The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-03-21
Have Women Business Ability.

a rev weeks ago, In one OF The COM
Portable sleeping coaches which have so
reduced the WEAKNESS of travel, we left
Boston on a train bound outward for
the West. There were not more than
half a dozen persons beside ourselves
in the car, and this scarcity of travellers
made conversation general, and estab-
lished friendly and social relations be-
tween people who had never seen each
other before, and did not, even then,
know each others names.
In the section just behind ours, four
gentlemen had seated themselves, and
were talking concerning matters of
general and sometimes local interest.
Occupied with book, we gave little
heed to their conversation until our at
tention was suddenly arrested by hear
ing one of them exclaim, with much
emphasis, 'tYes, sir! believe that, as
a rule, women are more economical
than men. You see, woman can't
aOaste much money if she tries; she's
obliged to spend it ON herself, on her
jewels and laces, her silks and satins
and furbelows of one kind and another.
All these, however, can be turned into
money again; and the more ragged and
dirty and dingy piece of lace is, the
better woman likes it, and the more
money it will bring. But now just look
at the men, and think for moment of
the enormous sums of money spent
every year on fast horses, gambling,
wines and tobacco; things that repre-
sent not capital invested, but capital
sunk, wasted. Why, if a man sets
about it, he can waste more money in
one year than woman can spend in
ive."
81 guess you're right assented his
neighbor; "and-" dropping his voice
to a low tone and speaking slowly, as
though he were about to tell something
which, though true, was entirely beyond
his omprehension-"r bet copper
that my wife can tell exactly how much
money she has had in the last ten
years, and just what every cent was
used for.n
'How about yourself" asked num-
ber three, '.can you do the sameP'
"Not muchr' was the emphatic an
swer "rve had good many attacks
Ct aookkffRRpgs es R pst pD apDoGt out @ four dsys Yy
that time the thing won't balance, and
| give it up"
A hearty laugh followed this frank
confession, and then lady who sat by
the opposite window turned and said,
with half smile, g And yet, suppose
that if any one were to ask you if your
wife has any business ability, you
would say no?''
"Well, ma'am, 1 suppose should.
We men don't generally reckon on a
woman's having much business ability;
but I'm not sure they haven't got it in
spite of u.s.
Here the conversation drifted into
other channels, but it started train of
thought in our own mind and may
perhaps do the same for some of our
readers.
Do we not all know women, who,
with inadequate means at their COM
man6, have struggled for years against
trials, difficulties and obstacles, which,
to the more timid, seemed simply ap-
palling? Women who have made
home pleasant and attractive to their
children; who, by the exercise of quail
tiles which would have made good
DuSluCoS ACu VI UuCu1, ndu UuCy UCCA
men instead of women, have given
these children education and accom-
plishments.
These women are sagacious; quick
to see where their interests lie, and al
ways ready to avail themselves of for
tunate circumstances. Upright and
conscientious in all their dealings,
they are not forgetful of the fact that
the world owes them place and sta
ton and recognition. Respecting them
selves, they are respected by others,
and have the confidence of all who
know them.
There is an adjective peculiarly
American in its significance, and of the
widest comprehensiveness which peo-
pie apply to such women. They are
smart. A woman who manages her
household affairs with such prudence,
foresight and economy as to excite the
admiration of her neighbors; who is al
ways neat in appearance though she
may not possess any fine clothes; who,
though hard worker, finds time to
read and thus enlarge the horizon Of
her otherwise narrow world, is invaria-
bly, spoken of as q stsmart woman
She is not a business woman because
her smartness has never been turned in
that direction; but that she has the abil-
| ity to carry on business, we do not for
q moment doubt.
She could not do it at once, of course;
any more than man could do her work
put into her place. But she would soon
learn.