Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-03-04
Fer the Gallipolis Journal.
Answer to " Glenn"

Not knowing the writer
of the article on School Teachers, in
your last Journal, and having no respect
for his opinions and no Difference for
his Instructions, | make free to answer
his malicious attack on women. His
statements are so obscure and so con
Trajectory as to defy analysis; but his
meaning is easily gathered from the
manner in which he applies invidious
epithets to the gentler sex. His re-
peated use Of slang phrases in referring
to them, leaves nodoubt as to the spirit
in which he writes.
Your correspondent says it is his
purpose to note the difference between
his own views and those of former
contributor, but in all his letter there is
not one word which explains this diff
ference. Instead, however, he assails
female character indiscriminately; and
since he cannot charge lady teachers
and tradeswomen with ''lovely useless
ness, fascinating frivolity and delicious
helplessness, - he hurlsthese invectiyes
at the remainder of the sex.
He says: "The prominent charac-
teristic of the female sex is their mod
esty; for this only are they respected
and honored." Modesty is indeed "the
sweetest charm of female excellence"
but when it exists in so great degree
as to paralyze other faculties, and rem
der its subject insensiole to the call of
duty it loses our respect and invites
our censure.
Women have notably of late years,
attained success in literature, science,
art, and the more common but no less
important fields of labor. The in
stances in which they have graduated
honorably in the various professions,
have become so numerous that they
no longer excite surprise. Some of
our public journals are edited by them
in the most creditable manner; and |
they contribute many of the ablest ar
ticIes found in our magazines. They
have shown themselves fully compe-
tent to discharge the duties of the |
desk, the counter, and the press; and |
in those branches of mechanical skill |
where dexterity rather than strength is
required, they frequently take the prece-
dence of men. The world is too sell
fish to bestow praise or place to those
who cannot Justly claim it; and the fact
that woman occupies this position i'm
plies her fitness for it. Modesty alone
could not perform these labors. But
shall we withhold the respect which is
always accorded to labor, whether
of hand or brain, because the laborer
is woman, ana in doing this work,
proves that intelligence, industry, and |
perseverance are also her distinctive |
traits? Courage and endurance are
also distinctive traits in her character, !
as is attested by her self-sacrifce in
the hospital, on the battlefield, and in
the continued privation which the large
class of work-women endure. Gentle
ness is also a distinctive trait of her
character, and this should protect her
from brutality, but it does not always
do so. 1t may be said that these are
isolated cases, and that this is not a
andid view of the matter.
l answer, that owing to various caus-
es, woman's sphere has hitherto been
too limited, and her capabilities have
consequently been unknown and un-
aud that the number who
have succeeded in the various pursuits
of life, is large enough to warrant us
in attributing to the entire sex, not
modesty alone, but many other virtues
for which woman should be respect
ed and honored. These traits, com
bined with that quickness of percep-
ton, ready tact and .intuitive knowl-
edge of human nature, for which she
is remarkable, attest her special adap-
tation to, the teachers vocation.
1t is said that the world declares
woman's unftness for teaching by
reduction of salary, and that in .'ad-
vanced communities the employment
of female teachers is wholly set aside"
The salary she commands as teach
er is, believe, in just proportion to
the salaries paid to males-if there be
a disproportion it results from other
causes. But it is really fearful to think
of the apprehension and dread which
must seize every lady teacher in the !