The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-05-24
Gbe Ae~ !Alortbwest.
FPTDAY MAY "a, 1872.
GIRLS LEARN TRADES.

IVopId that this advice could reach
every girl in the land. The great curse
Of woman is her dependence and help
Iassness. And these are caused mainly
bv her having no trade or profession by
which she may earn livelihood and be
independent. And not only girls need
this advice, but their mothers also.
Mothers should impress upon the minds
Of their daughters, as much as upon the
minds of their sons, that it is their duty
to be self-suppOrting members of the
Commonwealth. But this is far from
being the prevalent opinion to-day. The
common idea is that it is not woman's
place TO do any kind of work except un-
remunerative household drudgery.
Girls are taught that marriage is the
end and aim of their existence, and that
it is the duty of their husbands to sup
port them. This might all be very well
although it is founded upon an un-
sound principle-if husbands did really
support their wives. But they do not,
in the great majority of cases. And the
consequence is that many, very many,
women with high aspirations and noble
longings-who, if they were unfettered
from the thralldom of the kitchen, would
rise high in the ranks of their profess
sion or avocatiOn-are tied down TO an
unremunerative life of toll and drudg-
cry. We do not say that women should
not cook or do hsusewOrk, but we do
say that they should be allowed the
same latitude of choice of the diversified
labor Of our country that men have. If
4 husband really loves and cherishes his
wife as he should, would he not rather
behold her in her chosen profession or
avocation receiving remunerative en-
ployment than confined to the kitchen
all her days?
But some will say, "What will we do
for cooks?7 Never fear-there will al
ways be plenty Of cooks. Indeed, there
are too many now. A good cook should
receive good wages. But there are so
many nowadays that wages for that
kind Of labor are exceedingly small.
We would not, however, persuade any
body that it is dishonorable to do cook
ing or any kind of housework. 1t would
be well if all-men and wOmen-knew
how to do this kind of work. But We
would have only those-both men anC
women-who have natural inclination
or liking for it TO follow it constantly.
Many a marriage that would other
wise take place is broken off because tn
young man-though meritorious, indus
trious and all that's poor, and it woul
take years for him to amass a compe
tence sufficient to Support" a wife il
accordance with the fashionable idea O
the world. Now, would it not be mucl
better could the young lady also con
tribute by her earnings from some re
munerative occupation to the building
and furnishing Of the home in whicl
she is as much interested as her aft
anced? The sexes should be equal il
everything. Women should be Just a
Independent as men are, and shoul,
never think for a moment of marryin,
for support.
We renew our advice, and we give i
to ali women, but more particularly t
girls-learn trades. There are variOu
ones now open to you, such as printing
telegraphing, etc. And then there al
the professions for those more ambition
still. In all these departments of il
dustry it has been abundantly prove
that women are equal to men.