, 1873-10-30
WOMAN IN AMERICA.



Editor OF tho London stTlmes.,,
Sin: Judging from the remarks mado On this
subject at the Bradford and Norwich congresses,
tho idea ta tolesably prevalent that women in
the United Statos can adopt with case any pro-
fession ts4 'e for which they sre quaaed confess
States, on my inquiry into tho condition OF
women and childron, fully imbued with some
ouch notion. Eight month"; tour through Amer
ica, and conversations with tho Presidents Of
Prof. AgasRiz, Henry Ward Beeohor, Con. Oliver
(Chief Of the Massachusetts Labor Dureau),
Summon, Dr.. Bellows, Mrs. Stantun, Lucretia
Mott, ETC., fairly dispelled 1t. It is quite
recognized dogroe) abound in America !; in near
ly every city found more than ono in excellent
practice md roputo. In ono denomination tho
cergYwoman has received duo ordination, though
she Is still somewhat Of q rara avis. Four or
i've ladies have secured q footing in the legal
profession, and thore ia scarcely newspaper
staff in the United btatos which docs not in
clude one or more as bona fldo reporters, inter-
viewers, OF. critics.. Thousands, Of courao. find
occupation in toaching and tho usual industrial
occupations, hundreds as watoh-makers, print
ers,' and telegraph clerks; othera have OBJ
tained postmasterBhlps so oagorly Bought
after in tho Unitod States, and somo havo
entered the Government oIices at Washing
ton. But English women must not hastily
arrive at the conclusion TINT because Of these
things their transatlantic eiBtors arc froo from
all the obstrucsiona Of which they complain. 1t
is true that there il no olaHs in Amorica ANTWERP
women there, as we'll as here, are complaining of
unequal pay. "1n fact," said my friend Gracp
Greenwood, the talented Washington contributor
Of tho Now York Times, I" we live by sufferanco."
Take tho Treasury clerks, for example, (tloy
were admitted by Salmon P. Cl,ase and Ed,
win III. Stanton, thanks to tho exigoncios OF
the the Sy naa ha Ms or y vas ed q aoo Ct @ nIss " c.
salary Of 5000. Mrs. L., performing duties
for which nun would receive e1,80O, being O
woman, gratefully aecepts half. In tho internal
royenno thoro f. lady who fol. niue years has
mission Of moro than one Commissioner, tho
ablest clerk In the Department., yet sho receives
tho almost traditional female Government pay of
5000, and has to 500 boys she has herself ill.,
stricted IN the simplest dutles placod above hor
head. In the Government printing. office $50
per year. In New York, at tho Western Union
Telegraph Company, tho fomalo superintendent,
although her ability is indiBputablo, receives
a considerably lowor SALARY than would bo
offered to man under tho same circumstances.
: A warm discussion has been carried on during
tho last few months about the inequality in tho
salaries paid to male and fomale teachers, which
10 telt as great injustice by American womon
In short, do not fcar to Bay that found tho
demand on The othor Bido Of tho At1nntic-for
equal education, equal wagoee, equal opportuni-
Ties, ina word, an equal chance in life-vory
much like cur own. And as for fomale-suffrage,
I can assure your readers TINT In Boston, phia-
delphia, and New York was surrounded By peo-
plo who regarded it with IN aversion which
would bo grateful to tho hearts Of h1r. DouTorio,
opponent. Of that measure. In short, there
seena to he yet Nh opportunity for an honorable
rivalehip In seeing which country shall first ratio
wonans work ut it's true value.