Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-03-22
SN.fLL OUR D.5EGHTRRs BE-
CONE SELF-SUPPORTI. TI.vG.
BY HELEN p. JENKINS.

There is a serpent in the world as willy
as the one which obtained access to the
garden OF Eden. 1t has nestled treacher-
ously in the noblest hearts. 1t has whis-
pered in the cars of Ewes daughters and
Adams sons a pleasing falsehood which
has done in.measurable harm. 1t has said,
"All women were made to be supported by
men; marriage and maternity are the only
duties of women, and any other occupation
for the purpose of earning a support is dis
graceful.
1t has been a lying serpent, for it has
never been able to prove its assertion.
There has never been one hour in hui
man history when existing facts would
sustain this theory.
If all fathers were rich and generous, if
all women could marry men of their choice,
and those men were always magnificent in
pocket and heart, and never died, never
broke down in business or health, never
deserted their homes, and trouble never
came in any shape-we might half believe
this serpent.
But what are the facts? Fathers are not
always able or willing to support their
daughters. The noblest daughters do not
like TO he dependept upon their fathers,
All women do not marry. Do not start in
surprise, il is even so. There are this dav
in England four hundred thousand more
women than men to marry them and one
and half lfmillon of single women between
| the ages of twenty and forty. There are in
the State of Massachusetts alone. thirty
| thousand more women than men to marry
them. And those who do marry do not al
ways get supported they do not all marry
generous men nor prosperous men. Hus-
bands sometimes get sick sometimes die;
some desert or neglect their families some
squander their means some are lazy, so
that, take society throughout, more mar
ried women are compelled to support them
selves and their little ones than are com
fortably supported by husbands. know
these are not poetical sentiments-they are
facts, and ugly ones at that. l know it dis
turbs the delicious theory of loving protec-
ton of tender women by brave men, and
"all that" which chivalrOus-hearted men
love to dwell upon, and which the asserty is
the basis of human society; but we have
to deal with facts which confront us, and
not with charming theories.
These facts are.ssufiicient reasons why
daughters should be trained to selt-sup-
port even the daughters of wealthy men.
Vicssitudes work terrible havoc with
wealth, and the largest fortune is not so
safe friend as the capacity to do some
thing.
A good story is told of Stephen Girard,
whose nephew had been with him some
wears, and expected to inherit large for
tune from his uncle. He one day broached
the subject to Girard. and was met with
the rebuff. ''I haven't any money for you
young man. want you to learn trade. -
The Young man had too good sense TO de.
mur. and ai(er some consultation decided
TO learn coopering. The next morning
found him. coat of. toiliug beside otbe,
apprentices. For wear he worked faith.
fully. when. one day. he appeared befor,
his uncle. according to reouest with first.
, class barrel of his own making. Snow
vounr man" said Girord "vou ore rich
without me. In case of misrortune vor
have n good trade nv which Won can sun
, mort vonrselc Now Won are 6t 70 sbor,
, soma i,torosts with ,on
This idoo 10 sourd No malta. ho,, NINA,
, ,rool,, ,ios voi,iro for vo, vo,no NOR =,
,,orpo woman n is sacer and better 70 bay,
) ocouaintod yorrsolr with some occnna,ior
, which in an emeroepcv can sunnort Won
II 10 tha sprost wav 10 banniness 10 sofetx
, and 70 virtue
Ir,os,ioa,iors reveal tho startling ,ac
? rhot ,our76nbs or tho nrostitutes In ON,
| groat cities have never been taught apv
, fling. have no Knowledge or trainins
which could hiring them even the smalles
sunnort who can tell how closely thi
r Coat stords ro,,,od ~ ,beir sad condition,
Not many women sin Tins for the love q
it. Men do. women seldom so. Most O
: the women of this class have first fallei