Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-30
WOman,s work
ew York Times, May 24,l


ernor Tilden of Mrs. Lowell as a
commissioner Of the State Board of
Charities was one Of the best in all
administration not always credita-
BILE. In the annual meeting of the
association for the inspection of our
public charities an admirable report
was read from this lady on the diff
ficult "Tramp question" containing
a thorough study of the condition
of pauperism in a single county of
the State. Among all the reports
read that evening none showed a
more intelligent grasp of the sub
iect. 1t was but fitting tribute
to Mrs. Lowell's experience in this
problem, so exceedingly perplex-
ing for legislatures, and for the as
soCiation founded by women, which
has accomplished so much in reno
waiting our public charities, that she
should be placed on the State Board.
1t is significant also as being one Of
the first instances in which women
have been called to share in our
public administration.
In this direction our mother
country has been in advance Of us.
Women in England who owned
real estate have for long period
had a vote in the meetings of YES
trymen, and in the recent educa-
tional reform a woman was chosen
by a large majority as a member oi
the School Board, which has such
important functions in London.
We believe that Mrs. DR.. Garratt't
efforts in this board have fully jus.
titled popular choice. It's remark.
able that in this city, where nine
tenths of the public school teachers
are women, and more than half o.
the scholars girls, no woman ha,
ever been elected to the Board Of
Education, Some of our most i'm
portant private charities in behalf
of women and children are entirely
directed by women, but in public
boards there has thus far been M
representation of the female sex.
This, however, is not SO great an
evil as appears on the surface. Wo
men in this country have not as ye
had that training in the habit o
acting together and in public rela
tions which is indispensable fol
good administration. Their great
power is in their tendency to bring
everything to a personal relation
} which in charitable management il
usually the best habit, as the evil
among the poor are all individual
and require individual treatment
5 They attend more to details THAI
men, and are more pertinaeious
Their weakness is in permitting
differences in administration 0
. public measures to become person
al, and in the want of habit Of dc
/, ferring to a majority vote. The
have little, too, of those parlia
5 mentary habits. which have bee
drilled into men by centuries c
constitutional life. But many G
j these defects are cured by training
, and experience will gradually moo
: crate the intensity Of feeling wit
which reforms are advocated b
the sex, and the more reasonabI
t, masculine custom will be adopted
: which expects great results by vel
small gradations. The more w
man is in public life, too, the LEI
will she treat matters from a pur
ly personal point of view, and IL
more she win see that all deep in
proyements move slowly.
1t is remarkable that ip boards
administration women are mqo
10 less generous and considerate
subordinates than men, and ha'
more parsimonious habits. Th'
- seldom can manage Q large numb
I of employees as the other sex ca
The especial power Of woman
these relations should be her ia
and courtesy; and whenever in
public board 0 lady Of superi
. culture brings this courtesy to be
in, her public dealings, she carr
great influence. But it unfort
y nately happens that many Of o
r. most useful philanthropic WON
and those interested in reforl
la..a Loo,, Ja6oia,,t ia thic fnr1in /