Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-06-25
In W0MAN'S BEHALF.
A MISTAKEN OPINION.
The Suppositlon That Women Are Asham
.d cf tt.in,, In,Ionandont IrttarIv Grnun1

tune Tor business women, Salu III cllccJ
that it never would be made popular,
The reason given was that women who
had neither father, husband nor broth
er to take care of them were not going
to advertise the fact by assuming uni
form that would distinguish them every
where. 1t may be said incidentally
that the original idea of "a business
dress" is remarkably silly, for the one
good reason of its total impracticabili-
ty. All the models submitted TINS far
flying Mother Hubbards, modified
bloomers, combination tunics and jack
ets-have been not merely unartistic;
they are atrocious.
The well-bred woman aims at one
suitability, and that is, to avoid being
conspicuous. 1t is an instinct which
she possesses in common with the we'll
bred man. The business men of the
country would hardly submit to be uni
formed like so many Pullman car por-
ters or elevator conductors. And the
business women object to distinguish
ing dress on similar grounds, and on
these grounds only. Besides there is
no need of such uniform. Business
gowns have been devised, free from
stays, fads, hoops, and dragging weight
clearing the ground, as the skirts of a
cleanly woman and it is difficult to see
how they can be improved upon. Not
only is such dress as comfortable and
convenient as a mans clothing, but it
has all the essentials of becomingness
and artistic excellence. So much for
the dress question.
The point at issue, however, is not
this, but the assertion that working
women wish to conceal the fact that
they are not dependent upon some man
for support The statement is abso-
lutely mistaken; it is more than that it
is untrue. There is not a woman easily
and successfully earning her living who
does not take intense satisfaction in
her ability to do so. She comes and
goes as she likes. She buys what
pleases her; she helps others and puts
by the precious reserve fund for the
proverbial rainy day. There are very,
very few such women who do not have
opportunities to renounce their spin
sterhood and be supported-more op-
portunities, it would seem, than those
who have nothing to do but wait
helplessly for the coming man. But
they do not always make use of their
| ,x,;tl, fhn th hnt
would betolen their eagerness to re-
nounce their individual right, to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
A good many never do renounce this
right, but pursue the even tenor of theiI
way, minated to their gravestones.
Furthermore, there are thousands
who have been dependent upon their
fathers and brothers, dependence that
was never irksome to the men of the
family. On the contrary, all that they
desired was given ungrudgingly, gener
ously, and gladly. The daughter anC
sister were made to feel that all thai
was bestowed was not gift but theirs
of right. Still there remained the
quenchless desire to be up and doing
for themselves The busy brain, the
skilled hand, tie restless energy de
manded some natural and healthful EN-
ployment for which the few simple
duties about the house did not suffice.
There is in Chicago brilliant, beau
tiful and accomplished young woman
While she was yet a child her fathe
died and left her, with her mother, ;
charge to her two brothers. She fin
ished her education and then, being
healthy and vigorous, she began to con
slider the situation.
Il made up my mind" she said, "tha
being as strong and quite as capable a
my brothers, that there was no reasoI
why they should take care of me.
wanted the privilege of taking care o
myself"
Without consulting them, she tool
a course at business college, and be
fore they had the slightest inkling o
what she was doing she graduated an,
established herself in business. To-da,
she is an expert court reporter and
| icy HudlllltN RuDilIs Dll
has her own pleasant Office in one o
the best business blocks in the city
She has her corps of clerks, and ha
more business than she can attend to
She has charming little home on on
of the boulevards, where she lives wit
her mother. She dresses well, live
well, and, without practicing any spec
ial economy, will save this her frs
year in business on her own account
over $1,000 There are few men unde
similar circumstances who could hav
done better. If there is anything i
her manner that shows regret that sh
did not remain in her brothers charge
e it has not been apparent to her friends
One other example may be seem
this instance widow. She now hold
q responsible official position in one c
the western states. Her husband wa
a gallant soldier and died shortly aftC
the close of the war, leaving her with
d large farm on her hands. Not only di
t he leave the farm but he left a NOR
= gage of $40, 900 on the farm.
t Her friends said to her: ''You wi
: have to marry or sell the farm"
She replied 81 will do neither" an
:! she kept her word. She raised tn
mortgage, improved the estate, and is
/ recognized power in the agriculture
e councils of the state. She did MOI
), than this: Having no children of her owl
= she adopted three, and is bringing thel
S up with all the care and fidelity of
S model mother.
S These are not exceptional cases; hui
:. dreds of similar ones, though the su
h cess may be on lesser scale, might |
cited. No normal human being d
II spises responsibility or rebels again
/. the exercise or development of h
4 power. Women are human being
G and the very happiest and most col
v tented women in this country to-day al
/ those who have this opportunity. The
Y is TO intention of belittling the work
, the wife and mother within the home
a the highest, the most sacred of all h
g man duty; that which holds civiliz'