Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-03-04
Domestic.
pporpss,oxs AND TRADES FOR WOMEN


We can scarcely pick up one of our
city dailies without finding this subject
discussed in its columns. There is a
decided and growing sentiment In favor
of the opening to women OF a large
number of vocations which have been
until recently entirely appropriated by
men. The visit of Miss Emily Faithful
to this country has called the public
attention to the increasing necessity of
multiplying the ways by which women
may earn an independent and honofa-
BILE support. Already in the older
States and in our large cities, the num-
ber of women who can find nothing
within their ability to do which will
yield them comfortable living is large.
As our population increases, and as
steam power is made to do more and
more of our domestic labor, the number
of incompetent women is likely to grow
larger. 1t is time now for parents to
anticipate this state of things, and act
upon the principle that prevention is
better than cure.
So soon as a boy puts on pantaloons
and jacket, there is talk of what he shall
be when he grows to manhood. Not
more pronounced are the tastes and
proclivities of boys than are those of
girls, and there is no reason why these
should be cultivated in their natural
direction in one sex more than in the
other; nay, if either is to have the pre-
ference, let it be given to the girl. 1t
is far harder for a women to face the
world than it is for men, but many of
them are compelled by force of circum-
stance in procuring a living for them
selves and families to frequent the
thoroughfares of trade and business
Just as men do. If they are skilled in
any trade or art or profession, fortunate
indeed are they, for it is the want of
skill that makes the lives of many work
ingwomen SO pitiful. The artistic mil
liner, the thorough and competent dress
maker, the accomplished teacher, the
elegant" loundress, seldom lacks full
employment and good pay. The expert
in telegraphy, in bookkeeping in en-
craving, in designing, in literary COM
position, is scarcely ever out of employ
ment.
As the number of married men and
married women are equal in this mono
gamic country, we are and have always
been of the opinion that boys should
be trained to be good husbands just as
much as that girls should be trained TO
be good wives. Why not? What pro-
spect is there that a man without here
ditary fortune, without q trade or pro-
fession, can do his Just part in creating
a happy home? Is not the same ques-
ton quite as pertinent when applied the
women? Is it reasonable to expect that
the girl who has shared but lightly in
domestic labors, who is not thoroughly
taught in any one thing, who is not com.
petent to take charge on house and
keep it in perfect order-to roast a
joint in the best manner or make per-
feet loaf of bread-it is reasonable to
expect that she can make happy home?
Love may abide there for while, but
even love can't live forever on food
spoiled in the cooking. The very fact
that girl has learned trade, that she
has undergone 4 thorough training,
that she has been held up to certain
standard of excellence, combined with
the consciousness she has of ability to
do well some one important thing, will
a nobler woman, a more valuable men,
Der of society.
Hitherto women have crowded into
the profession of teaching as quite the
most available and honorable of any
open to them. But the avenues of in
dustry are rapidly multiplying. There
are over 100 "female physicians" in
practice in this country; there are lee
turers, public readers, platform speak
ers, artists of various kinds. There is
no reason why women should not be
chemists, stair-builders, painters. pro-
fessional florists, or workers at any
trade for which they have strength and
aptitude. Competition is the life of
trade; it is blessing to any man or
woman to be compelled to aspire to the
highest standard of excellence in what
is undertaken, and it is Just and right
that men and women who enter trades
and professions should, have their per-
formance measured by the one rule, and
that equal merit should receive equal
pay, irrespective of sex. In any COM
munity a skillful blacksmith is more
respected than poor physician,
thorough carpenter than q pettifogging
lawyer. The time is at hand when
women who do well the work of their
choice Will have their respectability
measured by the quality of what they
perform when the skillful milliner or
the perfect dressmaker will stand higher
in the social scale than the incompetent
teacher or the half-taught uninspired
artist, or the musical smatterer. 'Igno-
rance does not simply deprive us of ad-
vantages it leads us to work our own
misery it is not merely vacuum, void
of knowledge, but plenum of positive
errors, continually productive of unhap
piness." This remark, made by Samuel
Bailey with reference &c political eco
nomy, applies with equal force to the
ignorance of women with regard to in
dustrial pursuits. Weekly Tribune.