The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-11
Mrs. Fields Entry Into Trade.

Mrs. FIELD, the wife OF son ant
| namesake of the late CYRUS W. FIELD. ha.
| become partner in millinery establish
ment in the Fifth avenue, with the honora
bic purpose Of making money with which
to assist her husband in paying obliga
lions resting ON him because OF the failure
Of his brother. now under confinement In
an asylum for the insane.
At one time such a step on the part Of q
lady of Mrs. FIELDS rearing and associa-
tions would have provoked surprise as a
novelty. Now it is accepted as a matter o.
course. If a woman needs to make money.
and she sees an opportunity to get it by
trade. the general sentiment is that she acts
very wisely in going into the business. II
she Is competent for it. trade is as fit for her
as for man. II it Is suitable and honora-
BILE for the one. it Is equally 80 for the other.
That is the prevalent feeling at this time.
Mrs. FIELD does not step down socially by
entering the millinery business. She re-
mains where she was before. and gains
rather than loses social esteem. Men mer-
chants enjoy and deserve social considera-
ton, and there Is no reason why women
merchants should not have it also. unless we
go back to the old aristocratic contempt for
trade itself. Even the aristocracies are CIV
ing up that feudalistio discrimination, and
to introduce 1t here would be utterly absurd
American wealth and fashion are based on
trade. The founders OF the families of
longest social distinction in New York were
nearly all traders. and most Of them traders
in small way They kept shops which
now would be called petty. and gathered
OpiDl Nv nd oil
They may have made the beginnings of the
fortunes they handed down. at an earlier
period than those who are now described as
the newly rich. but the difference in time
was not great. At most it was not moro
than one hundred years. and usually it was
not half that time. All the rich in this new
country are newly rich. The Oldest fortunes
are only few generations old. Very little
money was brought to this country by the
early settlers. They had to make their own
riches by hard work and Industrious en-
terprise: and those fortunes were not great
until they were increased by the accumua-
lions Of the last fifty years. Thus all the
large wealth Of this country Is new. 1t is
not old enough to make its possessors weary
OF Its enjoyment. 1t still has for them the
charm Of novelty. They have not lost their
memory OF the time when they were with
out the luxuries and opportunities it now
brings them. or parted with the inheritance
OF the qualities in the recent ancestors
whose thrift produced it.
Mrs. FIELD has shown good Judgment In
selecting business for which the feminine
taste Is peculiarly adapted: and she is wise
In entering into 1t actively as a student Of
fashions and a partner who will be specially
occupied in securing trade. Perhaps femi-
nine business abilities are best exercised in
the management Of details. Women seem
to be well fitted to the retail trade on that
account We believe that the failures
among those engaged In it are much fewer
than among men. More
over. they have an envlable reputation as
honest merchants. prudent and trustwor-
thy. The employment. too, gives them the
shelter and the protection 30 desirable for |
them. II they succeed. they win the great
and inestimable boon OF Independence
They have put their talent to needed use |
and not hidden 1t in napkin.
All success. then. to Mrs. FIELD In her
business venture. undertaken with motives
20 honorable. SO unsellsh. so wonanly, and |
30 wifely