The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-23
The Woman Who Works.

The Woman Who Works.
The New York Graphic, in answer to
the demand for employment suitable for
women, turns as last resort to Il
Woman's Exchange, which, while not
strictly a charitable institution, must be
started by a popular subscription to
guarantee any hope of ultimate success,
and even then its existence must of ne
cessity be extremely precarious, for the
reason that it comes directly in COMPETE
ton with the pOor-paid work, which rem
dered it impossible for the contributors
to the exchange to get regular employ
ment. The problem of suitable work
for woman appeals to universal sympa-
thy. Fortunately, for the good of hui
mainly, woman is more delicately consti-
tuted than man, more sensitive, and pc
culiarly fitted by nature to fill the gap in
man 5 life which otherwise would remain
void. But these very qualities, which
give her everything desirable in a wife,
are misfortune to her as Il woman de-
pendent upon her own eXertions for Il
livelihood. The delicacy of woman, her
sensitive nature, make her shrink from
the rush and scramble of business, where
money is made and a position achieved.
RidicUled as it may be, it is in the nature
of things that the woman able to take
care of herself anywhere, to stand shoul-
der to shoulder with men in the race OF
life, may be respected but seldom loved.
And. as a natural consequence, she does
not excite that sympathy which a more
wOmanly woman does. 1t is not in
tended, however, that the more self
reliant woman shall lose her indepcnd-
enCe in order to evoke sympathy. If
she be able to do for herself, and ask no
odds, let her 90 on; for it is scarcely
probable that she would be content with
less, while any attempt TO excite
sympathy might evoke something else.
But the misgiyings and the mental
pain with which SO many women under
take the duties of life are very painful
to contemplate, and no man possessed
of any of the finer instincts of manhood
can consider her unpleasant situation
without the keenest sympathy. With
these palpable facts in view, what can
be done to smooth the way for self
dependent women?
Manifcstly, the first step is to open up
every possible avenue to her, and, wher
she has the womanly courage to enter
upon any hitherto untried field, let her
be met with every encouragement and
courtesy. Any honest employment for
which she is physically capable is honor
able, no matter what it is-in the count
ing Groom, the workshop the store or the
factory. The work is dignified by the
workman, in doing which he himself is
ennobled. Let it come to be understood
that labor is honorable, and half the veX-
ing problem is at once solved. Let
every woman whom the force of adverse
circumstances has thrown upon her own
endeavors fully realize this, and it will
be an element of strength in solving her
problem. Let every man recognize the
true dignity of employment, and he will
be quick to accord to the woman who
works the same homage bestowed upon
her upon whom fortune has smiled. A
talse standard has been set up by those
more fayorably circumstanced. Meas
| ured by it, soft hand that never knew
what it was TO labor, is better than the
hOnest hand of toll, toughened a little in
! its efforts to build its own fortune. BY
it, Il silk dress, bought by an indulgent
husband or father, is more honorable
than one of calico earned and
made by the woman who wears
it. This is Snobbish and false The
feeling is abatng, year after year, and
is by no means arrogant as it once was.
The woman who works is often better
than she who idles and sneers. She
who wears calico may be nobler than
her sister in satin. This much is I'M
dcniably true: work, in itself is not de-
grading. Atrue gentlewoman will bear
her badge of natural nobility wherever
she may go, and she will win for herself
the respect and honor of all good people.
The Exchange for woman'S work is
well enough in its way, but it still
nurses false pride, by allowing women
who are ashamed to have it known that
they are obliged to work to dispose of
their products without revealing them
selves. This is simply cringing to the
opinion of a few who are ill-bred enough
to sheer ut those less fortunate than
themselves in mere worldly wealth and
| position. Let all this sham and shoddy
go. Ithas stood as barrier long enough
| between woman and work. Break over
or through it; trample it under foot.
Let it be known by every woman of
worth and character that she need,
money, and that she is too proud to beo
and sclf-respecting enough to want t.
earn it by her own efforts. Do this, and
she will add TO her own glory among