The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-23
Women as JouIrrnaIIsts.


ing criticism on Miss Nellie NJ. uutchin.
sons papcr In ,Lo nil Ey,,,,,,, ~, Al.
rooi,;on -, ,.a,,, ~. apr" "",'fy Spou' 'ne
i.n, "'A'e'' IN modern Journal
'snl Il: ,..,..
The writer assumes that talent for
Journalism Is a gilt Of natural genius, NO
less than that OF sculpture or painting.
although 1t 1t cannot be taught by art, Il
may be improved by culture. Her
statements on this point will perhaps be
deemed too unqualified when Il Is 70.
membered that many of the most distin.
guished Journalists of tho day have be.
come so through the force of circum.
stances rather than from the inappeasable
bent Of nature which Is essential to the
formation Of the poet and the artist,
Indeed, there is probably no profession In
which general talent and industry can
more surely find u congcnial field and
hope for more ample rewards, while In
the exclusive sphere OF art, without n
strong innate vocation, no diligence, or
zeal, or worthy intent can afford even the
slightest guarantee of success, In The
opinion OF the writer, woman il fitted Inv
temperament and capacity only for
certain limited branches oI journalism.
However fine her genius, or enerreiIc
her character, she would be out of
place in the position Of managing edi.
tor. The work from ten o'clock at night
until two in the morning would oRitself
make ruinous havoc Of tho nerves of the
strongest literary woman. Add TO this the
necessity Of prompt and rapid decision,
involving q comprehensive view of ali
sides Of a question, 1t Is to be feared that
woman in this post would find herself
at fault. The very quickness Of her sym.
pathics, which are so attractive in social
life, would lead to inConsiderate impulses
at WARMTH thefirmness anddiscretion that
arc essential TO the sound discharge of lis
duties. Nor is she better fitted for the
writing OF leaders in the editorial columns.
This function demands the exercise of
qualities which arc rarely combined in
either sex,-a disposition 10 be lust rather
than sympathetic, earnest rather than
vehement, and capable OF being indignant
without spite, and impressive without
heaYiness. The nature and social posi.
tion OF woman must be transformed be.
fore she can be competent for such task,
But according to the writer, women are
eminently adapted for the discussion of
purely social and literary topics. A prac.
ticed feminine pen is always welcome in
paragraphs of that class. MANY Of the
most graceful and sparkling articles in This
department of the great Journals are writ.
ten by women. They arc also very success.
ful in the criticism Of books, especially Of
poetry and novels, and the writer adds, by
rather an odd classification, of metapbysi.
cal works. This last suggestion will
hardly hold good, as metaphysics ia al.
most the only branch of science or litera.
turc which has not been decorated by mn
illustrious female name. There has 6een
but one Hypatia to a thousand HeIens
We are not sure but Miss Hutchinson has
been too sweeping in her enumeration of
the detects of feminine critics she nj.
firms that their reviews are peculiarlv
fresh, swift, neat in perception and aug.
gestion, but too ELUSIVE and wanting In
balance Of judgment and moderation OF
tone. This is doubtless the fault Of the
hasty and superficial criticism, which can
hardly be avoided in the urgencies Of the
daily press, but that it is not peculiar TO
women is amply demonstrated by the NO.
bic examples to the contrary of Harriet
Martineau, Margaret Fnllcr, and Mary
LowelD Putnam, to. say nothing Of
others who might be named, whose mas
T