The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-30
in WOMAN'S BEHALF.
SEX IN BUSINESS.

woman.s Proper Attitude In Once and
Shop-SuitabIe and Becoming Costumes
for Work.
The fashion of belittling woman's
work is fast passing away. The best
prices arc coming to be paid to the most
capable people, whether men or wom-
en-.
A woman who does earnest, honest,
conscientious work, who tries hard
to please her employers, who does not
assume that she knows it all, but is
willing to take hints, suggestions and
criticism, who keeps her appointments
and minds her own business, can as a
rule get all the work she wants and
good prices for it. Typewriting, stem
ography, telegraphy, clerical and news
paper work are fields in which very lit
tie If any distinction is made on account
of sex.
If a woman attempts q mans work
she must bring to it the same care, zest
and finish which is expected Of . man.
She must think of her work and it alone.
Outside matters must be relegated to
outside hours. In the Office she must
put aside all thought and conversation
on the themes dear to women and re-
member she is there for work, not for
consultations on fashion with her sister
workers or for firtations with any
good looking men who may chance to
be about.
As rule women are not earnest
workers. The girl bread-winner in
general is merely tiding over until she
can find a husband to pay her bills. She
is inclined to slight her work or go
about it in half-hearted or slip-shod
fashion. The .'decayed gentlewoman,"
too. handles work with gingerly fingers
About her is the atmosphere of the old
regime. and she can not wholly break
from the fetters of tradition. She is
terrified at modern ideas. She seeks
only ..genteel employment, and SO
troubled is she at what the world may
say of her !aooring at all that she dab
b.es away in lady-like and sloyenly
manner.
1t is sad thing, no doubt, that wom-
en- who have been gently born and bred,
and used to the seclusion of luxurious
homes ARE ever thrust out to battle with
| selfish world. But this is state of
things one sees every day. and If such
| women could but shake off the tram
mcls OF the conventional life they have
of necessity left behind. they would
find their work at once lightened and
more agreeable in every way.
There are many women who expect
| the same Difference and homage shown
! them in the office which they have a
right to demand in the drawing-room.
They are indignant If bnsy man for
gets their names: they are insulted if
lac receives them in his shirt-sleeves.
A woman who goes into business
should never ask favors on account OF
her sex. Many do and receive them, it
is true. But the thorough-going busi-
ness man has more solid respect for the
har,l-working woman who pegs away
like little man" and does not plead
her sex as an excuse for the granting of
favo-s, fail ires to keep appointments
or to render satisfactory work.
At the same time it is not necessary
for the business woman to become q
manish woman. There is at present q
tendency toward masculinity percept-
iblc even among society women. The
modern girl apes her brothers in cos
tune, talk. slang and adopts many Of
his habits. Doubtless there is strong
temptation to working women to copy
the tricks, conversation and airs of the
men with whom she is constantly asso-
ciating. Against this temptation every
true woman will battle. A woman can
bc womanly under the most trying situ-
atoms of life. There is absolutely no
necessity for her to be otherwise in any
brancl, of work. She may be as brave,
se.:-reliant and self-possessed as pOssi-
BILE. and yet womanly, not effemlnate.
whining over defeat. snivelling over an
abrupt word or deeply outraged be-
cause 4 man keeps his hat on in her
presence.
There is large class of women bread
winners whose occupation takes them
only occasionally into offices. 1t is well
for such workers to bear constantly in
mind the value of time to business
man. The woman of discrimination and
good sense will state her business, get
her answer and leave. She will under
stand that it is not season in which to
discuss politics. religion, crops or to give
complete history of her life from the
cradle to the grave. with an appendix.
Her hopes, aims and ambitions also she
will touch lightly upon. As rule. q
comparative stranger cares very little
about ones aspirations.
There is vast deal of rubbish writ.
ten and talked about concerning the
''insults'' working woman receives
This is usually the tigment of some pro
life writer's brain. The self-respecting
woman who behaves with propriety
who does not go about smirking. ogline
and grinning like Cheshire cat, is no
going to be very badly insulted.
The question of dress for busines.
woman is being agitated somewhat
The advice OF one of the most prominen,
! business women in town is worth repeat
ing: Dress SO the men with whom yOt
! come in contact can not remember wha
you wear" The Office or shop is mo-
the place for diamonds, laces, silks anC
furbelows. 4 quiet cloth gown, with
out ornaments or frills, is the most sen
sible of al costumes. Every thing
should be scrupulously neat and tidy
J Prayed collars. soiled gloves and dis
reputable shoes should not be tolerated
There is policy in being well. correctl,
and timely dressed. Business womel
should avoid aesthetic costumes in tn,
office. Cleopatra. Delsartin or classic
robes have no place in the business
world. Limp loose draperies are quit
a, gu: of gear in Office or shop as claw
hammers and white ties
Women by their actions, manners
conversation and dress in business ar,
tile ones who alone uphold the dignit.
, and enhance the value Of woman
work.-Edith Sessions Tupper, in n. Y
World.
Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher.
A familiar face in Brooklyn is that Q
Mrs. Reecher. She retains her health
cheerfulness and old-time vigor, and
thus enabled to keep her social obliga
tions well balanced Her house,
, modest red brick with bay window, i
almost opposite the church her husban
made famous. Her favorite seat