The Portland daily press., 1871-09-27
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND
WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 27, 1871.
Brought up by Hand.

Society is still suffering, and women more
than men, under the prejudice against work.
ing with the hands, 1t is not that hand
work is more laborious than head work, but
that it is not considered so respectable. As a
rule, every young man of good habits and fair
health is employed at some labor, of the head
or the hand, which supports him. But this
IS not the case with young women, or women
generally; it cannot be or there would not be
so much complaint of want of career and
want OF employment among women. If these
complaints are well founded there is not
enough domestic work for women to do.
When all is done in the house, and all the
drudgery OF life which falls upon women is
performed there still remain multitudes of
women VINO say they have nothing to do, and
VINO 1ret against the bars of custom and nine
Ior lne freedom of career of independent
support.
tne position OF women, that this state of
thlngs will not be greatly relieved until wo.
men more generally train themselves TO lioht
handlcrafts, and it becomes as respectable to
engage in them as it is to teach school. or
practice medicine, or "give readings" II is
not to be expected that girls "in society" will
undertake trades or have handicrafts when
all the boys shun them as if they were not the
thing, and crowd into clerkships and such
like positions. Women are no more to blame
tor this state of things than men, for they are
no more responsible for false notions in socie-
ty. No occupation is more arduous than
teaching; 1t is cOnstnnt tax upon mind and
body; it is especially trying 20 the highly SEN
sitive organization of women. And they
break down under its strain very often, sick
for life. The routine life of the school teach
er becomes often one of mere drudgery, and
one would say not to be chosen before some
respectable handcraft. And yet the position
OF teacher is sought with avidity, although it
Is, 1or women, usually inadequately paid;
when some handiwork, not half so exhaust,
ing would bring as much money, and leave
the worker with strength and leisure for in
tellectual pursuits. We are aware that tolino
all day in shops and mills is not an easy nor
an agreeable life, or very remunerative, or
leading often to the best associations, and
that tols life IS not made as agreeable as it
may be some day, with the constant improve
ment in machinery, and when the laws of by-
giene especially in ventiation) are better at.
tended to. But we have in mind now other
occupations which are and will be opeuing to
women if they desire to enter them.
we do not mean to say that women ought
not to teach. They are by their quickness
and their sympathy, specially fitted for this
most important Office; but the day will come
when women will not be crowded into that
life, simply because they must earn living,
and with no reference to their physical ability
to discharge its duties. We do not mean TO
say that women any more than men should
seek handicrafts, or that they should be de-
barred from what are called the intellectual
pursuits; but that handierafts should also be
opened to them, and that they should in no
way lose caste by engaging in hard work -
Now, when bright women, of some talent,
but no special accomplishment and no artisan
training, is thrown upon her own resources
what is she to do? Ii she is attractive in ap =.
pearance, and has fair voice, some friend is
apt to suggest that she "give readings" trust.
ing to her beauty and sex to draw audiences
NOW Ter person, man or woman, not spec
tally gifted or trained to it, to give "readings"
is fraud upon the public. No profession is
50 difficult; tOlerable success in il is extreme
ly rare, and decided success has not been re-
allied by more than two persons in this coun-
try. One may have the genius of Dickens
lor public readings, but he cannot succeed
unless he gives himself to the severest drill
and long-continued discipline and study
Yet we hear every day of some pretty woman
or some man who has not even the attraction
of curls and brilliant eyes, proposing to do the
world out of living by "readings."
The day is coming and is now here, when
| the older communities, like New England, are
to sustain themselvs more by manual skill
and the inventive facnties. We are already
called on to supply the demand for the finer
natural products, those into the composition
OF which artistic taste enters no less than
skill fhand and eye. Into this vast and va
| ried field OF industry woman are we'll adapted
to enter. In all the region of art decoration
we should say they would be much more at
home than men, not only in designing, but in
the manufacture of articles which require
| great delicacy OF touch and the instinct of fit
ness. In short, light and disagreeable handi-
crafts, in which woman can engage with
profit and without annoyance, must be OPEN
| ed to them. And their traiaiag in school
must begin to bear reference to this. They
will have to learn, as boys do, and the girls
too, In few German schools, the elements OF
business and commercial life, or ndustria
drawing, and so be fitted to take up some EN-
pl0yment or industry which requires an in
teihgently trained hand. Very much of this
discomfort with life and uneasipess about a
mission would disappear if the girls who think
what they want is career, could have few
hours day steadily employed in some indus
| trial pursuit.
Perhaps we have not made our meaning
clear; but we would have woman take a
more direct part and interest in the industries
OF the age, especially the production of arti-
cles that more Immediately pertain to the
household, to dress and the adornment of the
person and the home, There is work for her
artistic power here as well as for her supple
| fingers She has never yet had her fair say
in the building OF houses and their furnish
ng or IN any OF the manufactures which are
he test and show of high civilization.