The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-07-09
woMANs WORLD IN PARAGRAPHS.
A Woman's Experience In New York Of
fees Fifteen Years Ago.

hceb NiAteeh 1eaEb AbOe
Mrs. Emma Beckwith, who came into
notice as candidate for mayor of Brook
Ign two years ago, is the reverse of what
one would look for under the name of
strong minded. 1t is to be hoped she is
not weak minded, that is to say; and she
certainly is not, but she is anything ex-
Cept the grim, i'll favored woman who
used to be thought the only aspirant for
rights and things. Mrs. Beckwith is
charming, pretty woman, at the head Of
household that adore her, one and all,
from the big, manly husband to the pug
dog Merrylegs. She is thoroughly wide
awake ON questions of political economy,
which she has carefully studied. She
belongs to several liberal and economic
clubs, is a graceful, effective speaker,
and is the New York state manager Of
the Women's National Liberal union.
She wears handsome, beautifully fitting
gowns, and has soft pink cheeks and
wavy dark hair sprinkled with gray.
About fifteen years ago, when the Beck
with family were not so well off as they
are now, Mrs. B. acquainted herself
with bookkeeping, and went into the
Office to help her husband in his business.
1t was an unheard of thing for woman
to work in an Office in the business part
of New York, however, and the owner
of the building said she should not do it,
that this was not fit place in which for
a woman to be, even with her own hus-
band. But there was need that she
should work, and Mrs. Beckwith quietly
visited one Office after another in the
huge building, and asked the gentlemen
if they were afraid to stay there if she
should come to occupy desk and chair
alongside of Mr.. Beckwith. They as
sured her they were willing to dare the
risk, like brave men. Armed with this
permission the lady visited the stubborn
landlord, and then, after some persua-
sion, he yielded reluctantly. have al
ways thought that maybe Mrs. B, g sweet
voice and winning ways, as well as her
attractive face, had something to do
with melting the old gentleman's opposi-
ton to women in his Office building. At
any rate, Mrs. Beckwith had triumph
antly successful career pioneering the
way for ladies in New York Offices. All
thishappened only fifteen years ago, mind
you. Now there is scarcely an Office Of
any size and Importance in New York
that has not from one to half dozen
girls and women employed there in vari-
Gus capacities.
observe that old paragraph is still
going the rounds which makes Mrs.
Tenant, mother of SANKEY'S wife, say
that she saw in America, as in England,
thousands Of sweet, lovely, worthy girls
fading away because there were no hus
bands for them. That may be, but OBJ
serve that they don't fade half as fast as
the girls that get husbands.
Speaking of a suitable dress for bust
ness women and the inconvenience o.
, the present one the New York World
says: at is for women themselves t.
remedy this evil. The matter is entirel!
, in their own hands" Is it? Who is it
, pray, that boots women, mobs them ant
I crowds them so they must be taken 10
police station when they appear on tn
streets wearing a dress unlike the con
ventional one? Who is that says h
would not speak to his wife or own he
if she should wear dress that shove,
her feet? Who is it that is always prais
: ing "trim built" women and small feet
: Women, of course.
: am more than ever satisfied tina
: women will get all the legal rights tina
u men have as soon as majority of ther
u want these rights. The apathy of won
y en- whose sphere of thought is bounde
. by mustard seed she'll is the wors
l. obstacle to progress that is to be ovel
. come. And these apathetic women wi
, never be walked up till some tortur
Il wrings their own souls. Meanwhile tn
Is rest of the world waits
r. To several women whom l migf
name, but will not: Let us have peac
There is nothing in this life worth qua
Is reling about. You put back the won
% ans cause hundred years with YOU
70 petty personal spites and nonsens
j Stop it. Drop your everlasting Sc
seeking, and don't try to force you
l, selves where you are not wanted. Cea
st contention and strife.
4 Elizabeth Sargent, daughter of ex-se
~ ator and Minister Sargent, of CaEiforni
has prepared herself thoroughly by stud
g. in America and Europe to be an oculis
Of and she is already winning fine rep
10 tation in her practice in California.
y The "Little Mothers" society in Ne
~ York city is doing much good in Il
- line of affording rest and recreation
J. little girls of the poorer classes, wi
10 are loaded down with the care
u, younger brothers and sisters. The
"i poor little victims of civilization TIL
y is out of joint, and out at the elbows b
w sides, never know a childhood. AS soC
as they are old enough the ever prese
he baby is placed in their arms to mil
2 while their mothers go out rag pickin
ed scrubbing or working in a factor
as Many of these forlorn little girls new
of saw the country. One of them, on b
1T little vacation trip last summer, sa
with giggle to II lady manager w
n had spoken of her own little boy, 80
h 7 didn't think Won ware married hecau