New-York tribune., 1873-02-01
A WORD TO WORKLNG WOMEN.
o tAe Bastor OF TAs Tribune.


SIR: The success of the reception to Miss
Emily Faithful at steinway Hall, the other night was
most gratifying to all concerned and all concerned are
consequently in very good humor Perhaps, therefore,
the present moment the right IN which 70 say
word to the working women themselves and more espe-
ciay 70 the working girls Not just now, 10 the c0mpar
atively few whose work lies in the fields Of art and
literature those who teaching our future
rulers and legislators their c. God grant that they
may teach them the rudiments of common honesty as
WE'LL But to the hundreds nay, thousands, OF young
girls who to-day in this city, in other cities. and In
countless smaller and villages standing behind
counters making dresses and bonnes doing plain sew
Ing or in any similar way earning money orthemseyes
or for helpless ones dependent on them.
You complain, and justly. that this very work-the
work that duty as well necessity demands of you
the only work. perhaps. for which you are qualified
does lower you the social scale. You say that the girl
over the way who folds her white hands, sits In the par
or and spends her fathers hardearned doars-even II
she has fewer spend than you haves often in So
eiey" while you out" This all too true, and we
who hear your complaint join in it heartily Yet Is II
not instances at least your own fault as Wen as
the of socieyi Do you strive to raise yourselves
intellectually and spiritually well sOciallyi DO
you clearly understand that power on earth but your
own can make lady Of youf You know well enough
you people who are behind the scenes, in miners and
dressmakers' shops in sewingr0oms, In lonely garrets
may bethat silks and laces veyets and jewels, purple
and fine linen cannot make lady and that often they
only highten and vulgariy they cannot
hide You know that the indehnable something that
the very essence and aroma Of ladyhood is not
I'm these things 1t not at with them. There Is
no special glory in calico usan. 10 not one OF the
cardinal virtues 10 wear cloth OF rieze" when ones
purse and ones station render II fitting to wear cloth
of goldn But you know you girls and women who see
your sisters when they have doed the smiling society
mask you know that these outside matters are SIMPLY
the husk-the outer rind For the true kernel oI auy
hood you instinctvey look deeper Yet do you always
remember this The opening OF certain houses 10 YOU
recognition by certain people, invitations 70 cerlan
Yourselves Like seeks like. II you would associate
with people Of culture and refinement you must at east
have longing for culture and refinement yourselves
II you learned should att least know now
spell aud be able to answer note Oh invitation WIFI
out gross blunders. , =,
town thousand miles from this city glrl OF Is
held the position Of clerk or saleswoinan III Isrse
retail store She was pretty bright animated sha he
ladies who patronZed the establishment sue au goou
wages dressed suitably yet handsomey IN na snort hal Sn
depends II II is necessaryfor person who aspres 10 the
social position Of lady in these United states oI
America in the year of Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sevenyhree to know how to spell and 10
able write letter correctly, not 10 say elegantly
then she was not. She looked well, she dressed wen,
she had acquired plenty OF surface airs and graces out
she was ignorant of the commonest rudiments or an
English education outside of the arithmetic her business
actually required. Yet she had good deal OF leisure
her work was not hard many OF her evening were her
books IN be had for the paying or even lot te
asking There were in that town who were above
fashion, and who ready TO recognize their kndne
wherever fortune had placed them. was IL entlrey
their fault that this young girl was not received INTO
their houses OF perfect equality Could they
lift TO their level unless, or until she was wling 70
lift herself the cost OF hours OF study ana wear
at the sacrifice OF S snt m 9pUn 4@S WsE Nov ana
Neic- York Jan. os, 1873.