American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-10-19
EmplOyments Of Women.

The condition, SEPARATIONS, and employ
ments of women, in relation both to poll
tics and to business, are being rs vigor-
ously perhaps more vigorously - dis
cussed in England than in this country.
In a modified form. woman suffrage has
been recognized among our English cou-
sins for they may now vote for parish
officials, who are political. and not, as
their designation would imply, ecclesiasti-
cal officials; they have a voice, too, in the
choice OF the newly-constituted school
boards and the question of their admis-
sion to the national universities, as regular
undergraduates. is evidently only one of
time. The English post-oifice authorities
have taken a step which, indirectly at
least, encourages what is broadly known
In that country as the ''wOman's move
ment," by appointing forty young women
to positions in the savings-bank office,
which is attached to that department. and
this Is announced to be only Introductory
to similar appointments throughout all
the branches of public service under the
control of the pOstmaster-general. In
this country women have, for some time,
received positions as clerks in the Wash
ington departments, and as pOstmistresses
and post-office clerks; and, as they con-
tinue to enjoy the confidence of their SUI
periOrs. it may be taken for granted that
the experiment is a success. In both Eng
land and America there is certainly large
class of women who, while they must
support themselves, are untitled for the
manual work and drudgery of factories.
Many of these become successful book
the fact still remains that these Occupa-
tons satisfy but very small portion of
the demand for employment existing
among intelligent, wel,-educated, but I'M
pecunious women. The positions for
which such women are best fitted are,
doubtless, those which bear the least heav-
lily upon the physical powers, and this is
the case with most government Offices. In
England, the action of the pOst-offioe
chiefs Is a novelty; and as such, has been
bitterly denounced, especially by the male
clerks, who are the most interested in the
case yet that their policy Is well consid-
cred, Is evident both from the success OF
the experiment here, and from the shabby
genteel misery which is but too common
among the educated but unprovided wo-
men Of England. Responsibility is ter
rible word. and frightens many poor
matron and spinster into n doom of life
long make-shifting and browsing on the
confines of penury. The well-educated
daughter Of country rector, who has
died leaving mo assets, shrinks from the
career of a seamstress or gOverness, nor
can she think for a moment OF the loom OF
a cotton-mill, or the counter of London
shop. What shall she do? Responsibility
says she must choose some quiet and gen.
teel employment. 1t may be said that she,
who is virtually beggar, has no business
to heed the voice of this worldly tyrant !;
the more practical and prosaic post-oflice
says that it will do its share to concede to
the national prejudice, which after all, is
not without Its good points, and will sup
ply the needed grade of work. as far as
its exigencies will allow. The woman
question, OF rather the position of woman
in the world. must be determined, as most
questions are, by practical experiment; and
it is well that the experiment should be
fairly tried.-Arpleton' Journal.