Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-07
WOMEN IN THE NINETEENTH CEN
TURY.

| WOMEN IN THE NINETEENTH CEN
TURY.
Miss Emily Fdithfait -ideOcates a Higher
Education and an Industrial I.'oiniu1
for Them.
Miss Emily Faithful lectured at Chick
ering hall recently on ''The Changed Posi-
| ton of Women in the Nineteenth Century. y
Miss Faithful was introduced by Colonel
Fred Conkling. She said the introduction
| of machinery had effected great change
| IN domestic economy. Previously many
things were done at home which are now
done for Us in factories, and while there
there are many who are compelled to en-
gage in occupations where the hardest
kind of labor is required. In Stafford
| shire women prepare the clay that is to be
employed for porcelain. Nearly $4,000
women hawk fish through the streets of
London. Women are employed in large
numbers in England as agricultural labor
ers. 1t seems to have been taken for grant
ed that their physical strength might be
taxed to any extent so long as they re-
Trained from engaging in occupations that
would Improve their minds. It is common
to speak of certain employments as well
! adapted to women because they require lit
| tie thought. Women are seldom given
positions of trust in the management of
the industrial branches in which they are
| engaged. The trades-unions in England
prevent women being employed in watch
making, and consequently England i'm
ports most of her watches from Switzer-
| land.
ut is great mistake" continued Miss
Faithful, Ito regard women as mere ma
chimes. 1t is wrong to overtax their physi-
cal natures and ignore their mental needs.
Skilled work does not come by nature. No
| men can get on in the world without train
ing, and women who work in any capacity
have similar need of preparatory disci-
pine. In aristocratic families some pro-
| visions are made for the female members,
but outside of that class no provisions are
| made to insure women against the vicissi-
tudes OF fortune by providing them with a
| training that will enable them to earn a
| comfortable living in case they should be
thrown on their own resources. Women
are restricted to few callings. It is ter
| ribie to think of the awful consequences
| to some women of this terrible struggle
for existence.
'There are now $4,000 governesses in
England. In consequence many of them
were compelled to give their services in re-
turn for food and board. Such a condi-
ton OF affairs is happily unknown in
America. 1t is wrong to longer ignore the
change which has taken place in the social
system. We should adapt ourselves to the
necessity that has arisen, and instead of
leaving women to struggle on in the world
without preparation we should familiarize
them early with work which may be made
remunerative. A great barrier to progress
IN this direction is the caste spirit preva-
lent among fashionable women, which
leads them to regard with feelings of con-
tempt and disdain those of their sex who
work for living. They regard it as dis
grace for women to earn living by the
exercise of their brains, but at the
same time are often not ashamed to
spend extravagantly money supplied to
them by over-worked and too indulgent
relatives. 1t will take years of education
to make them see that idleness is disgrace
full. even in woman. The difficulties to
be overcome in this direction are greater
in England than in America. But prog
res5, is making, and civilization is no
longer In the hands OF timid aristocracy.
Although the women of the upper class for
the most part despise work, a section of
that class who are removed from the ne
cessity of earning their living seek for
work because they cannot find rest for
their souls in lawn-teanis, balls and other |
fashionable modes of recreation. With !
such pastimes no fault could be found if !
followed with moderation. Ruskin has |
said that we bring up girls as though they |
were meant for sldebOard ornaments and |
then complain of their frivolity. Much is |
said of man being made for the world and |
woman for the home but in reality their in |
huences and interests are subjected to no |
such bounds. The sooner we get rid of |
a theory of morality which appeals to one |
sex only, the better for the world in gen
erai and for man IN particular. God has |
a definite plan and purpose for every man
and woman. and it is the business of edu-
cation to develop it. Many of the short
comlngs which are charged to women ara
due to the mental impoverishment to which
they are exposed. Girls should no longer
be treated by men as angels above them or
dolls beneath them. Studies are less likely
TO injure them than pinched waists, heated
rooms and late hours. girls depend
snce on marriage as tbs only means of
gaining livelihood acts most injuriousiv
IN her character. The cultivated man
wants his wife to sympathize with him and
understand him in order to realize the
highest happiness to be found in the mar
led state.''
Miss Faithful then referred to tie prog
ess made in England in the way of Prov
ling women with higher education and in
lustrial training. She believed that any,
hing that makes women moro valuable
7ould increase her opportunities of mar
iage. sIt is better that she marry for
eve and esteem than for hunger" Miss ,
Faithful referred to the woman suffrage .
novements and said she knew of no reason | .
Thy women should not be permitted to )
ote. She did not believe public life !.
yould necessarily be demoralizing to wom- i
n. Publicity she said, 'seems to be :
egarded as Objectionable only when wom- !,
Il ceases to come forward simply to |
muse and endeaVors to instruct /.
The Sioux Commission,
YANETON DoE Too e. Y,bo |