The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-02

IrOR or THE LONDON II1lis.
judging from the remarks made on
this subject at the Bradford and Nor
wich Congresses, the idea is tOlerably
prevalent that women in the United
states can adopt with ease any profes-
sion for which they are qualified.
confess that about year ago l started
for the United States, on my inquiry
into the condition of the women and
children, fully imbued with some such
notion. Eight months tour through
America, and conversations with the
presidents of Harvard, Cornell and
Michigan universities, Professor Agas-
siz, Henry Ward Beecher, Gen. Oliver
tchief OF the Massachusetts labor bu-
reaul, Senator Sumner, DR.. Bellows,
Mrs. Stanton, Lucretia Mott, ETC., fairly
dispelled it. II is quite true that fe-
male doctors with more or less of a
recognized degree) abound in America;
in nearly every city found more than
one in excellent practice and repute; in
one denomination the clergywoman has
received due ordination, though she is
still somewhat Of a rdrd avis. Four or
five ladies have secured 4 footing in the
legal profession, and there is scarcely q
newspaper staff in the United States
which does not include one or more as
bona Gde reporters, interviewers, or
critic. Thousands, of course, find occu-
patton in teaching and the usual idus-
trial occupations, hundreds as watch
makers, printers, and telegraph clerks;
others have obtained postmasterships,
so eagerly sought after in the United
States, and some have entered the gov
ernment offices at Washington. But
English women must not hastily arrive
at the conclusion that because Of these
things their transatlantic sisters are
free from all the distractions Of which
they complain. 1t is true that there ID
no class in America answering TO oul
unfortunate gOverness class, but the
women there as well as here are com.
planning Of unequal pay; ain fact, >" say!
my friend Grace Greenwood-the tai
ented Washington contributor of the
New York Tfmes-''we live by suffer
ance." Take the treasury clerks for ex
ample they were admitted by Salmon
p. Chase and Edwin NJ. Stanton, thanks
to the exigencies Of the civil war;.
was told of Miss NJ. c., who does thi
work OF = 500 clerk for a salary o
$500. Mrs. l., performing dBties fo
which q man would receive 81, 800, be
ing a woman, gratefully accepts half
In the internal revenue there is lady
who for nine years held a responsible
position, and is, by the admission o
more than one commissioner, the ables
clerk in the department, yet she receives
the almost traditional female govern
ment pay of $500, and has to see boy.
she has herself instructed in the sim.
plest duties placed over her head. In
the government printing Office, 25C
women are receiving from 81 per day tC
$500 per year. In New. York, at the
Western Union Telegraph Company
the female superintendent, although
her ability is indisputable, receives q
considerably lower salary than would
be offered to a man under the same cir
cumstances.
a warm discussion has been carried
on during the last few months about
the inequality in the salaries paid to
male and female teachers, which is felt
as a great injustice by American women.
In short, l do not fear to say that /
found the demand on the other side of
the Atlantic-for equal education, equal
wages, equal opportunities, in a word,
an equal chance in life-veTy much like
our own. And as for female suffrage,
| assure your readers tha5 in Boston,
Philadelphia and New Yor, | was sur
rounded by people who regarle il with
an aversion which would be grateful to
the hearts Of Mr.. BOuverie, Mr.. Beres-
ford Hope, and the bitter st English
opponent OF that measure. In short,
there seems to be yet an opportunity for
an honorable rivalship, in seeing which
country shall first rate a woman's work
at its true value.