Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-05-27
WHAT WORK CAN WOMEN DO 4

The strong tendency of our civilization has
been to place women in position OF greater
social Independence, TO enable them to earn
their own livelihood If needs be, and to de-
yelop in them whatever talent or capacity, men
tai or physical, they may possess. With such
movement those who have marked the unhap-
pness brought by ill-judged, foolish, and pre-
cipitate marriages can scarcely fail to sympa'
thize. and it is hard to believe that it has not
been progress in the right direction. While
half the population of country have in view
only one means of subsistence-that OF being
maintained by the other half-it is impossible
that they should exhibit all the characteristics
that command respect, and equally impossible
that in their absolute need of marriage as
means of living they should not con init many
acts of folly and bring down on themselves
many experiences Of sorrow. Whether the |
same may be said of both sexes, or not, it is
certain that there many men not suitable Tor |
womento marry.
But when we come to consider the employ |
ments professions, trader, suitable for women 1
BY which their independent support is practicable
difficulties are encountered. The arduous labor
performed by females in Continental Europe is
out OF the question with us 1--WE had almost as
lief marry our American daughters to worthless
men. as to make them hod.carriers and bea' ts
of burthen. We propose to do better than either.
But the trouble is that many Of the occupations
which seem suitable for women are attended by
objection, on the score OF health. Indeed it is
hard to lind those which arc not thus objected
to. Dr. Clarke to the evaporation of all who
saw in the female march toward independence
sign OF the worlds Improvement has demon
4trated the danger Of young women exerting
their minds, and we have at hand-to which we
owe the suggestion of this srtice-a little volume
from the pen of DR.. Azel Ames of Massachu-
sets, entitled Sex in Industry Four ftths
of his book is entitled Objective,
and in reading it we fear women will
become discouraged il not desperate at
the argument and evidence heaped up
against many of the employments i'll which they
have hitherto, with faires measure OF success,
been engaged. The object of the book, howev-
err is of the best, and We cannot doubt its good
results The author criticises and urges the
ameoraton of the conditions OF hardship under
which he has found women laboring. He finds
that in their relations to industry, the questions
are First, What shall woman do, and what
not do ? and second, How shall she least harm
fully do that which she may undertake and
then he proceeds to explain the injury done to
the physiology and functions peculiarly femi-
nine by various kinds OF industry. We cannot
here give even resume Of this part of his
work, which is, indeed, itself very compact and
concise. He assumes, however. that the errors
in the female industrial system, by which infinite
present disease and suffering are caused, and
the physical degeneracy OF great part OF the
to-bebom community surely eutailed, are
First, that girls begin work at too early an
age, before their physiological ylgor is estab-
!shed and assured; second that the managers
Of industries disregard even the statute laws in
the regular and prolonged employ Of girls whose
vital functions are yet incomplete; third, that
they employed at occupations beyond their
strength; and fourth, that severe labor is exact
I'd from them under conditions unfavorable 70
health.
In pursuing his theme, DR., Ames describes
the Questionable features OF factory employ.
Tneut. with bad ventilation, dampness and dust
where the labor and attention OF the employee
must be concentrated and incsssaut as well al
arIuous, and where the unceasing and increased
action of machinery not only puts strain upor
the attendant but gives her not even the brief
e=i period of repose. He refers to the cruelty ot
compelling the saleswomeu in stores " always
70 stand in order that the establishment may
appear TO be busy, and remarks in this connec
ton the testimony OF DR.. Van dc Warker's re
cent work that women's physical struc
ture is not suitable for a prolongol
standing position. In wide range Of femal
employments, therefore, this objection arises
IL t.n, al
operatives, &c., &c. all incur the penalties o
hAck-ache, headache, weakness of the limbs
dragging weight at the hips, and general fe
male arrangement and debility,by excessive AL
prolonged standing positions or moving upo
tile feet, though they as DR.. Clarke caustcall
remarks, when the day is done, as likely t
dance half the night, regardless of any pressur
upon them OF peculiar function, as their NOR
fashionable sisters
The concluding pages of the book are entite
Suggestive" wherein DR.. Ames points OIL
what may be done TO scientifically arrang
and classify pursuits, according to their plysi,
osical effects that young girls, in their "forn
ing period OF life should not be arduously en-
ployed and that the surroundings of female il
dustry in every establishment, should be in
proved both in the direction Of health and mo
ais. He believes that ''the employment at lab,
of any girl under fifteen years OF age should n
be allowed y that the employment OF girls
other sges-and women generally-at emplo
ments unsuited to their sex should be forbidde
that in such employments as women are admi
ted to they should be permitted period OF a
seace, without pecuniary loss, &c, &C. In r
gard to this last, he mentions an establishmel
in Boston employing some ten or dozen gir
whore the rule lie that each is required to take
vacation of three days every fourth week, ii
result being that their health is improved, al
the aggregate amount Of work materially
creased.
Such question, fairly and intelligently col
siiered, with conclusions proceeding from CO
lection and analysis of facts, is OF intere
everywhere, to all classes of society for there
no section where industry has not engaged II
aid OF women. DR.. Amess book is publishe
byJ, Il. osgood 4 Co., Boston. We shou
hone II will lie widely read,