Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-19
WOMAN IN BUSIN ESS.

Marine Harland contributes to the North
American Review an article entitled 1.-The
I~ncapacity of Business Women" At the
commencement of it she takes itfor granted
that men are more successful in business
than women, and declares that the member
Of her sex who does not recognize this fact
is a short-sighted champion OF 1T. She
then proceeds to give the reason why
women are less successful than men In
manufacturing, trade and even IN teach
ing, an occupation that In many respects
is best suited to them. The fundamental
cause of the unftness of the average woman
for business pursuits, the author thinks, Is
to be found in precedent. In no civilized
country since the world began has the
average woman been employed In business
on her own account. If she has worked 1t
has been for fixed wages or for her board
and clothes. She has depended on men for
employment and support. She has not
planned great enterprises, has not directed
the labor of others and has not had the
care of large sums ofmOney. When given
employment, a woman s ways are not likely
to be business-like. Behind the counter
she will hum a tune, gossip or have
alterations with her mates. If she is
young she will be vivacious or kittenlsh,
her mind and eyes appeared to be doing
double duty. 1t is more difficult to keep
girls than boys under discipline in a mer-
camille establishment. The former know
that they are less likely to be discharged.
If they are negligent and are even gently
reproved they will sulk, SWIVEL or cry. No
man, whether proprietor, manager or floor
walker, wishes to have a ''scene' IN a
place of business. He will avoid it If pos
sible. The sight of tears renders him
uncomfortable than the sight of flowing
blood. He does not know whether a flow
If tears expresses an apology, regret, penl-
tence or despair. He is as quick, how
ever to stop the leak in the eyes as a sea
captain is to fill up a hole in the bottom of
a vessel. He does not discharge the girl
or ever reprove her again, but he hires
men and boys in the FIXTURE. Men prefer
to work by the piece, women by the day.
Men have ambition; women hope. Aman
or boy is proud of being engaged in some
profitable employment, but a woman
apologies for being engaged In it. She
is fond of telling people that she saw bet
H. l,,-. sd nf+nn c4o+ac ~ hor aroDlAro-
or a customer that she was a born lady
and forced by misfortune to earn her liv-
ing. She Is likely to rely on sympathy to
help her in getting a situation or In selling
goods. With little doubt the above con-
stitute many of the reasons why women do
not succeed In business as well as men do.
But they do not include all of them.
Scarcely any female engages in any pro-
ductive occupation as a life work. She
regards it as temporary. She expects to
receive many tempting offers of marriage,
and to accept the best one. She only in
tends to work till she can do better. A
girl will learn to set type, bind books or
use a typewriter quicker than a boy can,
but she will rarely attain as great prof.
cheney or speed. In fact, she is not very
ambitious of making a great success, as
she intends tomarry. She is content with
wages that will supply her with food,
clothing, car fare, confectionery, and pin
money. The boy, who commences to work
with her, most likely 6rst intends to be
manager of the establishment and then be
proprietor. He expects to work harder
after he is married than he did before
While he has an ambition to make
splendid success in business, the girl
cherishes the hope of securing a husband
and who will support her. Perhaps this
is as it should be, too.