St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-19

wonderful change in public opinion
On the subject of occupations for wom-
en-. Fifty wears ago the list was n very
small one. A lady always spelled with
big II could teach school, she could
make dresses or bonnets or "Stocks"-
not the kind that are quoted on 'change
but horrors of buckram and steel
springs and silk fold. for gentlemen to
wear around their necks, or take board
ers in .sgenteel'' way, and not lose
caste. The pay in all these ayocatlonS
was small. of course. The popular
ideal of lady was delicate creature
who needed but little food. such as the
wing of chicken and bit of toast
and tea, TO keep her alive; so. of course,
she did not need SO much money to i've
upon as big, coarse man.
If by the death of a father or hus-
band a woman was compelled to make
ner own living. all the neighbor-
hood took a friendly interest in the
matter and felt TO the utmost the
hardship of the poor creatures life'Who
had no ''man person to do for her" Ihe
irst effort was usually to open little
private school. Those whose memory
brings back these pathetic little schools,
Kept by gentle splnSter, whose DELL
cate mouth had been trained INTO shape
Oy saving "pusS' or "prISllS, ana lidu
crown that way: or more gehuc. nc
cause more fearful, widow III rusty
black, with sad, deprecatory eyes anu
smile that somehow seemed TO nave
very effective influence Oh men, lor
i al
lie widows school was very short
lived. The dressmaker, or as she was
more often STYLED, the" mantuamaker,"
though what a ''mantua" was was
standing puzzle to speculative little
girls, was of a different type. she was
pretty. as a rule, and had swapping dark
ewes and a most decided manner. She
carried in her "carpet-bag," ii size came
to the house for the week, ana that was
the usual way, rolls Of the latest pat
Terms for sleeves, understood the myS-
.ariesof "gauging" the backs OF dress
skirts, Wnile the front and SIDES
were laid in sturdy pleats. She
GettIeG n the most autOcratIc
fashion the question Of whether the
new dresses should be made with
"Grieutal.' or ''mutton-Ieg" sleeves.
whether they should have points"
and a "chemic, G tee" to the. waist, or
only ''surplua' fronts and belt"
" bile she stayed ut the house she was
"m0narch Of all she surveyed" Tor no
one would dare to risk the dreadful
things she could do to ones best dress
if her wishes were crossed lii the least.
St0cEmaiing went out. as business,
with the strap that held the men
tr0uSer legs down under his boot. AT
that time general lO0SenesS OF maScu-
line abDnrpl began. Stocks were dis
cardeG. and the SHOEMAKER began to
try TO exc out her scamty living III some
utber way. But there were still a few
stately old gentlemen who scorned to be
seen With d DyruM.c DOMuuder their
chius, and chung to the uncompromiS-
ing stock. and the little woman who
could do up these intricate things sun
had her few customers. She was little,
and timid and sad, aud had the soft
est, most Notwithstanding hands, that
Guttered about the heavy silk she
worked in like humming birds over
flower. She had tender eyes that illled
with tears easily, and silky hair,
with Just little wave i'll 1T
above the long ringlets that hung
on either side of her delicate faded
face. There was an air of romance
about her. quite captivating to a little
girls fancy. \ half-remembered story
of Il stern father, a separation and
early death clung about her that sanctl-
fed and set her apart from the common
herd. Her patrons always spoke OF her
as poor Miss Lucy" and bowed over
her tiny hand with its needle-prlcbed
front finger with all their stately old
time courtesy, when they called at her
little house to leave their stocks for re-
pairs. Then woman could be MIL
liner, but milllner was Tar different
person. She was handsome, in free
and dashiug way, had bright eyes and
red cheeks, and wore "beau-catcherS"
on her forehead and long "eardrops" in
her pretty ears, and she had q little
waist about which she tied little
apron, with dispr0portionately long
strings. She was considered very indie
pendent, because she would go to the
city to buy her own goods. Was she the
enterug wedge, | wonder, that started
the chasm that yawns today between
the opportunities for work that existed
then for women and the perfect free
dom of choice Of today.
am Old-faShi0ned enough sometimes
to wonder if we have not gone to the
other extreme in this matter as In some
others; but only the years can tell about
that. Whatever avocation one may
choose. there is always opportunity for all
tie womanly virtues. A woman may
do whatever her hand finds to do and
yet be all that the od-fashioned ideal
lady was. She can be strong-for she
will need her strength to help others
who need her help. She can be true -
for truth alone survives through all the
change and turmoil of living. She can
be brave--for she will need all her cour-
age to meet and master the lions that
guard the steep path of success. She
can bp teEder--for the strong and brave
can afford TO be tender to those TO whom
the battle has brought defeat; they need
in the deepest, saddest way the tender
ness that brings balm to wounded pride
and help to care-sick souls. She can be
housekeeping plainly that she feels
that she has right o do as she is doing
- and so make the way easier for less
courageous souls who shall follow in
her steps. In short, she can be warm
hearted, big-souIed, well-bodied, wide
awake nineteenth century woman
Could men or gods ask more?
Amt Polly