The morning call., 1890-05-02
WOMEN REPORTERS.
They Do Succeed, but Is the Game Worth
the Candle?

They Do Succeed, but Is the Game Worth
the Candle?
Editor FOmdn'S Column, Morning Call !:
If ever l write the confessions of a news
paper woman l shall have TO record things
pleasant and unpleasant, but l fear shall
not be able to set down any answer to the
question, Is the feminine element doing
more good or harm by its invasion of the
sanctum?
The earlier journalistic efforts of women
were usually on hight plane. Not many
women are now called on for such work as
was done by Margaret Fuller on the Tri-
bune. If Grace Greenwood were beginning
again her articles would probably have to
take less serious tone. The women who
describe Washington gowns and engage
ments are, perhaps, able TO write, but they
certainly do not write Mary Clemmer Ames'
Congressional correspondence. Even Olive
Logan, who made an honest effort to get
back to legitimate criticism OF public men
and measures, was often enough forced
back on the Cabinet buds and the Senators
wives W omens occupation OF the news
paper field is newer thing across the
water than with Us, aud whether it be be-
cause of this OF in spite of it, or because of
the different tone of journalism or the eX-
ceptional gift of the individual Mrs. Craw-
ford has position and an influence which
we cannot match in America Mrs. Sulii-
vans London letters during the SittingS of
the Parnell Commission is probably our
closest recent parallel
Women'S work in New York newspaper
dom has materially changed within few
years. There is great deal more of 1t and
much of 1t is exceptionally good of its kind,
but the experience OF one of the best known
and most successful writers is probably
fair example of that of many more.
Il do very little newspaper writing now,'
she said yesterday, and am tempted to
go out of it altogether. When the -
changed hands 1 was informed that art and
musical criticism-my specialty-was not
line in which the new proDrietors cared to
employ q woman, but IL | would do tea
table gossip and society chatter they would
pay me well"
Another newspaper writer, and one who
has won legitimate distinction, was anus
ing me the other day with accounts of how
she ''circumwents' her editor.
" He is firmly convinced" she said, "that
women care for nothing but beaux and but
tons, frivols and frills. | can't introduce
into my Sunday page the things women
really think and talk about, but L get there
Just the same. |. never say word about
the higher education of women, but if
the collegiate alumn@ have a meeting then
| report it and it goes as news item.
dare not mention wOmen's clubs, but if
there's a club lunch then | at once tuck in
under display head some of the bright
speeches, judiciously interspersed with de-
scriptlons of the table decorations. On, he
thinks Pm very submissive, but he's cirm-
vented every time the presses roll.
AT THE BIG COOPER UNION MEETING
| OF the Association of Working Girls
| Societies last week | counted no fewer than
| eighteen women reporters and idly won
| dered how many of them were circumvent-
ing their editors. Schemes for Frightening
| the lives OF working girls may be of little
consequence abstractly, but when some
thousands Of them hold a convention then
| the woman reporter, especially If people of
wealth and social importance join hands
| with the toilers, sees her opportunity.
l doubt If there is a paper in New York
| on which from two to dozen women are
| not getting in space" with more or less
| regularity. Tie number OF unattached
| writers, out of town correspondents, semi
| literary aspirants of every description, in
| creases every season. A few women hold
responsible positions calling for the exer-
| else of their best powers. Nearly all prob
| ably give some attention to the art of cir
| convention, but for the most part ducats
| drop with the most pleasing frequency into
| the pockets OF those who set up in business
as underelothes editols, purveyors OF cos
metic secrets, interyiewerS OF actresses and
dillgent searchers after sensations.
The carnival of publicity through which
| our society is passing as one phase of its
evolution is helped on a good deal by the
| woman newspaper writer The bulk of
| small talk Is written still by men, but there
| are certain things which men cannot do. A
| man cannot cultivate fashionable dress
makers acquaintance by paying her price
| for an occasional visiting gown with con-
| tident reliance on getting back double the
outlay by leading madame to gossip about
| the costumes In preparation for the next
social event in the rich Mrs. So-and-So's
| private ballroom. A man cannot cultivate
| lady's acquaintance at an afternoon tea
and call on her next morning with smil,
| ing please let me see your engagement
| book for a minute or two," or will you
tell me if you are invited to Mrs. Browns.
and do you happen to know il Mrs. Jones
| is going and what Mrs. Smiths two
can and does, but l never CHANGED to see
him pull out pad of writing paper at a
reception and follow two prominent
women about. standing just within ear
shot, while he, took for daily ''peeper''
las the newsboys say. not without
accuracy full notes of their private con-
| versation. Men can and do 20 into society
on a professedly social footing, while all
the time on the watch for a piquant Incl.
dent OF story, but doubt If they do these
things as successfully as women. 1t is the
| woman's tact, her nice discrimination, heI
| instinct which tells her Just how far she
| can so, which brings her services into
| requisition, while her success recreates the
demand. In the struggle for existence she
sees a chance to do something which fails
in with the temper of the times. She does
it, she is asked to do IL agaia, she has made
her market; If she would sell she must
supply it, for it is there that now her wares
are in demand
II the landlady demands her money and
woman is weary Of washing out her own
kerchiefs in hand-basin, is she going t.
hawk about
HER UNSTABLE IDEAS
On the future of literature while she re-
members the parting words of the editor
We'll take 1900 to 1000 words il you can
get up something good in the vein of your
last Sundays article on Rich Women Who
Eat Olives at Luncheon The extraordi-
nary woman is going to stick to the litera-
ture, the ordinary one is going to find or in
vent women who dote OH radishes.
The newspaper writer whose stock In
tradejs personalities is not maliciously dis.
| posed toward her victims. Sometimes she
holds honestly the code of morality which
| is too generally accepted among newspaper