Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1892-11-12
NEWSPAPER WOMEN.
A History of Their Long Struggle
for Recognition.
the woman's National Press Association
Of wnshinEton-Someth Ab"ue
the Ladies' Who Organized It
Mrs. Briggs Enterprise.

Especial Washington letter.
An liz FAINT was born here in 1881. but
Il was so obscure that very little atten-
ton was paid to it. save a passing notice
In one OF our daily papers. That infant
has grown quite rapidly. and is already
taking its rank among the men OF the
world. and commanding recognition.
Its parents were Necessity and Ambi-
ton. 1t was christened the Ladies'
Press club" but its name has since
been changed, las oil ladies' names are
or should be changed), and is now
known as the "Woman's National Press
association"
In former days all ladies who aspired
to Journalistic honors, with bread and
| butter on the side, were obliged to work
singly against the terrible odds OF pref
udice and adverse criticisms concerning
| their real aims and ends Young men
who arc compelled to struggle with the
world for existence and recognition,
without patcrnal aid, soon find them
selves surrounded not by helpful be-
| ings of their own race and sex, but
rather by mob OF wolves, tigers,
| sharks. boa constructors. lizards and
hyenas. They learn that this life is in
decd u terrific struggle Of selfishncss ana
that the survival of the lttest results.
! But if young men find themselves in a
maelstrom which cngulfs their fellow
men by the tens of thousands, how
must the young lady feel who clings
| helplessly to the gunwales of rickety
sympathy in that surging, scething
mass of humanity2 Thus it was previ-
Gus to the year 1881. Young ladies who
dared to lift their heads in the SEQ OF
Journalism Immediately became the tar
gets for the envenorned shafts of small
men. Their abilities were questioned.
their intentions suspected. their reputa-
lions banded from snecring lip to care
less tongue, and on every hand they
were met with discouragemeuts. until
the waves Of disappointment and all
the pillows of despair rolled over them.
few sturdy women, OF stronger
aber than the rest. kept their heads
above water and compelled respect;
while others went down to the bottom
OF the sea. and their bodies were often
found suRlien in the slough of despond.
This, you will understand, was previ'
Gus to the birth of the infant press
club
This organization resulted from the
suggestions of the lady corresponding
who had survived in the struggle of the
preceding decade. The organization
| was Iiittlt. not lot inc DcncIiIS " INCL
might accrue to those ladies who taG
succeeded in their fight for existence
but in order to give aid and comfort tc
the young ladies who were then coming
upon the stage Of active newspaper
life and engaging in the same single
handed battle which their elder sister.
had fought before them. Mary Glenn
mer Hudson. OLIVIA" Briggs. Mrs. NJ
D. Lincoln, Rose r. BrcanGIc, ("Pips')
and others Of like standing got TO
| gether, not for themselves, but for tht
welfare OF the coming generation O.
lady workers. and organized the pres:
club, which, as stated above, ha
grown into the Woman's Nationa
Press association. The first prcsidcn
OF tho club was Mrs Briggs: and he
first action was 10 secure recognition
in the gallery for women workers. I
long seat was set apart for the ladies
and to each Of them was given a key L
its little gate, while upon the front rail
overlooking the speakers desk in TIL
house and the vice presidents place i,
the senate, smooth, desli-liltc boar
was arranged for the ladies to do thci
writing. These ladies' galleries adjoil
the regular press galleries occupied b.
the gent men and are separated iron
them by a wire screen.
The state of Iowa is entitled to credi
foi t:!s Organization which has grow
and IS growing SO rapidly. Mrs. ErigG
is an Iowa lady, and i. was she, NOR
than any other one, except Mrs. Netti
Sanford, who infused life and strength