The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-07-11
Working Men and Working Women.

HOni On.' says MaQam AfrunQy, ''tnl
idea Of our girls setting themselves NJ
TO be some great big I's,' and attempt
ing to become business womenn IT.
perfectly ahsurd-it is awful!'
Why, auntie, has not q woman th'
same right 10 be business individual
that man has? She was created likl
him to live upon the earth; like him she
must eat and drink and be provided
with habitation wherein to dwell, anC
material wherewith she may be clothed
Is it less honorable in her TO take proper
measures TO obtain, fairly and justly,
the little essentials Of life, or even lux
uries, if she desires them, than to be de-
pendent on man, or apparently SO, for
whatever her fancy or reason may re-
quire "Ah, but,n says Madam, ''she
amply pays for all she gets, if she stays
at home and attends to her household
affairs with prOpriety. There is no
necessity for a woman ever TO leave the
house 10 find employment; there is al
ways abundance of work to be done in
every family" There you are quite
right, Mrs. c., and further, no girl
should be brought up without a knOwl-
edge of housekeeping and cookery. But
all this does not prove that no woman
should learn and practice any suitable
trade, art or profession. In our common
schools, girls as well as boys are re-
quired to study mathematics and other
branches which are but little benefit to
them, if all they are to be allowed to
think of is preparing meals and keeping
the house in order. But il is their law
ful and just privilege to progress in
knowledge and worth in every form,
practically as well as mentally, and, as
men do, make choice among whatever
legitimate courses present themselves,
of the one most acceptable for gaining
not alone a livelihoOd-but influence
and recognized utility in society as we'll.
"les," argues the old lady, 'but it is
50 out Of place, so improper for women
10 be associated with men in business
Transactions, as they inevitably must
be, in order to become acquainted with
and successfully carry on any of the
employments which have been so long
controlled by men; such as clerkiDg,
working in printing establishments,
etcn l. il, then, 10 be considered a dis
paragement to either, for men and wOm-
en- TO be in the society Of each other
Get men who are habituGlly associated
with women OF refined natures are
themselves superior 70 other men.
They lose their rude, declamatory and
pedantic ways, and become more chiv-
alric, courtly and elegant in mind and
heart, - in manner and address. The
woman, too, who becomes accustomed
10 the society Of educated, honorable
men, 80 that she i at ease and enjoys
freedom Of thought and speech i'm such
associations, becomes also superior tC
her sex i'm general and to her former
self Her better senses are awakened
she finds, 10y continued conversation
with the enlightened OF the opposite
sex, that she possesses high aud nobl,
faculties which brighten INTO richness
aud glowing worth under the infiuenc,
OF intellectual competition; and grace
and dignity take the place of frivOlitl
and timidity, without changing in tin
smallest degree the delicate, chaste an,
gentle peculiarties of her woman
nature. Did not the Eternal and All
wise Creator say il was not good 70
man to be alone, and therefore made 70
him help-mate in the form of woman
Wherefore, then, should there be :,
great distinction placed between mar
ana woman, since they were created 70
each other?
Tie cause Of working men and work
ing women being embarrassed and awk
ward IN the society Of the opposite sex
Is simply force OF habit. The rich man
sons and daughters, who give much q
their time 10 pleasures and amusement
are continually brought in contact wit
companions of both sexes. Hence
their superior grace and seeming inte
iectual powers. The children of laborel
are less connected and gain less sci
confidence; and then it is thought tbs
They are less gifted and naturally moi
sluggish in mind. But they must M
seek TO break the barrier which restrain
ihem-O no! it l. absurd for a wOrl
Ing woman TO undertake to establish (,
herself anything but tile fhumdrum
drudge life Madam Grundy has bee
pleased To mark out for her. II she a
tempts To advance in the scale of praci
cal education any higher than to ha'
an understanding &C how to knit al
sew, or scrub and cook, she Is GROWN
STRONG minded" and that is lawful
But after all, work must be done; al
in reality, woman who will and mu
work has rs just right to work by Z
side of 4 man as another who will n
work and is able to live without il, h
10 walk, ride, dance or sit on the 81
beside one. Men and women were n
made to dwell separate, but in the :
ciety OF each other VOmdfS ErpOHeI