The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-02
OUR GIRL Az A WOMAN or BUSINESS. I

OIh olhL 40 n SAh 0E
Under this head Mrs. M. E. Sangstet
writes in The Congreentionalfst:
/ do not know how best to emphasize my
belief that q woman in business, as q woman
in any and every other relation, should keep
fast hold Of her womanliness. She must be
prompt, faithful, energetic, and equal TO her
work; she must be responsible. But these
are not qualities peculiar to sex, not qualities
which men possess to q higher degree, nor m
greater measure than women do. These are
the qualities which make good wives
mothers and housekeepers, and they are
within the reach of, and are the essentials Of
character for, women IN every position 40:
life. Environment brings tests to charactef,
but it does not make character. girl In =
business office, doing her work With ability
punctuality and t~horoughness, should NOT
initiate her associates in manlineSs; shes
should simply be herself, intent upon her
work, and anxious to do her very best. be-
cause It Is her duty and she Is In the place
where God has put her. d
Let our business girl beware OF self.pity.
Nothing is more mischieyous, and nothing,
dear girl, is weaker. Why be sorry for
forth in all weathers, to sit at your desk Tor
hours at a time, to give full tale Of bricks IN
your DAYS work? All this is drudgery or
bring to il. Regard yourself as valuable NOT
only to the immediate firm which employs:
and pays you, but also as important to the
whole commercial community In the business
of which you are . factor, though only o.
humble and obscure one. Do not cheapent
yourself by the feeling that you are to he
pitieJ. You are IN the contrary to be. en-.
are able to I'll it. If you do not pity your
self, you will resent pity, as an ofenae, lit
is rendered you directly or indirectly by your
business associates.
It Is q good and safe rule to accept no at
t~entions from these which in any way distt1-
quish YOU from other day workers In the
place. A girl wants her salary to the Last
dollar when she has earned it,and she wants
as large q salary as she is worth, rs her ser.
vices can command, and she does not want
flowers on her desk, nor choice fruits, nor
boxes Of bonbons, nor invitations from her
employers and her friends to luncheons and
dinners and concerts. These and kindred
attentions are compromising, and, 80 far @
they are compromising, are not innocent. A
great deal of sophistry exists on such subs.
jects, and the pretty girl who occupies Q seat
In the midday restaurant, partaking oil Q
dainty meal. at q cost far beyond her own
modest purse, may cheat herself into the be-
lief that though she Is doing an unconven-
tional thing there Is nothing morally Wrone
about it, and she may dare to be independent
therefor. Poor mistaken child! As q rule
conyentionalities are hedges reared by the
general good sense and good feelings Of the
Community. and the outside wilderness be-
yond their bounds Is q land of gins and tfsps
and snares, hard by which. for all Its enchant-
ments, Hes the valley of the shadow Of death.
Every gentleman Is aware thst in asking Q
girl to accompany him to any place, concern
ing which he Is si1ent TO his wife, he is doirg
an ungentlemanly and a most questiona0te
act. No reasoning can excuse or condone
such q proceeding. If a young girl feels
that she would not like to have her own old
fashioned father and mother. or her Aunt
Melissa In the country, know where she
goes, and what she does. if she is awar that
any step she takes wonld require explanation
in their eyes, she will be wise to avoid that
step, to decline that proffered pleasure. The
young girl in business should hold herself
above every concealment. A hidden thing,
q thing that breads the light, is sin, apologize
for it as one may.