The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-01-07
A Social Problem.

iUS CuuCaliUu UOW P1Of1ue" ioi "o'IS"
has quickened the brain, reused the cn-
ergies, and. trained the hand. 1t has
raised the human being to condition
where she is made to realize the pos
session of forces that must be applied
to some worthy use and expended natu-
rally and proftsbly to some worthy end
In the days when the women knew but
little they adapted themselves to their
narrow surroundings, had no thought of
exploring the world and finding there
some pleasant territory of which they
might possess themselves The great
majority married, not always happily or
cougenislly-the desideratum being to
have home at any cost, there being no
opportunity to acquire one by any other
means. For the unfortunate who failed
to do this there seemed to be no special
place or provision in the social economy.
She was in most instances burden aud
an intruder; doer ofunpleasant errands
and the recipient of that bitterest Of all
portions-the bread of charity.
These conditions, most happily, no
longer exist. There are respect, aid, and
encouragement where woman takes up
a profession, works diligently and pa
tiently, upborne by zeal in we'll doing
and by professional pride. A home of her
own earning, though it may be an hum
bic one; a 6reside of her own, roof un-
der which she may find shelter from the
winds of adversely, these she can reasona-
bly, hope to achieve.
There has been good deal of discus
sion recently concerning the right of the
daughters of veil to do men to work for
wages. The objection-one which has
some seasonable grounds-is that the
woman who does not really need work
crowds out the woman who does. 1t is
strange, however, that this objection is
never urged in the case of young men.
If the son of g millionaire accepts
clerkship, or book keepers position no
one eyer censures him because he has
takeu place to which a poorer man
dependent upon his earnings, is entitled.
On the contrary, he is commended tor
his pluck, his industry, his willingness
to begin at the bottom of the ladder and
work his way up. He is commended for
wishing to learn che details OF business
to become thoroughly trained in all the
lesser as we'll ss the more important re.
quirements. Itseems unreasonable that
the same view of the matter should not
be taken in the case of young women
who possess the same energy and am
bition. Some one writing on the subject
advised them to devote themselves to
flower missions, working girls clubs
and hospital visiting. 1t is very we'll
known that all this, while it is COM
mendable and humane, is not enough.
The ambitious young woman-or rather,
the trained and educated young woman-
wants profession for which she may
systematically fit herself, in which she
may acquire spiritual and mental strength
overcoming obstacles, mastering difficult
ties, until she is conscious of being
thoroughly independent and Of some in
dividual use in the world. She may..re'
tire to private life, as it appears the
greater number do, and above all, is ID
auenced by the one and only proper mo.
tive. Her contact with the world has
fitted her all the better for wifehood and
motherhood. More than this, it has
placed her upon the right footing in the
family relation--for she who was indie.
pendent before marriage remains 80 af.
terward. The self supporting woman
has still another advantage.
When the fortune is swept away, when
the husband dies, or illness incapacitates
him from work, she may resume the call
ing she relinquished and educate and
support your children in dignity and
honor. There are hosts of women who
have thus kept the family together, who
have prevented that most cruel OF all
fate-having the children parceled out
and distributed among friends aud rela-
tives.
..But the Individual especially under
consideration is the society girl, who is
tired ofthe german and opera, who has
tested all the possibilities of society and
found them utterly wanting in supplying
a real and lasting zest and motive Of
life. The successful business woman who
retains her refinement and her womanli'
ness, who unshrinkingly goes her way,
and does her part cheerfully and with
out sinking is their ideal-the one being
of all others whom they envy. And
there are no women of this sort who do
not receive day after day the condolences
ofthe discontensed-and alas can offer
little consolation or advice. But there
ought to be and there must be remedy
somewhere.-lnter. Ocean.