The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-26
Struggling With the World.

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4 Young lady who has been teaching
school for living in the West, full OF
the quenchless yearning for wide field
and fair play, tells story which 1t
would be well for those having voice
and authority i'm such matters TO heed.
On the threshold of her career, finding
that one obstacle to her success was the
difference in the amount paid TO a man
and woman for the same labor, she
complained TO a friend, who quoted
Daniel Webster TO her: There Is room
enough upstairs III YOU would receive
better wages, fit yourself Tor a higher
position. Do YOU not see that YOU are
surrounded bv an incompetent host
Come up higherr' She had long Ia
mented the fact that so many Of her sis
ter teachers worked on from year 10 year
i'm a groove, neither improving their
own minds nor learning better methods
for the development of those intrusted
to them. She knew that many of them
were deserving pity more than blame,
because the time employed for gentle
man teachers for rest and recreation
must be used by them in sewing and
homework, on account of their small
salaries. She determined 10 find place
"up-stairs," if untiring efforts would Sc
cure il. Her days were spent in school,
and much Of the night over her books.
Time and money were spent in visiting
first-ciass schools, studying the best
methods Of school government, and the
simplest and clearest way of imparting
instruction. After long months Of toll,
she felt and knew that she was master
Of her work. and looked for the reward
of her labors. After teaching one or two
terms, she applied for position as first
assistant i'm 4 school, and few days af-
terWard was waited upon by the preSi-
dent Of the board, who informed her
that upon strict inquiries they had dis
covered that she was competent 10 con-
duct the school herself Upon the recep-
ton of this news her heart beat with
I Joy, as she felt that she had reached the
room upstairs Filled with this
/ thought, and thankful that her efforts
were TO be crowned with success, she did
not think of the remuneration until
asked what pay she expected, when she
| inquired what they had usually paid,
when she was informed that she was a
woman, and this was an experiment.
/ They had paid a man, the last wear,
seven hundred dollars for six months,
bat proposed 10 try her for three months
at iifty-five dollars a month, telling heT
that, if she succeeded, her pay would be
raised at the end of that time. This
time passed quickly, when the school
was pronounced "A success, the board in
forming her that such entire satisfaction
had never been given before Parents
and friends congratulated her and the
noble corps Of assistants who had worked
out her plans so ably; and with cheerful
endeavOr the work of the year went on.
Then the next term came, and that fl
nally closed, as did the first. The large
boys and young men who had been her
pupils, and had finished their school
days under her teaching, gathered about
her with fearful ewes and thanked her
with trembling lips for her untiring ef-
forts in their behalf. The girls WED
with each other in offering tokens OF
love and respect, while all expressed the
hope that she might be with them the
coming year. With mingled feelings OF
JOY and sorrow she closed her school
room door, half wishing the long vaca-
ton over and herself ready for work
again. The secretary of the board, i'm
giving her the order for the last terms
pay, waNed eloquent over her success;
but when she glanced at the paper he
gave her and found only fifty-five dol
AtAAo ttAADNNh aAlOAAilf nc litAil AlDNAAll4
more TO say, and referred her to the
president, who informed her she had
done nObly, telling her the school had
never been so well conducted, and that
she had saved them lots of money. TDon
her asking if he had not agreed that She
should have her salary raised the second
term, he said: "Well-yes, But we
! talked it over and concluded that fiftv-
/ five dollars was enough for n iromqnr'
] This conversation took place in Mr..
/ F-'5 bank, just at the hour Of closing.
/ At the door, in a carriage, waited his cl-
/ egantly-dressed daughter. Our 'tcacb-
err felt almost wicked as she passed her,
with her fathers words i'm her ears
"enough for a womanr There was mo
written contract, and She was helpless.
Bitter tears We're shed in the solitude of
her room that night, for she felt that
she must seek work elsewhere. They
would gladly have employed her anoth-
er year, IN order that they might save
Tots OF money! but, finding her ser
vices could not bc secured for les than
they gave man, they let her 90. and
inns Is TOO generally the case i'm the
management of such matters God
speed the day when ability, not sex
shaIl decide the question Of position and
pay; when the key 10 the room mn.
stairs may be held by those competant
TO judge of the merits of those wbC
would enter