The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-11
WEDNESDAY EvEG. DEC. II. 1877!
wOMAN's WORK.

are about twenty empoyments IN that city
for women. 1t mentions, first, keeping
boayders, which usually turns out to be a
"brJken reed" because the dead beat''
will come in time and clean out the most
successful landIady, unless she be very
hard and parsimonious. Then there is
clelkng, but men get most of that to do
great muscular fellows, who could swing
hundred pound sledge, disgrace humanity
by selling tape and ribboMS-crowding out
feeble wunen who seek bread for trem'
bling age and helpless childhood.
Sic may be taioress, millmer, dress
maker, shirt maker, but even here men
compete with her. The daughters Of fashion
often insist upon male artists to fit their
dresses. Shoe making. box making, net
making, hair work, confectionery, making
bags-nany manage to live by these pur.
suits. Teachii 6 is favorite employment,
but there are at least EN- applicants tureverY
school. And this is about all that is offer
ed. There is great burden of idle woman
hood thrown upon society in this country.
In many cities, and notably in Richmond,
it is appalling to contemplate. With idle
ness CONS SUCH a crowd of vices and mise
re-, that it might well be called the " sum
and source OF all villainies."
It is not safe for society to rear single
idle member, yet thousands of women ale
without employment, and q burden to their
male irends, compelling oyerTork, and in
thousands @, cases inducing crime to in
dalse their vanity, or driving them to dis
enlargement and consequent dissipation aud
ruin. The only remedy is to be found III
the thorough education Of girls, and the
opening Of all pursuits to woman OF which
she is physically capable, and the creation
Of a public sentiment which makes labor
honorable and idle9aes8 @ disgrace to men
end a0OTea a!ite.
Place our young women III the schools
and colleges side by side with their broth.
ers and friends. Giyethem the same sturdy
discipline of mind, and vigorous muscular
training, and you will not only heighten
their loneliness and increase their charms
as women, but make them capable of
meeting the requirements of duty in the
home and by the Preside. Give to our
young women such education as will cna-
bic them to live honestly, if no happy
union awaits them, or if disaster comes
after the browning bliss of a happy mar
gia,e.
LestAegs feel the pleasure of honest
work, the ecstac;es Of nvble achievement
in literature and science, and in the busi-
ness OF the world, which fascinates and in
spires all well educated men! Let them
b. welcomed to every field Of honorabe
c Tort where independence fiom want can
be won by noble endeayor! Let us give
them The easy places behind the desk and
the counter, and in all profitable employ
ments as we now give them the best seats in
the cars and in the social circle! Let us step
aside TO the truly masculine pursuits and
leave the light employment for the lighter
muscle of woman!
Then We shall DO justice to our sisters,
and show that our professions Of chiyalrouS
devotion to them are not impudent pre-
fences. We shall save thousands of over
burdened men from disease, dissipation
and ruin. We shall save thousands of
women from sinking to poverty, drudgery.
and untimely death, OF that sad fute to
which so many are driven for want Of prac
tica2 education and chance to earn their
Icing by honest a0'k. We shall give to
the world race of full formed women
beautiful, vigorous, and symmeiric in body
and mind, fulfilling our highest ideal OF
purity and loneliness, bat capable Of With
standing the storms Of life, and shelterIng
others, mona the less, because endowed
with every feminine grace.
Such women will he the wives and moth
eT5 OF race worthy to inhabit this conti-
nent in its splendid future. There are
uch women now, many Of them, in the
halls Of the rich and the cottages of the
poor, types of what all may be when we
cease our mean aud selfish monopoly of
the best education and the most profitable
pursuits, and welcome our sisters to share
them hereafter.