The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-29
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WOman's Work and Pay.
In these days when women are less Ger.
tain OF the life matrimonial than in for
mer times, or at least owing to the ten.
denCy to late marriages their maidenhood
probation is Of longer duration, tho ques.
ton Of selt.support becomes with the sex
growing Importance. Women in Great
Britain number million moro than the
men, owing mainly to the masculine pen
chant for emigration; in France, a stay.at-
home nation, the sexes nearly balance
each other; in the older sections of the
United States the women preponderate
from cause similar to that operating in
the British Islands. Both here and in
England, where a feminine superabuud-
ance prevails, there is lack OF anything
like the general, systematic prepare.
ton Of women to earn q living;
while in thrifty France, with far less
need, it is more customary to methodical-
ly bring up daughters to special trades and
callings. Rarely will an English or Ameri-
can girl subject herself to the long and
painstaking apprenticeship ncedful to the
mastery Of any skilled art or handicraft,
More are pursuing such q course now, to
be sure, than even few years ago, but
the majority of the girls either live on the
bounty Of parents till husband is secur-
cd, or content themselves with the pittance
to be derived from the few over.erowd-
ed occupations open to them till matri.
mony is achieved And the temptation
to his course is quito overwhelming. No
young woman probably likes to admit the
contingency that she is to draw the old
maids blank in life's lottery, and why
should she waste blooming years In the
drudgery of acquiring trade that after
all is likely to be useless to her?
The stress Of the feminine struggle fol
emp!oymentis mainly confined, ofcourse,
to the cities. Among the more socially
respected and intelligent aspirants to self.
support are the teachers, ever numerous
and in excess OF demand, but still, as wo.
mans wages go, fairly paid. Descending
to the factory and the store, tho pressure
OF competition becomes increased and the
wages correspondingly mcager. There
are said to be thousands Of women in New
York, outside Of the domestic service, who
do not average moro than two dollars a
week, Here is the fearful incentive TO the
larger share OF the city's prostitution. A
woman missionary who has made this
painful subject special study says
that il she were able to furnish rcmu-
nerative employment to all who would
accept it she could speedily diminish the
host Of fallen women in that city at least
two-thirds, The great army OF factory
operatives probably average from 90 to 90
cents day. In Boston, where, as in
other large cities, girls and women are
largely employed in stores, cash girls may
hope to attain at the best 50 week. The
girls behind the counter receive from s.
to 81 at first, and after some months may or
may not have their wages raised somewhat,
In few cases, saleswomen get as high as
SIS week, but they must be exceptionally
expert, control trade OF their own, and
have the capacity OF buying goods as we'll
as selling them. Tho average wages
Of saleswomen, however, arc 81 so
q week. Occasionally stylish, handsome
girls get S. or $40 for performing the dish.
greeable duty Of lay.igures. Copying Is n
favorite feminine occupation. Law copy.
lists are paid from l2 to Is cents for each
folio OF $50 words, while amanuenses OF
professional and business men earn from
s. to $40 week. Telegraphy would seem
TO be pre.eminently wOmanly employ,
mcnt. Women, however, appear to DO
unequal to the nervous strain OF night
work or the more exaCting positions In
tho service, but arc mistrcSses in large
numbers OF the smaller stations. The work
is light and pleasant and pays from
S25 10 $50 month. Among the less crowd.
cd occupations arc decorating, carving and
art embroidery, all demanding artistic
skill. This sort Of work has found stimu.
lus In both Boston and New York by the
establishment OF wOmOn's exchanges,
where the products OF feminine art are
gathered for sale. Journalism Is a pur-
suit followed by less than 30 women
in Massachusetts, whose pay ranges
from S. to $50 q week. There are
q few women writers OF shorthand,
who, as private secretaries 10 business and
professional men, get about SIS n week.
This art appears 10 be a promising field for
feminine cultivation, but tho discourage.
ment is greater OH account OF the difficulty
OF sufficient mastering the craft to make
itpraCtically useful. Women are learning
to effectively manipulate the recently.in.
vented type.writerS, ind some 30 Boston
girls earn living by its use, some OF
whom make exceedingly good wages.
The Irish domestic is, We suspect, ono
OF the best of and most Independent OF
the Commoner class Of women laborOrs.
Comfortably housed and fed, she Is al |
ways sure Of position aud wages, which,
frugally husbanded, may each year yield
pretty little saving. There seems space,
indeed, for higher grade Of talent IN
domestic service than ut present rules
But the prejudice against II In the minds
OF American.born girls seems to DO al.
most insurmountable. The stinted pay
and wearing work OF tho factory or
shop is preferable in their eyes. Perhaps
this aversion to hired domcsticlty would
be decreased II only mistresses would
oftener condescend to tho practice OF those
small courtesies toward their help which
ever go so far to lessen the sting Of servi.
tude, Tho refined gontIewoman house.
keeper has already won this recognition
for her ability, and in many Of the best
families Is accorded the same courteous
consideration given to the members OF the
family themselves.