAY OF fabrics from the upper
shelves, ana that many goods not thus exposed.
The care OF girls to guard them against insult, 10
IL Is next TO impossible to say how much justice
there Is In these objections. They exist II remains
women have succeeded in opening and advancing the
sales In new departments OF trade is known, aud
that they alone are ut to hold positions In special
lines, now occupied BY men, 10 also lact' and 10
demonstrated III orders requiring neatness and de.
spatch. When they shall DO able TO Suppiant their
bs an aeS Paris there
hardly such being known In the lighter depart
ments OF the retail trade as salesman. Every one
actual practice Is successful beyond measure. The
same is true q London. Why should 1t not also
wOMEN's WAGES.
The subject OF wOmen's wages has been fruitful
OF great deal Of controversy. Some hold that they
get enough IN proportion TO the salaries OF men,
died. whichever side is correct. women suffer the
most, and the fact remains that their living is q
scanty and precariOus existence. Between the
hand and the mouth their pay disappears IN the
meanest necessities and they have seldom enough
relaxation or funds to secure nights enjoyment ut
Vi It ' IS argued ~ one side that women, CON-
Their living, it Is claimed costs them less;
a man; that she always, in the same boarding
house. obtains her living at lower figure than q
male, and that she can make her own dresses un.
derclothing, mats. &c, while man has to resort to
q tailor and furnsher for his wear.
II Ia also commended that every female lives ey-
psctng to be married al some period OF her life, and
terry over her trade but rather looks to the marriage
union as relief from all work and service not
purely household. 1t Ia claimed that such longngs,
which are natural incapacitate women for progress
sve industry and that this Ia the reason that few
rise into positions Of independence ana aie support
tradesnaen many Of whom fill the most exalted sta
tons among the milllonnaires of the day. As every
see, there ls much truth IN this statement.
Young girls are bred 70 the idea OF marriage, and
they nurtured to the belief that this ID their mis-
sion earth. The mistake Is not In the theory-it
Is true and perfect; but In q city like New York,
where there 1000 females to 400 900 males. the
famly tie Is not an universal boon. Hence SO soon
causes her TO feel that she is always to be her own
support then excellence, and in high order, Will
prevail among the working women
HOW WOMEN 0PpREss WOMEN.
The causes other than those mentioned to keep
down the wages OF women are manifold, but they
can be referred chiefly to three important sources.
FIrSt-COmpetitlOn.
Seco,.d-Want Of concerted action.
Thtrd-Lack OF common fund.
Under the first division the evils existing enor
nous and constitute an lmpregnable barrier to the
increase OF women's wages. There are SO many
females who have husbands upon whom 10 depend,
and other means OF living who do fancy ana SUB
stantial neeolework that they offer lively compe-
titiOn 10 the poor girls and WIDOWS, who depend
upon their hands for existence. This class Of COM
They embroIder. make ruilies and manufacture arL-
Giles OF that belong to the domain or the really
working portion of the sex
But the evil Is not III doing, but In the price for
which they do For instance, woman win work
three weeks and produce something handsome by
her needle and viii take IT to some dealer and Will
receive ten dollars for her labor. she particu-
lar TO price, because work Is not her necessity.
real working woman VIII toll hard and accomplish
the same thing IN two weeks, aud from tue nature
vi the competition receives but ten dollars. the
price. The CARING injustice of this forced labor by
independent lemales Is visible. They rob the poor,
they cut down their pay, and to crafty morbid
desire Tor dress and petty luxury, oppress whole
class as much entitled to the comforts OF life as
themseives-the sequel shows better. Had the poet
written
Woman's inhumanty to woman
Makes countless millions mourn,
ho would have penned . text that epitomizes many
OF the Ills that now degrade the working women Of
New York.
Bat this is not the only opposition they ma in
their sex. The tendency OF ladies In the upper
classes Of society to "beat down. OIL every ar
tcle they purchase over the counter Is proverbla.
Poor women are prevented by pride from following
such a streak OF misplaced economy, consequently
the rich i've cheaper than the poor, and the poor
bear the burden OF the disparity. The saeswoman
MT q I'm nrfca hart a ha nrN
pretor suffers In his profits and the girls, therefore,
work for diminished wages. This is truth so
the further spreading OF fraud which s no less
fraud because fOstered by class who live In
stolen elegance TO the oppression OF their worthy
sisters. In all phases Of injustice this IL one
which must strike the community IS frelghted
with the meanest attributes and embodying
the most mercenary aims. Considerations like these
the noble feelings OF the sex be appealed to and let
them understand that they, as well as men, are re.
sponsbe for the present condition OF the girls and
the cause Of women Will advance with giant strides.
WANT OF UNION.
The want Of concerted action among the female
workers Is another cause. They should be unit IN
their several trades; they should mutually sustain
each other by counsel and advice they should organ
lze and form vast sisterhood OF intelligent beings.
they are; ana without entering upon any strikes
with their employers for these have always proved
disastrous, they should educate public sentiment,
Sent their case in ali its hdeous aspects No over
powerlng current could be turned against them.
WANT or moSEY-AN UNFAILIN6 REMEDY.
The Third cause refers TO lack OF funds ana gen.
era impaired hearth, for these Ills have closer ALL
ance than IL suspected. The working women want
money, and they must earn 1t themselves. The
question ID how to yet 1t. An eminent physician,
DR.. +. b. Lawson, tried an experiment which COM
pleely illustrates the whole subject. Four operators
on sewing machines were found who we're in the
habit Of working sixteen hours day, wearing out
their bodies and earning bad health and poor pay.
Under the treatment Of The physician they were d.
rected to work eight hours day, sewing by hand
possible sleep eight hours and take eight hours for
relaxation. Ii deficiency IN what they had earned
and what they might earn should be found against
the new system The Doctor was to pay
II. they worked year, ana the result
was that all four saved more than fifty dollars in
twelve months, IN excess OF what they had formerly
made In the same time. The frame was not pros
the general health became admirable and the girls
were cheerful and happy. This is the secret OF q
working woman's lie, and could the principle be
New York what a cnntenteu norfion Of hodx