The New York herald., 1876-12-03
GlTR THS lTERlCR WOMAN 4 CHANCE.

GlIB THE lIERlCR WOMAN 4 CHANCE.
To rus EDITOR THE HEnALp:-
An article IN your paper OF this morning prompts ms
to wrc you to appeal TO you in behalf OF thousands Of
American women. Allow me, from my OWE wide
personal observation and experience, TO say few
words In behalf OF my Mine is no ordinary up
peal but ono with an idea back Of tan appea! which,
especially in this cncckercd country and cAangefu
time, may be brought homo at any moment 10 aLy
woman. Ny petition is simply this Let this Gen.
tcnnal OF jubilee be characterized by q
GROWING act OF wisdom and justice too long
delayed, by putting men and women on an
equality, so far The right 10 earn competency
honestly Is concerned; IN other words and lesser
phrase, by giving the average woman y chance say
tho average woman, like my SELF fer is precisely that
large class OF women which nceds "a cnance" There
opportunities enough for Tho extremes OF tho
female scale, for the woman who has neither genius
nor ambition and Tor the woman who has BOTH For
the latter there literature the sagc she win
fame and fortune as . George Eliot or Charlotte
Cushman; or II she has ability or no aspiration
above her daily bread she can earn as a servant
seamstress or a shop girl. But for the average
woman who has no SPECIAL gins for literature
art, and yet who, though willing and anxious to
work. revolts at III paid drudgery or mental SERVICE
there is absolutely no opportunity whatever, no
chance at ALL Tho average man has hts choice Of =
hundred ordinary fairly paid, respectable avocations
but the average woman has avocation open TO her
by which she can live with any degree OF comfort
She must either forfeit her independence her char
ac,er; must either marry or err.
Being an average woman myself and having once
been forced by series of circumstances with the do
tails OF which need nos trouble you. as they un-
luckily already too familiar 30 largo portion Of your
readers) 10 earn my livelihood, and wishing
US lady must wish, to that vel-
hood not only honestly, but with fair
pccuniary return, and fair show OF social repu,c
personal refinement, for many months attempted 10
procure situation such ms would have been open to
any average man in New York, but in VAIN knowing
that hundreds OF average men hold positions IN our
city departments, knowing also that women in WASH
ington have shown themselves adapted Tor similar
positions, attempted to obtain cierkship in OF
these departments, but TO my surprise and sorrow
was told that although there doubt that
could nl these places hcre they were not employing
women.
/ applied At the Sub bTreasury, bus Mr. Hill
house, the sub-Treasurer, though he received me
politely, could do nothing for me Women, no
brief time reliable and useful, and he
approved Of their employment, but he did not feel
toned in this course by authorizes AZ Washington.
/ wended my weary way TO the Custom House and saw
Mr. Lydccker and other officials They conceded at
once the point that there were many departmenis OF
the Custom House beside the scarchers or female do
teCtiyes which could be well supplied by average
womon average men, but MS mere matter OF tact,
only men were allowed 10 supply these positions
Tho same remarks apply 10 my attempts 10 obtain .
place the Post onice Finally called upon that emit
nent and pubicist, Mr.. J. J. Cisco, and stated
| to him my endeavors and my failures Hc
| sympatnizcd with rue, but nevertheless as
sured me that Nclng wnat was an aver
| age woman. would necessarily be doomed 10
disappointment IN any amemp,s might make IN TINS
for these places and ought 10 have them, but also all
agreed that women had no chance whatever Surely
yl,ofvu in
allowed to 40, women New York should be allowed
to do; and surely what average men In New York are
everywhere else ought TO be permitted to accomplish
l do not claim political rights or privileges
opuon ns. em %'''sss Women
would give thought 10 politics, II they had
their share OF business opportunities; nor do
clamor for what agtators cali .'womens rightsr but
as an average woman do claim right to live by the
work and for the same wages as an average man.
The right to labor Is based upon The needs and tho
capacities OF the would-be laborer Now woman's
needs urgent as those OF man, while her
capacity tor ordnary avocation Involving no remark
able physical mental powerl Is about the same. In
tho few departments oil work and dcxtery which
open her she holds her own and even In those lines
OF labor in which ste has thus lar been found ncom-
pctent or incomplete, why Is shc thusy Simply be-
cause It has been taken Tor granted by that
is and because she herself has taken il Tor
granted that she Is The negroes IN
this country held for to be lit only for slavery
and while this idea held u was true But soon as
the negroes obtained tncir "chance'' and beholo
II found that they were capable OF being fitted tor
froedom--not at bound, not in year. but probably
In generation. SO with woman. SO long she Is
held be incompetent for special lines OF business
incompetent for that special line she will be- but whom
the theory reversed the facts Will be reversed Also
1t will take much less than generation make the
average woman in all respects a woman OF business
All she needs tho Same opportunity a man, all
she demands Is the same chance. And IN the terms
tho sssame opportunity" the "same chance - | in
cude especially, Mr.. Editor, the same social chance
and opportunity Tor tho business woman as for the
business man.
Social position is a necessity to ordinarily refined
woman, and the mere right TO work. will justly
amount very little TO a woman II by doing work shc
Is regarded lowering her social status PecuRiary
honorable man; IL should be regarded with equal
estimation in a woman But SO long as the present
prevailing code cndnrcs, and ia deemed TO gain
caste by his own industry and woman To Ioso casio
by her own exertions so long woman's business
chances cannot be equal or comparable TO u mans
Pubic mon, man s opinion, Is crucy unjust to
woman unjust not from malice but mistake Men arc
prone 10 iase dcicacy In their views OF women and
regard female independence and womany self support
with nervous baseess species OF horror rather Than
with It's deserved need OF honor. Independence
in the stronger sex Is styled indelicacy
woman Is oiicn manifested by mistakes. father or
a husband WILL like a true knight, battle with the
world lifetime to his darlings in comfort and
yet lie will stubbornly and unwisely object cdu
eating his females ns 10 enable thcm II need be- 10 do
battle for themselves. He will bear without nur-
mur tho hardships and dangers OF the lie struggle,
but he will not suffer those Tor whom he works 10 be
armed and fight Tor themselves beside HIM. Yes men
often not only valiant but as foolish us Don
Quixoic And ibis mistaken chivary, this false deli
cscy OF fathers aud husbands, docs injustice not only
10 Themselves by ovcrtaxing their energies, but ~
works bitter evil 10 The dear ones for whom they toll.
IL renGers women helpless. and, therefore, IN the
great crtscs OF life hopeless. When as happens
every day In this county Of sudden wealth and
= sudden poverty, The bread winner Is reduced from
arioence TO poverty, or when his death reveals the
fact only his iie stood between loved and
want; then the iondled nnd pampercd widow and
daughter found TO be as ignorant OF real lie and
incapable OF real work chid. Then shc stands
tho brink OF ruin with folded hands, aud signs and
suffers, when. had the departed one, half fool, hall
martyr, been truly well ms loving, she might
have had honest trade or paying business with
which 10 face and lght frowning world. IL Is FOR
mems okesu 4 well women's that | appeaI @ man