Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-15
WOMEy,S WORK,

There are two TACT wnlcn go 10 prove th'
he proportion of women in this country who
are unmarried after the thirtieth year is very
greatly increasing. The first is statistical
The number of lady property holders grows
larger with every census tabulation. The Sec
ond fact is that all departments OF labor
eligible to women are receiving greater ac-
cessions of them than ever before. Whether
the noticeable increase in the number OF di-
vorces granted in this country is the princl-
pal cause of this large proportion OF indie
pendent women, or whether women are more
generally remaining single, either through
distr,lst of the marriage relation or failure 10
secure husband, we have no means oil de-
tcrmiuing. The fact remains that very
large percentage of American women are az
the presen. time, engaged in earning 'hei'
own living.
The departments of work in which women
are engaged, with success. comprise nearly
all branches of what may be called the lighter
industries. and also the professions. Inc
preiudce against women's work, which
formerly was so strong, Is now rapidly dis
appearing. In fact, in many departments oil
labor open to them, women have pfoVen
themselves, not only the equals, but often
the superiors Of men. There are certain del-
icate and nice descriptions Of work, both
mental and physical, which women are na-
turally fitted to do well. 1t would be IL sad
state of affairs indeed if women. set over
against men, as they naturally are, in oil tile
activities of life-their oppositcs at almost all
poin,s-had not some advantages in the anti
thesis. 1t would be manifestly unjust If wo-
men, denied physical strength, must be content
with weakness, instead of grace and beauty )
denied the logical faculty, must be also des-
titutc of the imaginative lacking reserve,
force, must also want vvacity. 1t is
not SO. Women have their advantages,
| by nature and it is just Gnd well
that they should. Consequently, Is
both impoltic and upgallant for men to at
tempt to bar them from all departments OF
the worlds work. or, falling in this, to de-
grade them to the position of unter-plid in
feriors. Woman's peculiar advantages for
certain empoyments must be recognized, and
bring her TO her proper status as Que OF tho
worlds workers. This is a practical necessi-
lty.
Let US look at few of the principal EN-
pigments in which women are successfully
engaging today. The profession OF litera'
ture has never been denied TO women, simply
because they have taken their place in it by
divine right, from the first. But the kindred
profession journalism are women fitted
for and being fitted for, are they admitted tc
successful labor In this field of letters The
prejudice against women as Journalists has
perhaps, been as stubborn as any other preju
dice exerted against them. and with much
better reason than most. Women are, I'M
doubtedly, not fitted for the rough, wearing
labor which forms the bulk of newspaper
york They are not fitted for reportorial OIL
night work, nor have they sufficient grasp Of
mind to be successful in the heavier editorial
work, But of late yeats, With the develop
ment Of journalism, new features have teer
introduced into the leading newspapers o.
the country departments of general ltera
ture, of fashion, Of gossip, of brief, sketch,
paragraphs upon popular topics, of light cor
respondence, etc. In these department:
of journalism women are meeting will
remarkable success. The very veir
of writing for which they are best
adapted is being worked extensively in
our leading newspapers. Especially in cor
rcspondence are lady journalists coming t.
the 'front.' The society letters Of most of on
metropolitan journals-fast coming 10 be ON
of their leading and most popular features
are almost exclusively written by women
All the fashion articles and fashion goSa'l
are necessarily prepared by ladies' In para
graphing the quick, facilc wit Of woman i
rapidly gaining recognition. Several of til
leading New York and Boston dailies hav
ladies' upon their regular editorial staff. Tn
best newspapers, ii has been found, are thos
which both men and women unite to pro
duce. The special qualities of each art
brought out to best advantage.
Music is another profession 10 which VIC
men arc doing good work, and gaining sui
c,antial rewards Art-work engraving
skctchins, painting, embroidery-is fruit
full field for them. There are hundreds an
thousands, OF young women in our larG
cities who make good and honorable. an
withal delightful, living through their font
ness and skill for art work. We heard, til
other day, of lady who had earned fou
thousand dollars by card painting. 1t is we
, known that many gain livelihood by aptl
illustrating books and periodicals and oil
, ers still in painting the beautiful picture
that adorn the walls of our galleries an
homes. There is another important branc
of art 10 which women are preparing to el
gage. The Woman's Institute of Technics
Design aims to prepare women TO fill a pos
ton in the design room of any manufacture
of carpets, wall paper, silk lace, Calico c.'
And when one learns that an ingram carpl
designer receives salary of two thousan
five hundred yearly, and that good wa
= paper design brings any where from fiftec
n to seventy-fve dollars, this particular fiel
y seems among the most inviting in the pr
vince Of art
There is great demand for lady stsnol
raphers and type-writers. Many institution
i, where the combined accomplishments al
|, taught assure to competent pupils good pos
lions and salaries Immediately npon gradu'
ton. Bureaus of letter writers for the igno
n ant are very successful in many of our larl
o cities, and ladies are much preferred TO gel
tlemen in this d, partment. Teaching is N
;. as profitable for women as some of the lie
crowded professions. Medicine is coming