Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
WOMAN IN BUSINESS.
EXTENDING HER SPHERE BEYOND
FORMER IDEAS.
She Keeps Pace With Man and
Sometimes Can Excel Him
Causes of Hardships.

about women in their relation to business
that it seems as if the subject had been
almost exhausted. But to women gener-
ally, and to great many men, it is always
one of interest. From the day when
woman's only sphere was her home till to-
day, when every sphere belongs to her, if
she will only take it, there has been
slow but sure growth. An inquirer among
some of the prominent merchants who en-
ploy women, as well as among women who
are themselves in business, found out that
they conceded entirely. Without any one
hearing what another had to say, or with
out any direct question bearing upon the
several topics being asked, talk with one
echoes the conversation with others.
Gan and do women equal men in bust
ness" said merchant, repeating the
question that was asked. "They can and
are found the equal of men in all branches
of business if they simply apply themselves
and persevere"
as there any limit to the positions they
occupy"
"No avenue is closed to them which
| they choose to enter. While the idea has
not been adopted in this city, there is
rarely drygoods store in Philadelphia
where women are not employed in the
dress goods department. They are sup
posed to have a much better knowledge of
dress materials for their own sex than men
| have"
"Are they made responsible?"
2Thav bova ap+ira oi,arra &c Joxon+
ments and are solely responsible for the
whole department, and, with the possible
exception of being secondary to the
manager of the whole concern, are
ass free to control the working, as if
| they owned it. But they are most
proficient in the millinery depart
ments, which are generally in charge of
women, and a girl entering as an appren-
tice has good opportunity for advance
ment. 1t all depends upon the woman.
| If she is ready and anxious to advance,
and puts forth her best efforts continually,
| she is very apt to be appreciated and re-
warded"
"What is the ratio of excellence
In stores where thirty men and the
same number of women have the same la
| Dor, the percentage of those who succeed
and advance will be equal, with the
chances in favor of the women. There is a
difference between the married women or
widows and the unmarried women. With
the former it is generally necessary for
them to work, and often they have Others
to support. They may have had a sad life
and turn to constant employment as the
surest panacea, or there are a thousand
and one reasons why they should labor,
while the great difficulty with young
women is the looking forward to marriage,
when they expect to leave such labor and
enjoy comfortable leisure. One would
suppose that girl would naturally take
an interest in ribbons and laces sufficient to
| take good care of them, but they do not
! always, and more men are employed in this
department Yet how well woman could
go into the ribbon and lace business and
make trade for herself But woman
can do well in the grocery, in jewelry, in
gardening, in the conservatory, in gloves,
notions, shoes-almost any speciality she
chooses to adopt"
How about the dairy business ?"
at has always seemed strange to me that
women did not do more of that business
There is always demand for fowls, eggs,
feathers-even chicken bones are not de-
spised, but have use. Here in the gas
belt where heat is cheap and so little
trouble, winter product would pay enor-
monsly This talk only relates to those
women with whom | am associated and
whom / know directly. There is large
class Of brilliant women in every class of
business, who control great estates-occupy
high positions everywhere. Their name is
legion and their feme worldwide"
"Are any laage salaries paid here? ?"
"a large number of women in this city
receive salaries ranging from $500 to 81 800
year, and a few who exceed that amount
The majority average from s. to $40 a
week and few less than that. The prin-
cipal cause for women getting the starva-
ton wages they do in the work of making
overalls and many other articles is with
the buying woman herself She wants to
give only IS cents pair for overalls. The
mater al in them costs So cents, and the
greater portion of the advance at which
it is sold the merchant thinks he
ought to have, so this leaves but a
|, mere pittance for the one whoputs the gar
ment together, and they get for dozen an
ing of one. The shirt waist is another ar
! llClO On WHICH lHeIS - no IIOut lOI Tie
sewer. A woman wants a good shirt waist
for 25 cents; it takes two yards and half
of material, four buttons, at least, for the
, front, and as many for the belt. She finds
she cannot get good one tor 25 cents, SO
thinks she will make one herself. The
two and half yards will amount to more
than % cents; she has her buttons, thread
and labor to add to it, and yet this will be
the very woman who feels sorry for the
women who slave in factories, and not
willing to pay enough for garment, even
, to allow very small sum for the making
There is man in this city who pays &c
cents dozen for tie making of shirt
: waists, and every one has to have four but
, ton-holes. \ dollar and a half and two
dollars dozen was all that was paid fol
making the coats that were worn by many
of the clubs during the recent campaign
| There is no remedy can see so long as the
demand for cheap goods exist."-Indian
apol;S Journal.