The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-25
WoMANs WORLD IN PARAGRAPHS.
What We Mean by Pecuniary Indepcnd-
ence for Women.

What We Mean by Pecuniary Indepcnd-
ence for Women.
Some of my friends have been taking
me to task for harping so constantly on
tho pecuniary independence Of women"
Would have women take all the trades
and professions ont Of the hands Of men
and have husbands sit at home and be
supported by their wives? they say. No;
| would not. 1t is evident these good
critics do not understand the meaning
Of pecuniary independence for women.
1t does not mean that all women shall
work in the trades and professions for
their bread. or that homes shall be
broken up and our sex cease to be house
keepers. 1t only means that for such
women as are obliged to earn their
bread there shall be the fullest, freest
opportunity. They shall have what our
southern brethren would call fair
chance" all along the line. All trades
and professions shall be open to them
to select from: they shall have just
as good opportunity for education
and preparation for their work as boys
have, and they shall have equal pay for
equal work. On the other hand, wives
shall cease to go like slaves to their
husbands, begging for dollar or dime
that is flung TO them rs a bone to
O dog. The wife shall have regular,
fixed income for herself to spend as she
likes, after all the household expenses
shall be provided for, and be account
able to nobody as to how she spends it.
The income shall be neither more nor
less than the husbands wages Justify,
but just the right sum. Further, it
means that girls will always be able to
take care of themselves and never de-
scend to that last, lowest way Of getting
a living, marrying for home. Finally,
it means that all girls shall be educated
to q fine self respect which will not per-
NIT them TO hang about men like beg
CARS, throwing ont hints and suggestions
that men shall take them TO the theater
or to oysters and ice cream, and give
them presents. It IS degrading to wom-
en- and hard or men for women to take
money from men III that way. When
the full industrial emancipation Of wom-
en- is achieved women will only marry
when and whom they please. They can
and will pay for their own ice cream.
There is no fear that the worlds work
will give out through the entrance Of
women into the industries, for the field
of labor is ever broadening. New occu-
patioas are constantly arisirs; and will
continue to arise. This glorious world
of work is big enough for everybody.
Now do you catch on2
A Jewish friend informs me that in
the Hebrew marriage service the bride
does not promise to obey and never did,
even in the old Bible times. Exactly
the same pledge Is exacted of both bride
and groom.
For the first time since can remem-
Der, it appears to mo that women have
something to hope for from a political
party. The Republican party in the
present campaign really seems to begin
to take women seriously.
That good and talented girl, Cynthia
Westover, can do almost everything.
but | have only learned lately that she
is an inventor She spent her child
hood and early youth with her father
among mines in the west, and while
there invented an improved truck for
conveying earth out Of mines and dig