The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-05
OTHER PEOPLE AND |.
lnnnlia iniIrnal


Please don't talk to me any more about the
entertainments of my greedy sex upon those en-
Payments and privileges hitherto consecrate to
the genius male. You don't seem to consider
Oh young man whose magnificent incapacity
debars you from dispensing stationery, or con-
fectionery, or anything but indignant commun
cations to the press, of great photographed
depravity and strong smell of tobacco, that the
incursions of the Cloths into the domain where
woman has held empire from all time have been
frequent and violent OF late. Upon the shud-
dering sisterhood Of New York was the last de-
scent made. I myself have interviewed the foe
in all the dread panoply of In his right
hand he carried bodkin and scissors Of cx
ceeding sharpness hung at his thigh He was
all grit about with patterns, and tape measure
encircled his brawny waist. On his Shield
which was an ironing board. was carved a
medallion of an ancient Partisan named Worth,
and the Device which was also an advertisement,
Come all and buy tailor made garments at the
highest possible price" And said unto him
with intrepidity. go to, now And he an
swered ''You may also 60 For ours is the right,
and the might, and the power, and the dominion,
and if we choose to usurp the fashionable dress
making, the erstwhe fashionable dress maker
must simply bow her Dorenwend bang to
the stern decree Of adverse fate and seek those
pastures new which are to be found in the
manipulation Of factory cotton Thus answer
ing spake the van guard of the host, and betook
himself to the pedal harmonies of the sewing
machine; and |, finding naught wherewith to re-
ply fled before him and tarried not until Broad
way lay between us.
1t is even so. Eight firms. in New York alone,
are engaged in making ladies dresses and cloaks,
employing men altogether in cutting and fitting,
aid very few women even to stitch. Now, this
doesn't strike me as occasion for argument, or
entreaty, or obloquy. or anything but philosophy.
That women win dimes with the needle will
not appear to the average masculine
mind good and sufficient reason
why men should not win dollars with it. And
different as it may be to the average feminine
comprehension, especially to that which is nour
shed chiefly Upon "DemoreSts' and kindred
literature these entrowsered barharians have
not opened business with the maevolent purpose
of robbng women of a time-honOred way of gain
ing livelihood That this happens incidentally
is not matter for consideration Hard specie
facts, every one of them with his hat on the
back of his head and his hand in his pockets.
rule in business. Sentiment is not marketable
quality. except to the magazines, and even there
| have observed that it doesn't bring much The
sooner every woman who brings her labor
her merchandise to the worlds great market
learns that there she may expect TO find no fields
reserved, privileges consideration of any
kind on account of her womanhood the better
for her and for all that she does When a
woman enters the competition of money making
she becomes. as far that is con
cerned, simply the agent of her own work,
her own goods, and has no right to
To ha tod in Mi fol
halo Of sex Sne has no rghtito ask pathetically
through the columns of some sympathetic news
paper to be allowed to tread in solitude and
peace the humble and stony paths that she has
chosen if there are others who can make straight
smooth roads there, and walk in them comforta
bly,. Her only hope lies in ambition, enter
prise, energy and excellence. 1t is tolerably
certain that women have always done the share
that has fallen to them Of the worlds rough
material work fcebly and ineffectiveiy
than men have. They have therefore been
thrust aside wherever men that it would
pay to thrust them aside. The only remedy is
obviously in we'll doing and better doing and
best doing. ] wonder if the eight man dress
makers of New York fit their customers with
mouths full of pins to assist articulation and
Jab the scissors into their necks, and put pleats
where they specially desired founces, and send
the whole thing home nine days after it was
promised, because their wife's mothers sister
had felon on her little fnger | didn't have a
dress made to see; had time and inclination,
but not the $25 But should like to know, FOR
the edifcaton of my dressmakcr.
-
goose in private may have aniable quail
ties and be beloved by the domestic circle She
may cacke contentedly over her superior goslings
and save Rome in case of unexpected company
But goose in public is ptiable bird, serving
her day and generation only by supplying quilts
for The facetious Photographer who is not prop
eriy grateful My remarks have a personal
bearing, and their tendency is toward Miss
Helen Taylor, who, we informed by sound
English authority, has allowed herself to become
the radical candidate for North Camberwell at
the forthcoming elections. / am not confiding to
| you my opinion that Miss Taylor is "a goose, but
| presently she is going TO look like one. want
| vote as much as anybody. but I'm going to have
| it and exercise it for some time before allow
myself che doubtful honor Of a seat in the legs-