The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-29
Rapid Advance Of Women in Business
Pursuits.

Pursuits.
It is very curious and interesting to
watch how fast and how far the work Of
the world is falling into the hands Of the
women. Is il because women are very
gradually but better learning how to do
1t? IL is true that men as yet act main
ly as proprietOrs; but how long will they
continue to do so after women have OBJ
tained a thorough knowledge of the
trades, business and professions to which
they can obtain access? One woman in
Massachusetts aud two in Connecticut
areannouneed As engaged 10 supply their
husbands pulpits during the absence of
these for a vacation. Fresh signs con-
stantly appear over stores and business
houses which give the nomenclature Of
a woman instead Of a man, and women
Of education have entered business
within the past few years who, twenty
five years ago, would not have considered
such a step possible. 4 grocery store
upon populOus avenue has for twenty
years displayed the name Of a man upon
its sign-bo who has been dead for the
past five years, during which time his
widow has taken his place, acting most
efficiently, and keeping and increasing
the business, which Is a large one. Quite
recently she had "Mrs.n painted in be-
fore the Christian name of her husband,
whose simple Quaker cognomen had oc-
cupied it before. When the matter was
jokingly referred to by a customer she
remarked: 81 did not do it before because
my friends thought il would injure the
business, but now / know 1t will not.
People are just as ready to buy and sell
with a woman as with man, and / think
/ IL is more honest to let il be known that
I IL is | whom the public have got to deal
with, and not my husband"
The other day very nice-loOking
young woman called at the house Of d
/ friend TO execute some orders in regarC
10 the covering Of furniture and the put.
ting up OF summer window curtains
Her appearance was so thoroughly gOoC
ana htted to her work that my frienC
could hardly believe she was the persou
lt Is expressed, as she phrased IL. TO,
much culture" She proved. however. I,
be the woman superintendent of the IN.
hOlstery epartment ofone ofour most IA
nous furniture aud decorating houses
and lightly climbed a step-ladder an,
proceeded in a wOrkman-like wav to ge
on the outside Of a window in the further
ance Of the object she had to accomplisb
Ny friend, who is lady Of observation
and intelligence, became very much in
terested in her, and noticing plain gol,
ringon ber finger, asked If she were mar
ried.
"No, thank God" was the reply.
"Why are you thankful that you ar,
not married ?" asked Mrs. II.
because / have two sisters who ar
married, =" she said, "and have to work
not only to support myself and NJ
mother, but to help support their chill
dren."
This will be found about the position
of every superior wOTkingwOman in Ney
York, and tells the story why the Stew
art house had to remain empty or b
filled by persons who had no claim upO
il. Few men marry nowadays wit
anv intention of fulfilling their natura
obligations and properly supporting
= wife and family. When they are ma
ancient widowers, who can afford {
. buy a Young girl as luxury for thei
, old age. they are generally thoughtles
and selfish Young men, who would rathe
he taken care OF than forced to assum
anv responsibility. The majority, VIII
: are eapable Of earning a living, do nc
even contemplate marriage. The clut
offer them the "comfOrts OF a home,
= and they prefer to spend their none
: unon themselves. This is well enough
: sofaras they are Individually concerned
nptil they have reached the age when.
Dersoual sympathy and companiOnshi
5 are worth more than anything else !
; the world, aud then they begin to regrC
. their lost opportunities. - Battimol
, american.