The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-03-25
Justice to Nan.

! We were reading the Home, my sister
and /, when we came to something that
stopped our reading and set US to talk
I ing and that something was as follows :
"Ihe snares that beset the stems of
any woman leaving the shelter of home
to seek livelihood, are known only to
women of her class. Those only know
who have had to join the army Of bread
winners and from such Temptations as
these there Is no protection or safeguard.
Ihey cannct look to men for this pro-
lection, for it is from them that the dan
ger comes, nor to q woman of her own
class, for they are in the same danger.
and subject 70 the same extremities.
Society as it is,
offers no protection to the single work
ing woman, but stands ever ready to
cast the first stOne.n
"Well, what do you think of Il ?n
asked, after we had looked at each other
for moment or two, as it were our
habit when we would know each others
thoughts.
81 think no, no." she answered.
My life has taught me no such lesson"
Nor has mine, me-" echoed 1.
Later, our talk was finished by her
saying:
~'NWl aeAAAAf hAuL YOU 10 WrlLH
TO them all the kindness of everybody
to US. People are so in the habit OF
slandering human nature that they never
stop TO think how good it really is.
/ always wonder when l hear people
talk about this cold and cruel, this sell
hsh aud unfeeling world, if indeed they
can mean the world live in and find so
very different"
l always obey this sister of mine. so.
because she said write, am writfng
ain school teacher aud she is a teIe-
graph operator and station agent
Right here | may as we'll say that the
position was taken from a man bv a
man, and given to her at the same
wages the man received. That isn't so
bad, now, is it2
At an age when most Of our girl
friends had not care or q duty beyond
getting lesson, or the "gOod times" OF
early youth, the problem Of life was
thrust upon US in its hard practical
shape, aud We became bread-winuers.
Ii has been very hard. very wearisome
at times, as all genuine work must
needs be- but helping hands have been
outstretched all along the way, and
even when the hour has seemed tiaf est
and We have felt most alone, some un-
expected kindness has come and rebuked
US for our "little faith" It was but a
few days ago that l asked why is every
body so good to US.
oh" was the reply, "most every-
body has some one to depend on, aud
so We must all take care Of you" and
truth they do.
They cannot look to men for protee-
tion, for it is FROM them the danger
comes" and yet so much OF our most
needed encouragement, our truest
friendship, and most substantial aid
comes from this same dangerous man,
until we have learned to trust him as
we do his sister woman. Work does
not sober us down. We like good
times-reaily merry, jolly good times,
as we'll as ever, and we have them too.
We 10 many foolish things, aud doubt
less many imprudent things, but socie-
ty, so far from standing ready to cast the
first stone, has welcomed us as heartily
as though the dust Of toll was not up
on Us, has made allowance for all our
aud cared for US ten
derly and lovingly. In all our wander
ings, and they have not been few, it has
been ever the same, aud I want to lift
loud my voice in earnest defense of the
world and the people who live in it,
Miridnli IA american Home.