Omaha daily bee., 1884-08-11
WOMEN IN THE WEST.
NEw. YORK, August Z
Editor OMAHA Ppp

New York Evening Post, August 4th,
has attracted my attention, and had 1t
read, "Come West, Young Woman,
would have been Just the invitation | am
longing for, You say, "there is plenty
Of room left for young men Of energy and
character" may not this apply equally to
young women, or to women, who are
past the giddy time of life, drinking its
lees, as it were, and walking soberly in
the shade, to women engaged in the aw-
full struggle for the " mighty dollar, "
who in our crowded cities OF the
east, are driven TO the wall by
young men of less energy and ca
pacity, and oftentimes Of no character.
Your closing remarks, "if you hsv Q
only brain and muscle you will have no
trouble in finding market for them
here" prompts me to ask: What are the
chances for brains, minus muscle2 or, in
other words, what prospect Is there in
your state for honest working womenl
Don't reply ehusbands," because they
are to be had here if we will take them,
and the New York papers TEEN with ad-
vertisemeuts for housekeepers, cooks,
etc. Ispesk for myself, and say want
to find the land where the
last dollar one earns need not
go for board and keeping up appearances,
where fair days work. will bring fair
days wages, and where these ''fertile
lands, at reasonable prices" might be
turned into homesteads 80 that one might
contemplate, the advent of old age, with
out shudder and resolve only to grow
old gracefully.
To quote Mr.. Mantelini, "Life (in New
York, is one demnition grind" Ii you
earn ten dollars week you pay eight,
for board, and If you earn twenty, you
pay fifteen, for little more style. Moth
ing can be put away, for the inevitable
rainy day, and when sickness comes your
portion is Bellevue hospital, and later on,
you serve for the delectation Of the medi.
cal student, and for the advancement of
science. Now / am healthy subject,
and fear, also, that for many years to
come, shall have to count the mills that
make cent, and for the sake of loved
ones long for more than tnat. want
to make home in tho west. What in.
ducements can you hold out to lady
stenographer and type-writerl Can this
be included in your list of Lucrative en-
ployments2" Could obtain professional
foothold as stenographer, either in legal,
architectural or railroad work2 You
have bankers, brokers, agents and COM
missioners who can offer work in my line,
or do they prefer energetic young men"
who can cast vote, and ultimately hope
to lobby their schemes through con
gress..
What are the chances for women to
earn lucrative living in Nebraska-to
earn it by thorough, pains taking work,
without sentiment in favor of or preju-
dice against them. There are hundreds
of women in New York who crowd hare
in the hope of an honest living, and who
are unable to 60 elsewhere for lack of in
formation and who dare not trust
to the uncertainty and probable
fruitlessness of search for it
in other places. OF course in viewing
the far west, as the country of the fut.
ure, one is prepared to partially trough
it" we do not expect electric lights, ele.
vated railroads, nor Central park, and
we shan't pine for the daily privilege of
passing Delmonico's. By this. Mr..
Editor, you must perceive that am
very much in earnest, in this matter,
and if you can find time to give informa-
tion of the probable success in your
state, of woman's labor, in any life be-
yond that of mere household drudge,
your kindness will be appreciated by one
who would gladly learn, what are the
real resources of the west.
And if you should decide that there
are no openings at present for women
such as l, I hope you will continue your
earnest invitation to the young men to
come to that delectable land, that advan-
tageous locality where they may acquire
fame and riches" in the hope thereby
that there may be many vacancies here
which we can suitably fill.
But 1 fear in answer, you will only
hear what 'Dlokens" made the bells say
to "Arthur Clenham" in his lonely Sun
day musings. 'They won't come, they
won't come" MARION.
Candor compels US to state that brain
and muscle combined are more In demand
in the west than brains alone. A man
who comes equipped withrobust
health, industrious habits, and intelli.
gence need have no fears of starving in
the west. All things being equal the
young woman who comes west with mus
Gle and brains has decidedly the advan-
tsgs over the woman who depends upon
brains alone. working woman need not
look for husband to support her, and
in the sphere of activity to which she is
adapted she will meet no obstacle on ac-
count of sex prejudices. Women
of culture and professional
who are not disposed to drudge
in the school room as teachers, are not
in such brisk demand as to insure
employment as soon as they
land in far western towns and cities.
Any considerable number of such ladies
in quest of employment might meet with
owing to the fact that
the field for professional women, outside
Of the school room, Is limited-not only
in the west but everywhere. A
lady stenographer and typewriter
capable of expressing herself as clearly
and foroibly as Marion, would In our
opinion have no trouble In securing per-
employment In one of our rail-
road offices, banking houses, or other bus
mess establishments. A woman who
pomaS want with self-daniaJ enouoh IN