The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-01-08
Iypman's Work at the Capital Of
.ufchfgan.

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Michigan.
Correspondence of Winona (Minn.) Republican.
Give Michigan the bays
Most generous Of all the world In her system
NJ public schools and In her noble University,
sbe stands unpeered as the first s tie OF the
Union, to give her daughters the right toDworl
~ her State offices upon equal footing with her
sons.
Hail to the beautiful Peninsula
There is one spot within her gates where
men and women can compete for equal wages
with equal chances Of success.
In every department of Michigan State
service, working tremendously side by side, are
gentlemen and ladies, in the best sense OF the
fne old words.
Women fit hlther and thither through every
room; they sit in high chars, after the fashion
of bows on stilts; they correct proofs, balance
accounts, correct extensions, copy plats, pre-
pare huge volumes to be placed in the archives
OF the State, assist in the Treasury, have charge
OF all the letters which pour into the Auditors
Office. and speed the work OF the Secretary OF
State.
Associatng constantly among business men,
these ladies Gas class) are utterly devoid OF
the masculine bearing and unwomanly rudness
popularity supposed to inhere in all avocatlons
where men and women conformity labor; for
masculinlty is not created by circumstance; it
is an integral part OF certain natures. and such
women are held in contempt, partly because
they copy manhood at its poorest and weakest,
and partly because only dwarfed nature seeks
TO ape another to dull the sense OF his or her
own inferlority.
Among these ladies, the courteous greeting
pleasant smile, and delicate consideration for
others, is rarely forgotten; while the tone o;
association, from tie State Librarian to the
latest "raw recruit" is one OF which our coun-
try may be greatly proud.
Indeed, 30 marked has been womaDly in
fuence in refining Office decorum, that for this
reason aono Heads of Departments could not
be persuaded to return to the former status OF
men onv.
Yet this pronounced victory for woman's ex-
altation has been achieved in advance OF woman
suffrage, and independent Of Legislative action,
by an able broad visioned, fearless State of
fcer, carrying toilful and exacting burdens,
with a salary only equal to that within the reach
Of every earnest worker in his department.
Believing that woman. as a citizen of the
great Republic, should be paid equally with
man for identical work, Auditor General Humph-
rey opened the initiative five years ago, by
for clerical labor. But the old Office, narrow
aud crowded, proved 30 insuperable an obstacle
that no ladies accepted the proffer.
At length the commodious State Offices we're
completed, and in June, 1872, seven ladies
entered the rooms Of the Auditor GeneI al up
ON the same terms as paid to gentlemen filling
the came desks. All these ladies were former
teachers, who had successfully maintained their
positions in public schools.
These were fateful days! A nice sense OF
honor impelled the Auditor General to watch
with closest scrutiny this experiment. which he
was personally making without the action or
sanction OF the Legislature Of the State he
served.
lie was dlsbursing public funds not his own
private fortune.
To fail, would not only impeach his judgment,
tens Of thousands Of laboring women; mon
aqua sed r,.ind.' Happily, failure was made
impossible, from the callber OF the ladies en-
ployed IN clerical work. Cheerily and steadily
these women worked on, learning the routine
OF Office duties. and infuslng into their new life
the pleasant personalities, tastes, and training
Of the old.
With quick insight and persistent patience
they familiarzed themselves with the dry de-
tails which have 90 little charm to women, and
mastered the work moro thoroughly and readily
than average men. new atmosphere per-
vaded the rooms unwonted emulation stirred
al ranks. The doubtful innuendo, jealous
taunt, and word Of covert impropriety we're
tabooed. while generous deeds and kindly words
made the dusty volumes and toil-worn faces
seem wiser and brighter than of yore. Vie is
not alone contagious. The best and noblest Of
our thoughts and deeds are often propagated
through some subtle contagion. And there Ii
no finer power in the realm of thought than
That which sways unconscously the souls of
those about us, ike the needle, trembling
dumbly toward the pole; or like the ethereal
sunbeam, when silently lmninP the face he
loves. The experiment" vaulted into sudden
favor. Gen. Humphreys insight showed HIM
60 be man equal to the times, and tokens Of
approval straightway poured In upon this man
and his Quixotic scheme, from those welding
large political influence and high in social favor.
So easy is 1t to approve an act OF justice. even
when foreign to our sympatbies, IL 1t be fairly
inaugurated and stand in no possible need of
our championship.
1t is significant fact that no woman has
been dismissed for faulty clerical work, nor has
there been the slightest occasi on for rebuke Cor
any forgetfulness OF decorum. Each clerk has
hopored her womanhood and digni fed her labor
by the same etiquette and gentle breeding that
she would observe in general society.
The Office work is thoroughly systematized.
Roll call, morning and noon. insures prompts
tude. Work of every kind, except comparing
il duly credited with the name OF the clerk on
duty. Letters records of moneys received,
deeds, and all duplicates, are died and indeed
and can bs produced at a moments notice. To