The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-02-22
Concerning Lady CompOsitors.
PHILADELPHIA, January %, is77.

PHILADELPHIA, January 20, W.
Editors American Newspaper Reporter
have been told that the men in New
York are standing out against me employs5s
ployed in many officoa. n you know Of hny
once 10 which lady coinposltors can get siiua.
come myself and think could set other lh-
dies to come with me. LIZZIE KESiPE.
There is no demand for compositors In
New York, neither for men nor women.
Too many are out Of work already, and Il
would be unwise for our correspondent
TO even think Of getting a situation here.
So much for the direct question asked
There is, however. one popularity In this
note which calls for further comment
the abuse Of the word lady. According
TO the dictionaries. lady IL "a woman
Of social distinction or position, or OF
gentle or refined manners" According
TO old-world rules or usages, q lady y the
wife Of lord, OF at least Of a man OF old
and honorcd family. and by that fact,
supposed 10 inherit the culture aud re-
fnement Of several generations. Accord
ing to our imported cook. NO lady mem,
ever comes in my kitchen. No lady ever
does any work. A born-and-brcd lady
mem, is above sich thing IL il not our
purpose TO defend or TO deny these prop
ositions, but there Is obviously some con-
nection between the vulgar, the conven-
tional, and the scholastic definitions.
That lady does not define sex 80 much
as IL does social position Is the only point
We make. As printing Offices are not
managed, especially In this city, with a
view to the maintenance Of social dis
tinctions, IL Is not proper for our CORES.
pondent to dilate on her superiority. so
cially, to the men" she proposes to sup
plant or to the unfortunate girls or
women" who do not advertise them
selves as ladies. From a business point
Of view il is n mistake. The man who
wants type set is satisfied 10 have II well |
and cheaply done. The composition /
would not DO any the more marketable |
IL done by the ex-Empress OF the French. |
The absurdity Of the misuse Of n word, /
intended for society and not for business, /
would be more clearly seen II applied 70 /
the other sex. Think Of III WANTED /
20 gentlemen compositors." "A gentle
man proof reader wants a situation &c. /
From this conventional hunkeyism Of
the Old World, good Lord deliver ua.
That all printers, men and women. should /
be gentlemen and ladies. Is no doubt de- /
sirable, but il IL Is not desirable 10 drag /
the word out Of It's place In business.
No compositor thinks himself hurt or
sighted by being addressed as a man, or |
by being classified with "the men, Why /
should a woman feel slighted at being /
addressed as a woman2
"How then" should this applicant de.
scribe herself7 As a female compositorf
Dr. Blair and Lindley Murray forbid
Words describing or defining sex should
be applied only TO nouns that are capa-
BILE Of sexual signifcations. Composition
has no such Specification. Let her de-
scribe herself as a girl or as a woman.
There is a straightforwardness and busi-
ness like look about such a description
which will at once arrest the attention
of any employer. Our word for 1.-THE
girl or the woman who asks for work
will have her claim considered
when the request Of the lady compositor
will be overlooked. Nor need the girl
,r woman for fear she viii "lower her.
lelf." as some call il. by accepting tho
name as the position OF a working wo.
nan. She may 90 10 work In the plain
st dress, but IL she does her work well.
ind comports herself properly, she win
receive from everybody in the Office a de
yree Of respect never accorded 10 any
yirl who bases her claim to consideration
IN the fact that she wears good clothes
md Is Of a respectable family. And II
he sets a clean proof even that august
unctionary. the spectaeled proofreader,
will raise his hat respectfully when.
iver he meets her.
One more remark. Why LizEie7 Was
hat your baptismal name3 What right
lave you TO ask for the respect and con.
liberation that belongs or should belong
o a woman or lady. when you willfully
hrow away the good and grand old name
4 Elizabeth name honored by the
lobleat Of women-and accept in prefer
nee the weak and silly nickname OF the
lursery?-[ [Rowelrs Newspaper Report.
n.