Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-09-01
Nebrask4 Girls.

ties for either are not to be realized in
such marriage.
Nebraska Girls.
Jeremy True of Clearwater. Neb.,
writes 70 the New York Sun:
I saw an article some time ago about
a girl who had been book-keeper for
some firm in Chicago, and saved her
wages until she had enough money to
come West and buy a sheep ranch in
Montana.
This story reminded me of the enter
prise and good common sense of many
of the girls in Nebraska, where young
women, especially those who live in
the country. have few opportunities of
earning large salaries, as this Chicago
girl had: nevertheless they earn what
they can, and it is surprising what
some will accomplish even with small
earnings.
The majority of farmers daughters
teach school at q salary from $18 to
$50 per month, and after deducting
enouh b for board and clothes, they
save money to pay their way at some
good school or college for a term or
more and then teach again. Their
fathers never think it necessary to
mortgage the farm in order to send
the girls to school. as some fathers do
for their sons.
These girls teach, not only as means
of obtaining an education, but they
~
and improve them as their scanty
wages will allow. l know two girls
who are in college. Both are teachers,
and both have homesteads. When in
school they work faithfully, for they
know the value of time and money bet
ter than those whose parents send them
to school.
Some girls learn all there is to be
learned at district schools, and then in
stead of going to college, they invest
ali the money they can spare in COWS
or calves which they hire kept. This
is usually good investment, as cattle
can be sold readily at almost any
time.
Young women as well as young men
see the Importance of obtaining land
and maxim homes for themselves;
therefore they take advantage of Uncle
Sans generosity, and get as much
land as the law will permit, which is
81 acres: a homestead and timber
claim, 16 acres each.
The average female homesteader is
business like and not afraid to do any
work that falls to her lot. She can
help NOW and stack hay, is a good
housekeeper, can milk COWS. and har-
, ess team as easily as her brothers.,
and l have known a few girls who have
built the shanties on their hOmesteads.
These shanties, you may understand,
are cheap, easily constructed houses,
of primitive pattern, and usually
called ''claim holder"
When girl of this kind marries, she
generally considers herself as capable
of mana ging her property as she was
before she married, and for this reason
she does not make as desirable wife
as one who is not quite so strong-mlnd-
ed and does not know bad bargain
from good one.
If girl who has a homestead mar
ries a man who has not, the law says
she may keep the land and perfect the
title in her own name. How much
more independent a married woman is
when she has some property, be 1t
much or little. She does not feel as
though she was working merely for hel
board and clothes, but rs though she
had share in the firm, and some
rights equal with her husband.
In Nebraska it is supposed that
woman has evoluted far enough out OF
the state OF imbecility to be allowed to
vote on all .estions relating to the
public schools, provided she has taxa.
bic property or children of school
age. She can also be elected to any
school Office. Several years ago
knew a young woman, who, when she
married had 800 acres of land and
several head of cattle. She was only
country school teacher, but what
little she earned she used judiciously
Not only young women avail them
selves of holnesteads and timber
claims, but widows and old maids have
the same right. Some real old ladies
take claims, and after many trials and
hardships receive deed therefore.
Near one of our thriving little towns
is creamery conducted by maiden
lady. She is half owner OF the cream
cry, and, in addition owns home
stead and timber claim. On the
homestead she has small store and
post office. In her absence this bust
ness is attended to by young lady
deputy. When she goes out she drives
fine horse and carriage, carries gold
watch and is quite aristocratic.
Any girl over 81 years of age, who
has fair education and the ability to
use it, can get home of her own. if
she chooses, in this State. There are
disadvantages to contend with here,
the same as elsewhere, but nothing Is
gained without perseverance,. Many
Eastern girls come West to get land
and succeed, too.
Business Law.
e. IT