New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-19
RIVERS.
Above low
~
Rise, Fall,
hBelow high water mark Of 1874.
An Old Problem.

There are other subjects brought up TO
consideration by the opening May less cheer
ful than rose Link arbutus or even tn
spring fashions. The pressure of the las
two years upon men in their business rela
tiOns has driven this spring an unprece
denied number Of women out of the seclu
sion of home to earn their own living. W.
do not mean women Of the labOliDg classes
alone, although many means Of support ART
closed to these by the long depressed con
ditiOn of the manufactures. There is nc
necessity for them to s,arve as long as
domestic service is open to them. And we
have but little patience or respect for the
miserable vanity that keeps them out of a
business which Is better paid, in proportion
to tho capital Of education and time in
vested, than any other accessible to women.
There is large class, however, of women
much more deserving of sympathy than
these-the daughters of professional men or
merchants, who are compelled this spring.
by the circumstances of their households, 10
find trade or occupation, such as was
given to their brothers, and was not given
to them. There is no question involved
here Of womans rights or woDans spheres.
These women are in no humOr to discuss one
or the other. Most of them are, indeed, do
nestle girls, who have possibly heard or
Thought nothing OF social reforms. They are
concerned alone with the fact that stares
them broadly in the face that they
must work or starve. What are these
girls to dot 1t is of no use TO tell them to
sew or teach. The proportion of girls and
boys OF seventt en- or twenty who are really
qualified to teach, or who could receive u
salary tor so doing, is about equal-not one
in hundred. The girl may or may not
have exceptional skill and taste in sewing:
If she have, Il will insure her e. comfort
able support, no more; If she have not,
vi AL Gfa Thar
an opening in some OF the cities for thou
sands of girls as clerks or saieswomen, but
the wages paid range from So to IS per week
in the largest houses. When her board is
SUBJ racted from this, how does it compare
with the wages of IL chambermaid or cook,
The history of our social life this winter
and spring should teach every mother to
leave the interminable .jaDgle about sex
and vocation to those who are not mOrhers,
and to bestir herself quietly to give her
daughter well as her son q trade or |
handicraft. Ii she is compelled 70 earn her |
bread and clothes, let her be provided with |
q dece means of earning them; if not, |
let her thank heaven, and devote her
self to her home duties. and to her
husband and children, if God gives
them to her. There are svocations
open which to pay woman equally with
o man, and according to Der skill, but they
require two or three years application to
make them remunerative. Among these
are designing and woOd-engra> ing, and let
us add, the culture aud arrangement of
flowers or trees. A young writer in one of
the magazines this month inveighs against
outdoor work for woman, as reducing
her mentally to the level of brute
and destroying her physical health
He selects the Russian serf to point
lis moral. II no had taken the
,rouble to look ut home, at the white
women in Pennsylvania or North Carolina
who pillow and reap, he w"nid have found
hem incomparably superior in both body
md mind 10 women in cities of their own |
ocial rank. There is no reason why the |
higher grades OF outdoor work should not
70 undertaken by educated women; they |
IRE more healthful. give wider exercise tor |
aste and judgment. tax the body less
everey, and pay better than the few occu
.ation. possible to them in cities.-Nrc |
York Tl.ibuu,