Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-06-26
In WOMAN'S BEHALF.
NEWSPAPER WOMEN.
Their Progress In the Field of Journalism
They Arc Doing Good Work.

They Are Doing GOOD work.
The earlier journalistic efforts of wom-
en- were usually on high plane, says
a writer in Chicago Inter Ocean. Not
many women are now called on for such
work as was done by Margaret Fuller on
the Tribune. If Grace Greenwood were
beginning again her articles would
probably have to take less. serious
tone. The women who describe Wash
ington's gowns and engagements are
perhaps able to write, but they certain
ly do not write Mary Clemmer Ames's
Congressional correspondence.
Even Olive Logan, who made an hon
est effort to get back to legitimate criti-
cism of public men and measures, was
often enough forced back on the Cabinet
buds and the Senator's wives. Womens
occupation of the newspaper field is a
newer thing across the water than with
us, and whether it be because of this or
in spite of it, or because of the different
tone of journalism, or the exceptional
gift of the individual, Mrs. Crawford has
q position and an influence which we
can not match in America.
Women's work in New York newspa-
perdom has materially changed within
few years. There is great deal more
of it, and much of it is exceptionally
good of its kind, but the experience of
one Of the best known and most success
full writers is probably fair example
OF that of many more. 81 do very little
newspaper writing now," she said yes
terday, land | am tempted to go out of
it altoge ther When the -- changed
hands was informed that art and musi-
cal criticism-my specialty-was not
line in which the new proprietors cared
to employ a woman, but if | would do
tea table gossip and society chatter they
would pay me we'll
Another newspaper writer and one
who has won legitimate distinction was
amusing some friends the other day
with accounts of how she ''circumvents"
her editor. ''IIe is firmly convinced"
said she, "that women care for nothing
but beaux and buttons, frivols and Grills
/ can't introduce into my Sunday page
the things women really think and talk
about, but ! get there Just the same. |
never say word about the higher edu-
cation of women, but if the collegiate
alumne have a meeting, then | report
1t, 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 a display head some Of the
bright speeches, judiciously intersperscd
with the descriptions of the table decor
ations. Oh, he thinks I'm very submis-
sive, but he's circumvented every time
the presses roll"
At the big Cooper Union meeting OF
the Association of Working Girls Socie-
ties recently there were no fewer than
fourteen women reporters. 1t is doubt
full if there is paper in New York on
which from two to dozen women are
not getting in space" with more or less
regularity. The number of unattached
writers, out-oftown correspondents and
semi-literary aspirants of every descrir-
tion increases every season. A few
women hold responsible positions call
ing for the exercise of their best pow
ers, but for the most part ducats drop
with the most pleasing frequency into
the pockets of those who SGT up business
as underclothes editors, puryeyors of
cosmetic secrets, interviewers of ac-
tresses and diligent searchers after sem
sations.
Tho carnival of publicity through
which our society is passing as one
phase of its evolution is helped
on good deal by the woman news
paper writer. The bulk OF small talk is
still written by mon, but there are GER
tain things which men can not do A
man can not cultivate a fashionable
dressmaker's acquaintance by paying
her price for an occasional visiting gown
with confident reliance on getting
back double the outlay by leading mad
anne to gossip about the costumes in
preparation for the next social event in
the rich Mrs So-and-So's private ball
room. A man can not cultivate lady's
acquaintance at an afternoon tea and
call on her next morning with a smiling
"Please let me see your engagement
book for minute or two," or a "Win
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 daughters will wear?"
1t is the woman's tact, her nice dis
elimination, her instinct which tells hel
Just how far she can go which brings hel
services into requisition, while her sue
cess recreates the demand. In the
struggle for existence she sees a chance
to do something which falls in with tn,
temper of the times. She does it, she il
asked to do il again, she has made he
market If she would sell she mus
supply it, for it is there that now he
wares are in demand.
If the landlady demands her none.
and woman is weary of washing on
her own kerchiefs in hand basin, is sh
going to hawk about her unstable idea
on the future of literature while she re
members the parting words of the editor
"We'n take 1880 TO 1900 words if yo
can get up something good in the vel
OF your last Sundays article on 'Ric
Women Who Eat Olives at Luncheon?'
The extraordinary woman is going {
stick to the literature; the ordinary on
is going to find or invent women WIZ
dote on olives.
Every body knows that women writ
the column of directions as to how
powder your nose and how to do up yor
back hair. Every body does not kno
: that the woman who is telling you Il
, day what sorts of hairpins Mrs. Clev'
! land uses on Sundays and what kind 81
prefers for Monday afternoons, may ha'
been writing yesterday about the b
bies' hospital, and may give hint t
morrow that she will show a score
troubled women a possible money-ma
ing occupation. The women who ma
4 are the charities, the woman's e
I, changes, the training schools for nurse