The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-12-21
UHEREWOMEN REIGN
TIVE GENTLE SEX HAS BECOME A
POWER IN WASHINGTON.

u-,ndreds of Women Hold Working Po-
si+;ons in the Various Departments of
.,e National Capital Without Losing
Their Social Standing.
Washington is getting to be wom-
on,s naradise. There is no other place
in the wide, wide world where women
aarn as much money, are as independ-
nt and are as deferentially treated by
men as they are in Washington. The
nfuence Of women in the affairs OF this
Mighty nation has been subject of fire.
,rent comment. Many interesting and
tightly imaginative stories have been told
# the woman lobbyist until the discreet
wives of most of our migratory states
men have taken to travelling around
With them, and never under any circum-
s.ances let them remain alone amid the
foundations of the capital. This is a
palpable injustice to the lawgivers, and
involves an unnecessary hardship upon
the anxious matrons.
In the place of an imaginary and ro-
mantle influence upon the lawnaking
Of this free for all government there
has thus grown up the real and substan-
tial influence exercised by the ever pres
ent and Jealous guardian of her hus-
bands morals. Meanwhile, from being
the member of her lords socks and torn
trousers, the wife of the statesman has
come to realize that she can occupy an
other and higher sphere in life, and feel
ing her power has begun by making all
around her feel it, who in turn emu
late her independence. So it comes
that from a combination of politics, So
ciety bobbing and female domination
the women of Washington have estab-
lished a status for themselves.
Should all the men be suddenly called
away from the capital for a journey
across the Styx there is no legitimate
business that would be left without
vOtary and no profession would fall into
decline. Beyond the closing of a few
charitable institutions things would re-
main as they are. Lawsuits would be
no fewer or less skillfully conducted;
doctors and druggists would still get in
their daily work; butchers and bakers
and Candlestick makers would still be
sufficiently numerous; preachers and
merchants would equal the demand;
BARRIERS would be more plenty than
boards; real estate agents would still be
forming pools and combinations and
specializing in city and suburban prop
erty. An undertaken is about the only
thing of Importance which would not
be found. Thus far the men have that
business to themselves.
When Spinner opened the departments
for the employment of women he gave
them an opportunity for advancement.
Inc thing has worked itself out now and
the female clerk is an established instl
tuition, so to speak, in good standing,
with fair income-and sometimes q
talr face as well-recognized and ap-
proved Of by good society, and in a
measure fashionable. Her social stand
ing as a class comes perhaps from the
TACT that she is more often the friend of
the wives of statesmen than of the
statesmen themselves, those watchful
guardians exercising some discretion in
the matter of favors to their own sex.
Out of this has come the recognition
OF woman as self supporting creature,
without loss of standing, and not all
oelng able to get into the departments
or to always hold places once secured
they have invaded other occupations and
professions once sacred to the wearers of
trousers. Of course female teachers,
doctors and lawyers are no longer a nov
city, and a great many have gone into
small private brokerage business. One
woman has gone regularly into the real
estate, loan, trust and insurance bust
ness, and has turned out to be one of the
best business men" of the thousand and
one who keep their eyes on every foot of
ground in and about Washington. She
mas opened up new subdivisions, formed
syndicates and done booming with the
best Of them. The girls have almost
driven young men out of the stenogTa-
ply and typewriting business, and even
around the political headquarters, where
men only used to be employed, women
now outnumber men two to one.
The best Of it all is that with all this
the social status Of the women remains
unchanged; they are still treated with
the greatest Difference and courtesy, and
strong minded" woman is a rarity.
What would you think to see a shop
glrl In a tailor made riding habit gallop-
ing through Central park on a stylish
nnrsef 1t would not be a common sight.