The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-07
WORK FOR WOMEN.

FAULTS IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR GIRLs-A
SUGGESTION TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
An excellent article in your issue OF the 25th of
March, entitled the "Restoraton OF the Balance OF
Labor" in so many points accords with our
actual experience among the working classes that
am led to ask space for some further considera-
ton OF tnat important question. eff honor
could be rendered back TO labor,n q cure would
| speedily result for the dry rot OF voluntary in
doence which is consuming the vitals OF our social
prosperity. The unwarrantable stigma which
false pride casts upon manual labor withholds from
its highways many who would crowd into them
were they not SO deferred; and an unJustiGa-
BILE ambition to attain q higher social standing
without the means OF maintaining 1t gives birth
to the twin curses OF ideness and in
fanny. To speak to the points with which
am most familiar-viz., the labor OF women and
the women who follow IL, l could cite q thousand
instances from personal knowledge OF girls who
prefer to safe domestic occupation the folio "
ing OF the precarious pursuits OF sewing machine
work and store-tendlng, simply because society
regards the latter occupation as more genteel
than household labor. The maximum OF wages
seldom exceeds so per week, and when board and
washing have been paid and clothing bought
there remains NO balance for use when the dun
| season comes. The consideration OF health is o
| very important one IN this connection. That the
constant OF the sewing machine is injurious to
women. both morally and physically, is a fact con-
| coded by eminent medical authorities and the
tenure OF the saleswomans place generally depends
| upon her ability to stand walk about f.l day
i nenassar,iv act,va 1t ,nyaIves IN oi
| occupation and constant change OF position
and above ALL to the frugal woman 1t gives sum
/ knows That constant employment depends only on
| herself. AS rule the inmates OF warehouses and
houses o. Ill ame are not recruited from the ranks
/ o. those women VINO have been domestics. They
come rather from among those girls whose lie be-
gan in Illconditloned homes, where la1or With the
/ hands was regarded as a thing 70 be avoided. and
where specious appearances rather than solid
/ worth were esteemed. The remedy In such cases
rests solely with the mother OF the household. II
she be not endowed with goodness ana sense there
can he neither much prosperity or peace In her
| surroundings.
| do not aivance any defence Tor the shortcom-
ings OF men wnen say that their mothers are
based upon their early influences. And so with
the daughters OF the family. A girl OF the middle
class passes from the public school into the shop or
factory without any domestic training; she natural
| ~ marries man OF her own rank, while she pos
sesses not tue first essential Tor making home
comfortable; she Is extravagant from ignorance /;
she does not know how TO economic her hns-
bands wages; her prettiness fades with familiar
ity; her husband grows disguised with her
deficiencies, and IN nine cases out OF ten his
solace lies In the dranshop. Finally, he develops
into drunkard ana she into slattern and scold.
From such union what prouuct must accrue to
SOcietyi There are thousands OF IN TINS city.
II a glrl begins domestic work instead oil the more
genteel pursuits she cannot tail To acquire some
oegree OF discipline aud training IN thrifty house.
hold ways. II the Importance OF this LABOR could
| be property recognized women would not as now
shrink from entering upon IT, and the most valua-
/ bic OF all branches OF female industry would rise
above the stain OF mentality and degradation.
The happiness ana health OF a family depend
more upon skilInl home administration than upon
any other condition. believe that am justified
by experience in saying that the deterioration OF
physical health among women Is owing mainly 10
Crowded factories and shops, and the temptations
and side issues inse parable from them are largely
answerable Tor this result. / am persuaded mat
we're the question thoroughly discussed and I'M
| derstood, a combination OF forces would arise 10
| remedy IL; for every one OF those unfortunate
girls now 1oatlng with the tide OF population
where ''honor Is not rendered back to labor,n I'M
/ consciously reyenges the wrong done 10 ner by
society Dy producing anew the pests which act as
It's scourge ana Its shame. MuItitudes OF paupers
sap me social pabulum OF capital. and they are
born OF tue sources above spoken OF. In the ma
Jority OF cases II Is not the want OF work
/ which afilicts, but the cnoice oil IL. 1t Is the
lack OF inclination 10 perform any work that ac-
1 tuates two-tnlrds OF tue average Deggars OF the
\ times Among the thousanes OF casas sent here
| Tor reci, inc irritating cause has NOS been the
want of WORK but the unwilingness or the lnabll-
ity to perform lt. We have, today, on NE and
| open Tor inspection, more IMAM three hundred ap-
/ plications Tor female workers in various house,
hold capacities, but In many families IN our midst
wncn tue daily recipients OF the charity OF
/ generous citizens. aud where starvation Is sup.
/ posed 10 reign. not Une OF the daughters can be
induced 10 earn good wages by 1lling those sttua-
/ tluns Let me present one case which viii stand
| as q specimen OF tue rest; the mother OF a large
/ family applied to us for relief: she was of1ered
| WORK at the rate OF 81 IS a week; sne declined,
/ although she represented herself to be IN eX-
/ treme distress, because she would have to
/ keep o large child out OF school 10 mind
the younger ones; she has seven, and is
woman OF good presence and excellent converse
/ tIonal powers, IS a alr type OF many applicants OF
higher grade. Her description OF her condition
was eloquent and pathetic Her meals were
/ moderately profitable employment was secured for
her. She declined the work and ordered the most
expensive ulsnes on the bill OF iare, because she
\ was lady.
/ Large sums are expended every year in the pub.
\ lie schools upon the education Of our young peo-
1 pie. Numbers OF girls fresh nom their classes
/ nave been brought 70 us FOR some Kind OF practI-
/ fifteen or sixteen years, without one qualification
I by which they can earn q living. The parents
/ consider their duty Is DONE the children
are turned adriit on the world after they
oewildermenE to live in q ''genteel way =,
/ they cannot do "anythIng menIaLn IL would
/ be a wise social economy II the Board OF Educa-
ton would add TO ts provision for instruction IN
/ music AMI the languages some practical training
/ In domestic matters. n girls we're compelled TO
acquire some OF the necessary branches OF q
woman's sensible education they would be better
/ fitted TO grapIle with toe problems lald daily be-
fore them BY the exigencles OF lie. Would it not
be practical to ada TO toe puOllc schools depart
ments for instruction in cooking and domestic
work The materials used IN the process could
be utilized among the various public Institutions,
l or by judiclOus distribution among the sick poor
under the supervision or the Department OF
Charities and Correction. 1t Is 70 be hoped that
this proposition will attract further attention to
| a subject so important IN all its bearings upon
existing social conditions as the one here con-
sldcred. q. L. HODGES.
free Training School. No. Al East Tenth street.