The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-03

THE COMING AMERICAN WOMAN To BE a BUS
INEss WOMAN.
1t is only within a brief period thai
young women of what are called the
"better" class have been infected with 8
desire of making money. Undoubtedly
they were quite as industrious in former
times, but their labor and thrifts have
been generally applied to home duties
and until within the last fifteen years
have rarely been expended in a business
or upon an occupation which promised
remunerative return. The help which
the daughters gave to the mother in
household affairs was not repaid as that
of the son i'm the store and the counting
house; il was spontaneous service, to be
transferred to a husband when her posi-
tiOn of daughter was exchanged for that
of wife. Money, as an independent pos
session, was not considered necessary
for women; it was thought right, proper,
and best for them TO be dependent upon
their husbands, or male relatives.
Under these circumstances there was
no motive for training girls to business.
1t was considered disreputable for men
Of means and position to allow their fe-
male relatives to be known as earning a
q livelihood; thus every posi- BILE induce
AlClh WAS lululsAGu " ktED MOnlGll
from sharing in the labor and enterprise
of men, and every motive taken away
to activity and Independent exertion.
The latter half of the present century,
however, and the growth of the individ-
ual idea, has made vast changes i'm the
social condition of women, and invested
them with possibilities which theiI
previous habits and education, popular
prejuf ices and modes of thought, anC
commercial machinery everywhere,
rendered il almost impossible for them
to meet. Under the plea of unfitness tC
cope with men, they have been debarreC
from business, and from light and arts
tic occupations suited to their degree o.
strength and peculiar temperament, anC
compelled TO earn pittance by the poo
and hard labor which requires LITTLE
skill, preparation, or capital.
A new solution of the problem, how
ever, has recently presented itself-it j:
truly American idea, and owes it:
rapid growth in the minds of young
American women to fast-coming neces
stiles. The coming American woman
the offspring of the present generation
will be a business woman. She will de
vote all her thoughts, all her energies tc
the making of money. This idea re-
ceives encouragement, and will receive
more. The class exclusion of woman
from all kinds of business and mercan-
tile life is fast dying out. Every one
wants to spend money. Men and wom-
en- of high rank in other countries, il is
found, do not disdain to turn the honest
penny, and why should Republican
Americans?
What the result of this new departure
on the part Of women will be it is i'm
possible to fOretell. Already the desire
TO "make money" on the part of wom-
en-, is universal. The fact that some
have made it stimulates others, while its
possession, it is seen, restores the bloom
TO faded cheeks, the brightness to lack
lustre eyes, in the estimation of men,
as nothing else can. In other words, a
woman who has made money, has her
business and familiar associations like
man. Her life is not circumscribed to
four walls, and her interests to her pet
kitten. She numbers her friends by
hundreds, has not ceased to be attrac-
tive, though she has ceased to be young,
ana Is accepted as a clever and equal as
soeiate by men who would be ashamed
of gallantry.
The accepted way to make money,
even among average men, is to find a
vocation for which they are at least par
TALLY lifted, and fill it with acceptance,
II not with honor Now, instead OF
IushlhS into writing aud teaching, and
lectufing professions, which are over
crowded with incompetent persons,
male ana female, advise young women
TO turn their attention to business. |
know that 1t is said, and said with
truth that business is gradually falling
into the hands OF the few; that small
dealers are gradually, and in the inevit-
able course of events, being crushed ont.
But this is arguing upon general princi-
pies. There is nothing in the nature OF
things 10 prevent women from doing
business on large scale, and there will
always be a necessity for an intermedi-
ate exchange of commodities upon Z
small scale, for which women are really
better fitted than men. All the trade in
fancy goods, small wares, confectionery,
cake and bread stuffs, and the like, is
practically done by women, only men
take the profits. There are other things,
however, for which women can be
trained, and for which they are then
equally well fitted
=, There Is married woman to-day in
the city OF New York who has made a
lpItuhe I'ie oi nearly million of dollars by
ia real estate. She obtained her
nHiIIMleage ,ni,I Of 1t from her mother, who,
MlIhout ever having heard OF "woman's
ggS rlgnes' took hers, bought, sold and
tenteu teLt houses thirty years ago. often
taxing her little girl with her on her ex-
euitl3ns' anu uneonsciously supplying
neI Win mi knowledge which she turned
70 Ptactical t al use when experience taught
her Inati though married woroan e.
must depend upon herself. AAi' sue
This millionaire pnada % -,
efforts, when recently called 1non 1'na
making currant jelly with the assistancs ,.a
of a colored girl. She received her Vie
itors without particle of discomposnre
had bouquet of flowers cut from her
tory, and gave evidence OF
7ce with the details of house
which showed her the YER