The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-26
WOMAN IN OFFICE.
Tho Employment Of the Fair SEX by
Great Britain and France.

Tho Employment Of the Fair Sex by
Great Britain and France.
The coming Of Mrs. Millicent Fawcett TO
this country win serve to draw attention
to bit Of civil service reform little out
Of the rut into which discussion Of this
topic usually runs says the Philadelphia
Record. Mrs. Fawcctt is n remarkable
woman, whose fame has gone before her
In this country. She is hardly less dis
tinguished than her husband, who, not
withstanding the total loss Of his eyesight,
seeing through her eyes, was able to &C.
cept the responsible position OF postmaster
general in Great britain and administer
the duties Of his Office in such manner US
to largely benefit and reform the British
postal system. Under Mr.. Fawcett's nd
ministration the barriers which operated
TO practically exclude women from en-
ployment in the postofiices were broken
down. He liberalized the system OF ap-
pointment, enlarged the salaries OF women
clerks, and proved by trial their compc-
tence and faithiulness. The conditions
required arc that applicants shall be be-
tween the ages OF eighteen and
twenty years, either single women
or widows, and qualified IN respect OF
health and character. H. they can then
successfully meet the requirements OF the
competitive examinations id arithmetic
chirography, geography, ETC., they will be
in the way of promotion TO any vacancy.
The pay OF women clerks Is only about
one-third as much as is paid to men doing
similar service; but this IL not the fault of
Ms. Fawcett. She has made great exer-
tons 10 remedy this rank injustice and
has met but with partial success. The
wages OF female posloAicc employees range
from 500 TO 81 500 per year, but there are
very few whose salaries exceed $500.
There are now nearly 5000 women en-
ployed in the British postofiices, mainly in
the postal savings banks aud telepaphic
departments aud they have acquitted
themselves with such honesty and elici-
ency rs TO obtain honorable mention in the
| yearly reports. Mrs. Fawcett In her own
person demonstrated the fitness OF woman
| 10 be nj the head OF the postal affairs OF an
empire, and she has shown that her sex
| are equal 10 all requirements OF the SER
vice. That she has failed in getting mems
| pay for women who do mems work il not
so much her fault as Il IL q constitutional
incapacity on tho part Of tho average
Englishman 10 understand that n woman
is not an inferior being. Tcnnyson's dis
covery that
The woman's cause 4 manE they rse or sink
Together dwnricd or god.iiko. bond or tree
has not yet penetrated tho 'avrage English
| intellect. Hin
The French government, too, has no.
Gently begun 20 employ women in the
public Offices, and has now about, 5000
In the postal and Geographic service. The
competitive examination Is mnde very &C.
we're, owing TO large number Of appli.
Giants for every vacancy, and the salaries
paid are wretchedly small, the maximum
of.sj0o only being reached after long years
Of service. The hours are from 10 10 s
O'Clock, during which time the women are
subjected 70 rigid conditions, many Of
/ which seem unnecessary. However, that
Is matter between employer and en-
ployc. The quality Of the womcns work
Is subject of general Interest, and Il must
be source Of widespread satisfaction 10
learn from the higher officers Of the differ
ent departments that In some respects the
women nfe the supcriors Of men.
Discussing the working Of the expert
mont In the Ec0loIniSic FrdHodis NJ. Geo.
Michael says 'They discover errors with
that surc-slghtedncss which belongs 10
women accustomed 10 count the points IN
piece of tapestry or the threads Of
piece OF linen TO bc marked. They also
give very close attention 10 the copying and
verdcaiion Of tables Of figures. But Ms
soon M their work ceases 10 be in somo
sort manual thcir superiority disappears In
most cascs. They cannot follow up cor.
respondent or extract the csscncc Of
transaction from bundle Of papers Their
turn Of mind rebels against this sort Of
work; Il ltsts itself IN details" The crit.
cism being by man, and written from q
mans standpoint, Is presumably not un.
fairly prcjudiccd In favor OF the work done
by women in the French government, Of.
fees, and conadcring how great proper
ton of the postal work calls for manual
dextcrity, u N n great argument In favor
Of their more general employment There
arc representative women, Just rs there
are representative mon, In every field OF
labor, aud that all women are not qualified
10 lead signifies nothing. Few persons Of
either sex arc leaders, the great majority
arc led.
Mrs. Tawcctt has practically been sue.
ccssful In her struggle against the current
Of prejudice in England, and " one wom-
an has done 90 much there what might
not be accomplished by similar effort In
tho Initial Gfnfoa