The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-27


guardian. P-0'oS'"i anu
II she has any talent or skill by the cuIti-
Vatlon OF which she can furnish herself with
pm money or charity fund. we'll and good
Let ner use it and rejoice in II 30 lone a.
sne does not neglect her first duty 10 6er
nome and person. But let her rememhar
tnat woman's true realm is the home. and
nc. el nts' outy IS 70 make that home attract
I've and to make herself beautiful
- During my residence of several years in
New York city l have had occssioo 70
study with more care and with mora on.
portunitles for observation than ever he
fore the direct bearing upon the world ar
large OF womans influx into all deuart-
menps Of work.
Wniie see number of women iudividn-
ally benefited by this copartnership of the
sexes In trade and business. | see woman as
class injured and men effeminated by II.
anu the manners OF the masses woefullv de-
generating. Every day live l grow more
ana more opposed to seeing girls and women
IN puohc buildings which are the provinces
OF men OF business.
While it is of course understood that n
true woman will never in word. act or loolI
lower her standard of respectabilitv or re-
nhetnent, however much she may mix in
trade or business and associate with men
yet 1t is an undeniable fact that men do not
continue to treat with that high courtesy
and reverence upon which the true relation
OF the sexes depends, a woman who is con.
stantly mixing in the business affairs of
downtown offices.
An exceedingly pretty and refined young
Iady OF my acquaintance has occupied the
position OF stenographer during the last six
or seven years in one of New York's most
elegant huSln1ag HHr
excellent, her employers respected her. and
ner duties were made as light as possible.
yet few weeks ago she resigned her posi-
zion and took that of governess in a private
family at small wages. II could no
longer bear it." she said to me. az
would rather sister Of mine should cook
IN a restaurant or scrub floors than
work in building full Of men, and be
obliged to talk business with them like a
man. was never insulted or rudely spoken
to during all the, years / was in the
office; but the men grew to treat me like
one of the fellows, and often when there
were five or six men in the office they
talked in rude, brisque sort of a way, as
men in business often do among themselves,
which grated upon my nerves beyond de-
scrlptlon. felt my pride and self-respect
lessened In Thousand intangible ways
while 1 worked among those men, although
am sure they all meant to treat me with
respect"
At least score of girls and women have
told me similar stories during the last few
years.
The marked decline of politeness to
women In public conveyances is a subject
of constant conversation in the east. Il
seems to me that it dates directly from the
time when women began to crowd into
places Of business usually occupied by men.
That the woman who takes mans place in
business must accept mans treatment in
cars and omnibusses seems to be the pre-.
yailing idea in large cities. Again, as
women are becoming more and more am
bilious and industrious in masculine CO.
equations men are becoming less So
Men have less respect for themselves when
placed In competition with women, and thew
do not feel the pride and courage to fight
the business battle with woman as rival
which they felt fighting for her as depend
ent. Wherever In a community women are
noticeably prominent In business affairs you
will find men noticeably lax and ambition
less.
Perhaps, however. in the next generation,
or in the next century. this process Of evo-
luton will have brought forth a stronger
race of beings. The present craze OF women
for activity in business ought to produce a
race of active and ambitious men, men who
will again take their places as rulers and
directors of homes, communities and ma
tons, as they were intended to do by the
Creator, and men who will find in woman
a companion, a counselor, helpmeet, but
never a business rival or competitor. Yet
there is psychological question connected
with this subject which think worth Of at
teution,
In Massachusetts,. where the movement
for woman's advance into the world Of bust
ness was first started and has been most
actively ursued, the women now exceed
the men to the number of 1900 Place side
by side with this fact, the one equally we'll
known, that in times Of war in all times
and lands male children predominant to a
remarkable degree in the birth census re-
ports, and decrease as peace is restored.
Now this would signify to a thoughtful
and analytic mind that where men are
nerved TO great responsibilities and vital
action, male children predominant, and that
where, as In the state of Massachusetts,, men
are In a measure emasculated by the influx
of women into business, and their respon-
abilities aud duties are lifted from them by
the weaker sex, female children are the
result.
The advanced woman will tell you that it
is the predominance of numbers Of women
over men in the eastern states which makes
it necessary for the husbandless surplus to
enter into business vocations. would like
TO call the attention of the advanced woman
to the foregoing facts and ask her il it is not
barely possible that this very predominance
of her sex may be caused and promoted by
the methods she is pursuing May not the
disease be caused by the cure she is attempt
ing-to use paradoxa
1t is a question which believe the most
learned physicians are not able to deter
niue. but as the advanced woman is SC
superior to man, possibly she can solve the
problem satisfactorily.