Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-05-07
In W0MAN'S BEHALF.
SEX IN BUSINESS.

Tor work.
The fashion of belittling woman's
work is fast passing away. The best
prices are 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 n
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 woman attempts 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 fiirtations 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 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 laboring at all that she dab
bles away in lady-lile and slovenly
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
mels 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 drawingroom
They are indignant if busy man for
gets their names; they are insulted if
he 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 bust
ness man has more solid respect for the
Woodworking woman who pegs away
'like little man" and does not plead
her sex as an excuse for the granting of
favors, failures to keep appointments
or to render satisfactory work.
At the same time it is not necessary
for the business woman to become a
manish woman. There is at present a
tendency toward masculinity percept-
ible 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
be womanly under the most trying stu
atoms of life. There is absolutely nc
necessity for her to be otherwise in any
branch of work. She may be as brave,
self-reliant and self-possessed as posi-
Bile, and yet womanly, not effeminate,
whining over defeat, snivelling over an
abrupt word or deeply outraged be
cause a man keeps his hat on in hel
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 il
mind the value of time to business
man. The woman of discrimination ant
good sense will state her business, get
her answer and leave She will under
stand that it is not season in which tC
discuss politics, religion, crops or to give
complete history of her life from thu
cradle to the grave, with an appendix
Her hopes, aims and ambitions also sh'
will touch lightly upon. AS rule, ;
comparative stranger cares very littl'
about ones aspirations.
There is a vast deal of rubbish writ
ten and talked about concerning tn,
''insults' working woman receives
This is usually the fgment of some pro
life writer's brain. The self-respectinl
woman who behaves with propriety
who does not go about smirlking, oglinI
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 yo
come in contact can not remember wha
you wear" The office or shop is nc
the place for diamonds, laces, silks an
furbelows. A quiet cloth gown, with
out ornaments or frills, is the most ser
sible of all costumes. Every thin
should be scrupulously neat and tidy
Prayed collars, soiled gloves and di'
reputable shoes should not be tolerated
There is policy in being well, correctl
and timely dressed. Business wome
should avoid aesthetic costumes in tn
: office Cleopatra, Delsartin or classi
robes have no place in the businef
world. Limp, loose draperies are quit
as out of gear in office or shop as CLAW
hammers and white ties.
, Women by their actions, manner
! conversation and dress in business al
the ones who alone uphold the dignit
! and enhance the value of woman
work. Edith Sessions Tupper, in n.