New-York tribune., 1873-02-12
WHAT rs TO HIhDERt
MISS pIcKINsoN's VIEWS ON woMANs WORK
Miss Dickinson enOke at Steinway Hall las

,,ss p,cKIssoN's VIEWS ON woMANs WORK.
Miss Dickinson spoke at Steinway Hall last
night on woman's Work. she chose for the title OF her
address the query "what IL 20 Hinderr and her aim
was to show what the hinderances in the way oi
women's entering on successful and INDEPENDENT ca
reer II Ia urged that the barriers TO wOmans progress
in the world of activities are removed that she may
pass through the open door and work In the various
fields Of usefulness honor and profit which invite non
est effort II does not enter in-what Is 10 mn
deri Addressing herself TO answer this question: MISS
Dickinson seemed at fret TO charge the responsibility
for failure upon woman herself But she subsequently re-
traced the plan OF argument and showed that the au
s after all. not primarily with woman but Win her
training She thinks that women chiefly fan in their
independent because they do not enter upon them
with heartness and from choice She thinks that they
too much look upon employment OF any sort as tempo
rary expedent at best, be used as staff through
time present and dire necessity but to be flung ASIDE
when full deverance shall from some vaguely
hoped-for intervention She thinks that this state OF
mind brings into the various activities OF e 700 many
listless hafhearted and easily-discouraged women
Women she observes should pick and choose ther cal"
ing nd make theirs for lifetime just as men PICK
and choose theirs with determination TO put Their HE
struggle into it, so long women take up these voca-
tions only as floats to carry them over todays needs
with no serious intention Of honorng their craft 40 long
will they be only as the sediment in the great stream OF
human effort Men who have trained themselves TO "a
lifelong pursuit VIII excel them; they will get the best
wages-the highest rewards.
OF course Miss Dickinson goes behind this diseonrag
ing picture and finds the for the gray tnts which
oyerspread it, Girls are taught as boys are TO be
selfrelant helpful and strong. She would not have
women made hard and masculine; but she would have
them taught that the best training Of brain and mind
deserves and secures the best rewards Many genera
tons OF false training have brought women to their
present pass They have been lifted where men have,
in their boyhood climbed they have had their school
work done for them where boys have been compelled TO
solve their own problems. In this kindly-meant but
cruel nurture Miss Dickinson thinks she dscerns the
chief hinderance 10 woman's progress worker. To
the complaint that the heartest endeavor finds no
promotion, career, she says that the demand for
skilled labor constantly opens new avenues 10 women;
aud she shows by citations, that women and shine
Public opinion was alluded to by the speaker Of
the hnderances which women meet In their deernina-
ton to win their way in the world. Many young
women deferred from dong the honorable and ac-
ceptable work which offers by their fear Of what the
little world of friends and neghbors may say They are
forced in TO unremuneratve and dstateul empOyments
because those empOvments are called genteel Ihey
the permitted to women. The tyranny OF custom
binds many willing hands with iron chains. Public
opinion has left but two roads open for woman one
with exceptions the majority OF women have
been taught TO believe thdt IN tnese highways tny ut
walk Women must learn that they can e1Sei III LINER Ipei
chosen pursuit among honorable callngs OF me- fuDnc
opinion must be educated to hold In equal honor the man
or the WOMAN who makes way in the world aud Walks
therein with steady and useful purpose.
The lecture was admirably delivered, and was per
vaded throughout with and generous enthusiasm
for the OF Womans Work Miss Dickinson pleaded
that wide prevalence Of false views of life made neces
sary utteTance Of these wholesome though unWel-
truths. The difficulty is not radically taal may
be compassed, though not speedily and the address
concluded with few inspiring sentences addressed
to those who have aspirations for high, noble, and use
life. but who ait dumhy waiting for some other career
than that which opens through the ordinary duties oi
TODAY.