The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-27
THE LADY CLERKS IN WASHINGTON.
They Acquire Independence and Do Not
Relinquish Ii by Marrying.

heunQu1Sn 1E marrying.
Washington Evening Star
"She is nice looking girl, q very nice looking
girl, and the speaker threw his head on one
side and assumed the gravely reflective air of a
connoisseur. She wore dainty summer dress
and looked as feminine aud sweet as young
happy girl can look.
There are good many pretty girls employed
in this department" we observed
"Yes. there are, was the rather brief answer.
II suppose they all marry and leave your
Indeed they don't" replied the Waterman.
ut Is very seldom any of them get married."
why, how is thatW asked the Star man, with
great interest.
II don't know that I can explain it" was the
response, "but at any rate that is the fact, as
far as my observation goes. l have been in the
government employment for thirteen or four
teen years, and don't recoliect in all that time
OF more than four or five of the ladies employed
In this department getting married. You evil
IDENTIFY think that because that young lady is
pretty that she will be married, but in govern
ment department the fair and the plain seem to
have about the same fate"
why aren't they married9' persisted the lis
tener. They have opportunities. They are
thrown Continually in contact with men. and
you know that department clerks get married,
and they seldom marry rich wives"
LAS l told you," answered the Waterman. 81
don't know the reason why, but know the fact,
because 1t is the result OF my own personal OBJ
servation. When the clerks marry they choose
wife outside of the department. and they may
not be rich, or half pretty and smart the
ladies he meets in the department., but neverthe-
less that is what the department clerk has al
ways done since have been here"
Not satisfied with this conclusion, we deter
mined to ask those who ought to know. One of
these persons said
II think that it is true but few ladies in the
departments marry, and the reason for it, in my
opinion, is that they have acquired an
independence. and they don't care about
reilnquishlng It or course, if an oppor-
tunity should be presented of making
brilliant marriage and acquiring social position
and wealth, think that In majority of cases
the ladies would accept it. But when a woman
is earning her own living, and has an income
which she can use AS she pleases, average
marriage does not present the inducements that
1t does to woman who is differently situated.
Besides, such woman's ideas are more practi
cal, and her appreciation of the size of a dollar
in every day life does not need the experience of
marriage on a small income"
Another said: II think that while great
many ladies in the departments do not desire to
marry unless they can better their condition.
still it may be laid down a general principle
that they are apt to lose their attractiveness in
the eyes of men. Their constant association
with men every day, their occupation, which is
not. strictly speaking, feminine. causes them
to lose that feminine grace and charm which is
SO intangible that it is felt rather than expressed
Men are attracted to women because they are
SO different 1t is what we mean when we speak
OF q womanly woman, and it is those qualities
of mind and heart tina: find their best develop
ment in the domestcity of happy home.
Women are apt to lose the delicacy and charm
of their nature when thrown in daily contact
with men, and they are apt to become masculine.
don't think that men are attracted byewishy-
washy women and pretty doll-faces, and that in
order to be womanly it is necessary to be i'm
practical and silly But still, l imagine that
most men, and the best men. like feminine
women; and while it is not always the case, still
think that the majority of women in the de-
partments gradually lose this quality of their
nature"