Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-28
DSrs NjIIer,s Case.

The solicitor Of the Treasury mas nAall4 /
settled Mrs. Mary A. Miller's case. MIS-
Miller is the Louisiana woman who wants
TO command a Mississippi river steam |
boat. She must have masters license |
before she can carry out her laudable de- |
sire. She applied TO the Secretary OF the
Treasury FOR the necessary permission,
and that official referred the application
to Mr.. Rayner, the Solicitor. Mr. Kaynef
worried over the matter for several weeks
He is a North Carolina gentleman OF the
old school. and. while he could ind moth
ing in the law forbidding the granting Of
q license to Mrs. Miller, he couldn't
get his own consent to assist
her 20 position where the
surroundings would be uncOngenlal 10
lady. Mr. Rayner wants the Worlu 70
know that if Mrs. Miller doesn't uhdef-
stand what is not proper Tor her 10
do he does. and that he VIII use us
HIGH office to prevent her from straylhg
into a position unsuited to her sex. Mr..
Rayper saws: 1.-The role which orr ciyill-
cation DEGREES to be filed by men ana
that to be filed by women must be kept
separate and apart. 1t is my great re-
GARD. nv admiration for the female cnar-
acter-lAy elevated conception oil us ulS-
nitv and Ioveliness-that induce me 10 re-
gard il as an Improperly lot
women To engage in pursuits
unsuited for their tender ana
delicate nature. True, l cannot smut
my ewes 10 the fact that the tendency Of
the most striking ism Of our time Is 10
unsex women. 1t is with regret L as
cover that the tendency is growing one
IN dernand-and it may be secured at ii@
very distant day-'rights,' as they are
called. for women which the more modest
and retiring of their sex are wont 10 re-
card rs burdens too heavy to be borne
when the day arrives that law ana puDic
oninion demand for women the engage
mept in every pursuit of lite III WnlgA
men NAV be employed, then the relation
between the sexes viii lave lost all It's
upselfsh devotion and the vows plighted
4 at t.e altar will have no more restraining
/ soIemnity than a contract TO Iuthlsh 80
many gallons Of whisky or so many Dush-
els of BEANS"
I'm saving what l have l have looked
at the subject purely as an ABSTRACT
nroDosition. without reference to the laay
from whom this application comes. All
the accounts concur IN describing her as
| a lady of the highest character for bush
ness qualifications, for intellectually,
canacity and private wOlt tn. But IN the
| application Of what is to me principle;
/ the HIGHER her character, qualifications
and WORTH the greater my ditfic ulty in adj
hitting that the license asked for, VIZ, to
command as master a Mississippi steamer,
should be granted"
The fearless and masterful way III
which Mr.. Rayner grapples with the
matter at issue, and the admirable and
delicate manner in which he puts his
refusal. ought to make Mrs. Miller feel
clad that she didn't succeed in getting a
license. As the license meant bread ana
butter for herself and children, however,
it is probable that she will express her
opinion of Mr.. Rayner's efforts to elevate
female character with more vigor than is
| consistent with that gentleman's ideas
| Of what is becoming in lady
| If Mrs. Miller 10 qualified to COM
mand Mississippi river steamboat, and
it seems that she is, she knows a great
deal more about masters duties than
Air. Ravner does. 1t may be that Mr..
Ravner thinks steamboat cap
tain must swear like pirate
and be prepared to knock down rousta
bouts and deck hands if they are impu-
dent or mUtinOus. That he should en-
terrain such views is not surprising II be
has ever travelled on Mississippi
steamer. 1t is not improbable, however
that it was Mrs. Miller's purpose to rev
olutionize the methods of enforcing dis
cipline. Kindness often accOmplishes
more than blows and hard words. Mr
Rayner ought to have given Mrs. Miller
chance. He might have been the indirec
means of introducing a great reform OF
the Mississippi.