Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-03-20
WOMEN IN AMERICA.
Their Position in Relation 70 Commerc
the Arts and Politics.

Their Position in Relation 70 Commerce.
the Arts and Politics.
Prof. James Bryce, in that suggestive
work upon the american Commonwealth"
which seems likely to create an equal in
terest with De Tocqueviile's earlier vol
umeS upon democracy, has an instructive
chapter upon the position of women in the
United States. ''Nothing in the country"
he says, sis more characteristic of the pc
cuiar type their (our) civilization has
taken"
Acquainted as we all are, observes the
Providence (R. I) journal, with the efforts
that are being made by a small class to Sc
cure the suffrage for women, and to make
her sphere more nearly co-extensive with
mans, it is probable that we have not re-
allied how steadily during the last
generation her position has improved
in this country, or how favorably
it compares with her lot in other lands. II
seems to be evident that it is easier here
for women to find remunerative en-
ployment in intellectual, commercial and
mechanical pursuits than in any part of
Europe. They have in large numbers won
admission to the medical profession,
small but still respectable number have
been admitted to the bar, several have been
recognized as Christian ministers, a few are
employed in journalism, and many in the
various departments of literature. They
form great majority of the teachers in the
public schools, the exact number Of teach
ers reported by the United States Bureau
of Education in 1887 beng 104,24q
men and 19i, ,439 women. No prejudice
has ever interfered with their enter
ing the lecture field, they have played
a conspicuous part in the promo
ton of philanthropic, moral and re-
in "a onfi
slavery and temperance movements, while
in the cities their aid has been invaluable
IN the founding and management of count
less charitable and reformatory institutions
While the claim that has been made for the
enfranchisement of woman on equal terms
with man has not been granted, except in
the Territories of Utah, Washington and
Wyoming, 1t has received more favorable
consideration than m England, and four
teen States have now granted her the right
TO vote on certain questions connected with
the public schools. 1t is worthy of notice,
| also, that women were admitted as dele
gates to the National Prohibition conven-
| ton IN 1884, and that they claimed admis
sion as delegates TO the last General con-
ference of the Methodist church. Abso-
Iutely no prejudice interferes with their
| employment Ia commercial occupations
| wherever their services can be made profit
|
| tIons of clerks, secretaries, telegraph opera
| tors and kindred pursuits While discrIm-
| ination in the way of payment is made
| against them, 1t is probable that this, all
| things being considered, is not oppressive,
| and thata tendency exists toward increased
1 remuneration. That a strong tendency ex-
| ists to make the conditions of woman life
| equally favorable with those of man is
shown in tbs provision that IS everywhere
/ made IN this country for the education of
girls. 1t is quite as ample and adequate rs
| that made for boys. They are received INTO
| the public schools upon equal terms, into
many OF the academies and colleges, even
leading ms titntions like Michigan UnIver-
sity setting the example, while the rapid
endowment and large patronage Of such
institutions as Vassar, Smith and Wellesley
Colleges show how strongly the higher ed
ucation OF women has appealed to the
2 American sense of Justice. In no other