The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-11-12
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
WHY WOMEN FAIL.

women, however. WHICH Is pFODdOiy
more common than among men. and
that is the lack of special and patient
training. In her delightful talk before
the Chicago Women's club last year,
which the writer has commented on be-
fore, Harriet Iiosmcr spoke with en-
thusiasm of her sister-artist, Rosa Bon
heur She attributed part of her
wonderful success to genius. and the
rest to the long. faithful, painstaking
labor which she expended in mastering
the technique of her art-even DOMINIC
mems clothing that she might visit the
abattoirs and study from nature in the
fields. The great sculptor then OBJ
served that she thought therein existed
the one great difference between men
and women artists-women wished to
attain results without effort, and men
were willing to work diligently and to
wait patiently.
This is true of almost every other de-
partment of work where the skill of
women might be utilized. For some
inexplicable reason they have a mis-
taken idea that they can enter the
ranks of skilled workmen, and with no
training whatever. and frequently with
only average intelligence compete sue
cessfully with ability and experience.
The age is prominently an age of
competition. The man or woman who
desires to make place and win recogni-
ton must have all the helps that teach
ing and doing can afford. 1t is hard.
even then, TO keep up in the race, and
not faint and fal.er before the goal is
reached.
When the profession has been select
ed, fitness and education taken for
granted. it is the first business of the
aspirant to master all its difficulties,
aud to leave no part of it unlearned.
however irksome and disagreeable the
details may be-
Another fault is lack Of professional
zeal There are a good many women
employed in various capacities who, in
their Utmost hearts, consider it n griev-
ance that they must support them
selves. They do their work grudgingly
and repiningly, Indifferent as to the
quality of the service rendered. and
secretly elated if they are able to get
OUT of any portion Of their task.
There are examples where women have
succeeded in work that is wholly dis
tasteful, but this is possible only where
there are tremendous will power and
proportionate consciousness. and
such n character is about as rare as
genius.
In the first place. it is not grievance
to be self-supporting, but it ought to be
a source of comfort strength and hap
which the world is supposed to owe
every human being has been honestly
earned should afford almost as much
moral support as the consolation of re-
lision. 1t means that the worker is not
dependent upon the brains and energy
Of others, that she is not a suppliant for
succor unwillingly granted, and which
she does not need: that she can make
her way and stra:ghten the rough
places for those that are to come after
her. In the second place the state of
''being supported is misunderstood.
The woman in the family must work
increasingly in the highest spirit OF self
sacrifice, diligently and We'll She must
look after the house that it may be
clean and habita ble: this involves. as
Ruskin has shown, part of the knowl-
edge required in mastering score of
professions. She is houselleeper, nurse,
hostess. and. in our uncertain domestic
conditions, frequently cook and scrub
woman. In short the skilled house
keeper must be ready for any emer-
gency-illness, losses, misfortune, the
detection of servants. the sudden
sally of unexpected guests-all of
which demand tact. amiability, fore
thought. endurance and wisdom.
1t is true that. in return for her SER
vices, she is housed. clothed and fed
supported" as it is termed. but it is a
trite observation that she contributes
rs much toward the family fortune as
the outward and visible money-earner
her husband. But she frequently
has that which. to = good woman. is
the highest of all earthly compensa-
tions. the love and trust and fidelity of
her husband-congcnial and tender
companionship which is denied the un-
married
! Last OF oil, there are many-too many
women who have no comprehension of
the value of time. They are not ut
their posts promptly. and are eager to
leave before the work is finished-or
finished as it should be. They think
that nine o'clock means half-past nine;
that noon comes in the after part of the
day, and promises made, contingent
upon fixed dates. are not binding. The
woman who is most sincerely interest
ed in what she is doing is in her place
/ when she is needed. and remains there
| until her work is done. She literally
takes no note of time. the task before
her being the one thing of paramount
Importance This applies peculiarly to
newspaper women, whose copy" must
| be handed in Al stated seasons. and
who expect to become reliable and
valuable to their employers.
| TO recapitulate, then. the leading
causes of failure are lack OF training,
Lnwillingness to submit to training,
| reluctance to work. desire to be sup
| ported disregard of time. and lack OF
/ already men, too, fail from all these
causes, SO that women are not alone in
| their transgressions, but there are prob
ably more failures among women than
among men. who have learned wisdom
through experience.
| In conclusion it should be borne in
mind that there is nothing to be done
that it is SO insignificant that one can
afford to slight it. The sighting habit
groes insidiously and uneonsciously.
and one should value her professional
! reputation as she values her moral
| character-too much to do any thing
! that is unworthy or discredita BILE. In