Feliciana sentinel., 1879-05-31
BEAUTY AT THE FORGE.

The field of woman's work is enlargine
in every direction. Not only do We heal
of the energetic fair in all branches OF
industry that may in any way he suita-
bic to the abilities of their heads and
hands, but they are reaching beyond and
occupying fields where it has been sup.
posed that only men could labor success.
fully. Women BARRIERS and women
drummers, and women lightning rod
agents can be contemplated with COM
placency-with about as much caimness,
in fact, as can be brought to the conside.
ration of men in like positions-but q
| couple Of women blacksmiths are alto
| gether certain to create some astOnish-
ment, even among the very smart people
who have travelled great deal. who al
| ways know a great deal, who are aston
| ished at nothing. This story is of two
! women who are blacksmiths, and al
though a true story, it is full Of romance.
The women 90 business at Louisville,
KY, are young, and said to &c handsome,
but this is not sworn to, and certainly
appear ta be endowed with common sense,
will and muscle. They are twins and
bear the very pretty names Of Carine and
Nellie Blair, which are painted in modest
letters on sign over the door of their
shop, the sign also conveying the intelli
gence that the young women are black
smiths. The account in Louisville
newspaper of the appearance of these fai"
blacksmiths may have been written by
susceptible young man, and Therefore
open to suspicion, but let us hope not
The assurance that the you ng women are
not Yet nineteen, that hey are of the
blonde order Of beauty, with complexion
Gas fair as that Of any petite belle Of So
cicty, and the lovely tinge of pink and
red which ever aud anon spread over
face and neck not only served to bri ,ht- !
en- the natural beauty but gave evidence
of an excellent constitution and robust |
health" Some of this, at least, is exact
ly what blacksmith would be likely to |
need. and it is we'll enough to be partic- |
Ular about details III order to show other |
young women who contemplate going |
into business as blacksmiths what will |
be necessary. The young women We're
dressed in Turkish trousers and loose
blouse coat, aud "with sleeves rolled up
to the elbow, displayed beautifully roun
ded and snow-white arlns'-uness the
rcuorter who described them susged most
outTaG Gcously.
The history of these independent and
uncommon Young women couldn't well /!
be otherwise than interesting. They are |
of English birth, and were left without |
parents at six years of age. They came
to this country with a gentleman who
botrended them, they settled in Ken
tucky, where the girl, finding little di-
version. amused themselves by working
in the blacksmith shop on the farm
They pursued this with such industry
that they soon found themselves excel
lent workers in iron, and in the most ma
tural way in the world began to look
this way as something that might prove
Z means of livelihood if events made it
And events did make it ne
They We're finally left without
I home, and gathering up the smi this
tools from the old shop they went to
Louisville, where they began work as
as possible, and so modestly
that they avoided all sensational or
curious attention, seeking only work
which they could capably perform. After
the work Of the day is over, they attend
The M sht schools, and altogether appear
TO have taken hold of life with II firm
grip. OF course they are doing we'll, but
they are not anxious for attention at the
hands Of idle inquirers, and are not pur-
suing this business to make au auexhibition
of themselves, unless they tell the most
yarns. There is probably not
another case Of .he kind in this country,
md blac!lsmithing is hardly the thing
hat young women would be likely TO
AXE to as 40 attractive means of acGulr- ,
ng living. But these girls can hammer
'ut their destiny on an anvil with rs
much dignity and self-respccr as many a
;irl can possibly feel in doing nothing
nd having nothing to expect from the
uturc.-EX. +