The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-12-10
Working Women.

MIS-. LlNermOfe, VINO, VIC ullueGSldilu,
is a popular public lecturer, has been
discOursing in Boston on the subject of
superfluous women. No reader of the
public prints can be otherwise than
| aware of the predominance of women as
to number, which seems to be very
marked in New England, and is Observ-
able in every civilized country, we be-
lieve. As comparatively few women are
born with that silver spoon in their
mouth of which an old saying speaks, it
is imperative that the ladies be prepared
for the battle of life, which, of necessity,
many of them must fight alone. POlyg-
amy is forbidden; and were it not so, in
these hard times the most of husbands
would feel disposed to content themselves
with paying for one wife's hats and
dresses and the pretty feathers of one
brood. 1t is, therefore, wisdom on the
part of women, as Mrs. LivermOre says,
that they prepare to live in single bless
edness; for how should they know
whether matrimonial alliance will be
ever possible to them? The fair lecturer
would not have the more favored of her
sisters in point of fortune to exempt
themselves from being in ample readiness
for the Vicissitudes of life.
1t is gratifying that women are already
making their way in the prosecution of
labor which brings TO them com mfortable
support. As compared with twenty
years ago, there is very marked en-
largement to be observed in the proper
ton of women to men in clerkships,
professional life and other departments of
industry.
The complaint has been made that
where women compete with men they
are paid smaller wages than their rivals
who have for many generations had the
exclusive possession of the positions
sought after. This may or may not be a
just complaint If women are equally
capable they should be equally remuner-
ated. Oh the other hand, we are led to
believe from what we hear and see, that
the ability of many lady applicants for
employment is not equal to their own es-
innate of it, nor to that of the average
male competitor. They possess in these
cases, a smartness and confidence which
are not based upon previous steady appli-
cation to detail No trade or profession
can be jumped into by the cleverest per-
son. 1t must be patiently mastered and
the brightest woman has no right to eX
pect fayOrs from employers on account
of her smartness,Sbu only fair equiva-
lent for the value of her labor, which
must, in the nature of things, depend
upon her experience, wrought out by
plodding. With reference to some in
dustries, men have possessed facilities of
gaining experience which women have
not, and their services have, of course,
q higher market value, and ought to
have. The ladies must learn the lesson of
patience. We believe we are right in
making the statement that in the ma
jority of cases, if not in all, where
women have proved themselves able to
perform service equally well with men,
they are paid as adequately. There are
exceptions, which are unfair and ought
to be discontinued. We do not see, for
example, why woman compOsitor should
not be paid at the same rates per thou
sand ems as a male, given that the time
occupied in her work is not so much |
longer than that taken by her rough |
as to prejudice the interest of
the employer. If master printers insist |
upon making an unjust distinction, the |
ladies must combine for the enforcement |
of their just rights. They will do well |
to remember that they have gained much |
in securing, in spite of prejudice and |
selfishness, admission into the ranks of
tOUlIfOSllOlS StllAl OlllOl SOlbo anu NOllul-
tions of working people, until recent !
time exclusively male and should re-
gard this as temporary offset to finan- |
cial inferiOrity. Necessity and time are |
swelling their numbers and augmenting |
their strength, which they must learn to |
utilize to their own advantage, and not !
% let the grass grow under their feet"
either.
There is one feature of this interesting |
question which we have never seen |
touched upon. That is, how the general |
of women into the lighter !
until recently occupied ex-
by males, will affect future |
of males. The addition of |
a great army of women to the ranks of |
candidates for employment in dry-gOods !
houses, for example, will necessarily tend |
to the reduction of wages. Hence, fewer
boys will be put to this trade, and the |
tendency will be towards giving the Ia
dies, in the course of time, well nigh a
OF this employment, which is
peculiarly adapted for them. As con-
boys will be placed where the
rivalry of the fair sex Will not be preju
diciai to their present and future inter
ests. And that, as it seems to us, is Just
where they ought to be. We have too
many Iily-fisted, effeminate youths and
young men, and we say God speed TO the
ladies in their progress towards possess
ing themselves of the lighter avOcatiOns
of the ants and trades, not only because
we desire that those of them who must
perforce live unmarried may he amongst
the most comfortable of the sisterhood,
but also because it is reasonable to sup
pose that there will follow an augmenta-
ton in the ranks of those who perform
farm work and labor in the mines and
elsewhere where the sturdy frame of man
should find its proper Development
Do;J,, Gro,,b;c