The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-01-06
Gae Jalleg 5G)irgiuiall,
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.
Thursday, January 6, 1870.
Let ms Reason Together !---Some Practical
Thoughts on Practical Subject.

found among many OF our respectable cltl-
.zens-espoeially females. Sewing machines,
and other labor-sagng contrivances have
greatly lcsscned the profits of sewing, their
principal occupation, and we fear that many
find difficulty in obtaining the means Of sub
sistence.s Ihe-circler of female employment
is very limited most Of them are compelled
to earn their daily bread (and it is ofton not
much more than bread) by their needle
The plaintiye 9song Of the shirt" by Hood,
with its perpetual refrain Of "stich y
s'stitch!n "stitch J! y rings painfully in our
ears, and presents true and melancholy
picture Of the tolls and privations of many
of our worthy females,
elbow is this to be renledicd ?" is an en-
quiry that often suggests itself to our mind
The only answer that we can think of is to
enlarge the sphere Of female employment
to multiply the means by which respectable
: females can earn comfortable support.
To some extent, this can be done, by-in-
Producing those branches of manufacturing
) industry, such as wooden and Gotten mills,
which will afford them occupation at rcElu-
lucrative wages. But this requires time and
money, and meanwhile, many will, or may,
2 suffer. Other cxpedients must, therefore, be
In attempting to solve. this difficult prob
lem, we are met, at the threshold, by one Sc
rious obstacle, and that arises trona the pre-
JUDGES of our people. While all profess to
regard labor as Honorable, there is a foolish
prejudice against some kinds Of labor. We
respectfully submit that this prejudice is
without any just foundation and ought to be
banished from the minds Of our people 1t
is one Of the relies Of the institution Of siav-
cry and ought 10 pass away with the institu-
ton from which, sprung. 1t has its source
2 in false pride.
We hold, that any honest, occupation is
honorable. 1t is the conIaet Of the person,
and not the occupation which he or she fol-
lows, that determines the character, and
amount Of respect that is, due to an individ7
Fl
ual We maintain, that it is much more re.
spectacle to earn au honest living by ones
own labor, than to cat the bread of Deepen
dence IN t4'@F
While slavery existed the cooking, wash
ing, and other household business, was per
formed, in most cases, by slaves. This fact
tended, therefore. {at least in the Southern
States) to bring these occupations into disre-
putc and now that slavery has ceased to ax-
Z ist, the old prejudice still continues You
can rarely find respectable female who will
consent ct matters not how poor she may be-
to go into family to do the cooking, OF
washing or household service. They arc too
proud to undertake duties Of this kind
Now let us see whether this pride is founded
in reason If it is, then it is laudablc-if it
is not, it ought to be surrendered, as mis-
cheivous
1t is matter Of every day occurrence for
respectable females to enter families, as seam
stresses That is conceded, On all hands, to
be proper. But we would respectfully en-
qure, why it is not quite as respectable, to
cook dinner, or wash tub-full of clothes
as to make a shirt, Or pair of paataloohs
: It is a distinction without a difference. 1t
is the offspring of absurd prejudice
But these foolish notions IT. net confined
to women. Men are equally subject to then,
very few white men would undertake to
take care of gentleman's horses, or drive
his carriage. They think it would be de-
grading to do So, because, heretofore, negroes
have generally performed these Offices Yet:
4 the same man, will readily contract to drive
r. stage, or a hack, .fite't nth negroes 1t is
discreditablc to drive g gentleman and his
wife and daughter, in their pri0ate carriage,
but quite the proper thing to drive compa-
ny of negroes, IN a public hach! Can any
thing be more prepostcrous than bubble
of this kind AS we before remarked, it is
not man S occupation, but his denaeanor IN
it, that determines his responsibility. How
does man compromise his responsibility any
. more by driving priuate carriage, than a
public vehicle? Oh !says he, it looks too
much like being . mans servant Servant,
forsooth Arc we not. all servants? Is not
the lawyer a servant, working for wages ?
Are not the Doctor, the Preacher, the Car
penter, the Bricklayer, the Shoemaker, the
member Of Congress, the Cabinet Minister
the President Of the United States, all SER
yaats, working for wages -
We really think it is time to put away
these foolish notions, and take more sensible
views of subjects.
-, How much better Of would many of our
females be, if they would seek employment
in private families, as cooks, washerwomen.
&c. How much more respectable it would
be, than to be dependent on friends, Or earn
precarious support, by the health destroy
ing occupation Of sewing! What wide fed
Of remunerative employment would there be
opened TO persons in humble circumstances !!
How much noyerty and snnerino would be