Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-02-28
NOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
BUSINESS ABILITY.
Women are Equal to Men In Many and Il,
Gel In Some Lines of Trade.

ness that it seems as if the subject had
been almost exhausted But to women
generally, and to great many men, it
is always one OF interest. From the
day when woman's only sphere was her
home, till the day when every sphere
belongs to her, if she will only take it,
there has been a slow but sure growth.
An inqu rer among some of the prom
inent merchants who employ women,
as well as among women who are them
selves in business, found out that they CO.
incide entirely. Without any one hear
ing 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.
"Can and do women equal men in
business?" 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.
'Is there any limit to the positions
they may occupy?"
mo avenue is closed to them which
they choose to enter. While the idea
has not been adopted in this city, there
is rarely dry goods store in Philadel-
phia where women are not employed
in the dress goods department. They
are supposed to have much better
knowledge of dress materials for their
own sex than men have"
'Are they made responsibleP"
"They have entire charge of depart
ments, and are solely responsible for
the whole department, and with the
possible exception being secondary to
the manager of the whole concern, are
as free to control the working as if
they owned it. But they are most pro-
ficient in the millinery departments,
which are generally in charge of wo-
men, and a girl entering as an appren-
tice has good opportunity for ad-
vancement, 1t all depends upon the
woman. II she is really anxious to ad-
vance, and puts forth her best efforts
continually, she is very apt to be ap-
preciated and rewarded" :"
"What is the ratio of excellence?"
''ln stores where thirty men and the
same number of women have the same
labor, the percentage of those who sue
ceed and advance will be equal, with
the chances in favor of the women.
There is difference between the mar
ried women or widows and the unmar-
ried women. With the former it is
generally necessary for them to work,
and often they have Others to support.
They may have had sad life and turn
to constant employment as the surest
panacea, or there are thousand and
one reasons why they should labor,
while the great difficulty with young
women is the looking forward to mar
riage. 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 we'll woman could go into the
ribbon and lace business and make 9
trade for herself But a woman can dc
well in the grocery, in jewelry in gar
dening, in the conservatory, in gloves
notions, shoes-almost any specially
she chooses to adopt.
"How about the dairy business?'
at has always seemed strange to me
that women did not do more of tha
business. There is always demand
for fowls, eggs, feathers-even CHECKER
bones are not despised, but have a use
Here in the gas belt, where heat il
cheap and so little trouble, winter
| product woaid pay enormously. Thil
talk only relates to those women witt
whom / am associated and whom
know directly. There is a large clas
of brilliant women in every class o
business, who control great estates
occupy high positions everywhere
Their name is legion and their fam
worldwide"
"Any large salaries paid herepn
"a large number of women in thi
city receives salaries ranging from $50
to 81, 800 year, and few who excee
that amount. The majority averag
from five dollars to ten dollars week
and few receive less than that Tn
principal cause of women getting tn
starvation wages they Go, in the wor
of making overalls and many othe
articles. is with the buying woman hel
self. She wants to give only seventy
five cents for a pair of overalls. Tn
material in them costs sixty-fve cent:
and the greater portion of the advanc
at which 1t is sold the merchant think
he ought to have, so this leaves but
mere pittance for the one who put th
garment together, and they get for
dozen an amount that ought to be pal
for the making of one. The shirt wai'
is another article on which there
no profit for the sewer. A woma
wants good shirt waist for sevent.
five cents it takes two yards and ha
of material, four buttons, at least, fo
the front and as many for the belt. ST
finds she can not get good one Il
twenty-five cents, so thinks she wi
make one herself The two and ha
yards will amount to more than twent,
five cents; she has her buttons, thres
and labor to add to it, and yet this wi
be the very woman who feels sorry f'
the women who slave in factories, ar
not willing to pay enough for ga
ment, even to allow a very small su
for the making. There is man in tn
city who pays twenty cents dozen Il