The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1893-09-07
WOMAN IN JOURNALISM.
A Spicy Dissertation on Female Writers by

Mrs. Ada Merit, Of the Idaho Recorder
at a public meeting of the Idaho Press As
sociation at Ketchum. August 10, lS93].
FELLOW ScRIBEs: | feel in a similar
position to the man who was attending his
wife's funeral and was told that he would
be expected to ride to the cemetery in the
same carriage with his molher-in-law.
He said he'd do it; but it took away the
pleasure of the whole thing for him.
When our worthy secretary, Brother
Lockwood, asked me to speak to you, |
naturally asked: what shall speak
about?' And he responded; Speak
about a minute"
beg. my friends, that you will treat
me with similar consideration to that of
the Denver congregation IN early days,
when they posted the notices Please
don't shoot the organist He's doing the
best he knows how"
Apropos of the woman in journalism,
on which subject l have been asked to
speak: She is a new departure, and, so
far, as)demonstrated the fact that not
withstanding she is denied the privilege
of wearing the bifurcated garments of the
family, she has nobly raised to the emer-
gency, overcome all the obstacles, and
taught her brothers what the real reading
of originality" means.
Woman is naturally intuitive, and by
| ~ ms "A
acumen, is able TO draw correct conclu-
sions which, with little intellectually
, combined with her inherent curiosity,
makes her clever reporter, bright par
agrapner, and later, if poverty still cries
out. she has been known to become an
EDITonl But this is only in extreme
cases.
Thus we find women like Mrs. Frank
| Leslie, who has risen to the pinnacle OF
: her profession, and had such n superiluty
of coin of the realm that she was enabled To
purchase an English husband with three
) ply nobility trademark attached thereon.
I "Jennie June" otherwise Mrs, Croly
e Isabel Mallon, better known as 'Bab;'
Aunt Fannie Barrow, Mary Fiske and
others too numerous to mention--all ol
- which illustrates that women in journal
II ism has come TO stay.
IS Not as Il high state Of literature, bu
o merely to substantate my statement tha
q a woman makes successful reporter, per
nit me to cite the case of Nellie Bly,
Here was a daughter OF Eve, " who, rep
10 resenting mammoth n. Y. journal
D entered an insane asylum in the capacit
)r of patient, after convincing five exper
10 physicians in that malady of her insanity
and after being confined there six weeks
came out and depicted the horrors OF TIL
q institution to the public. Subsequent
the same lady made a trip around the worl
er i'm an intellectually short period of tim
w Now, ask you candidly what male r
porter in the whole vast country coul
have remained in durance that length
ne time and not become legitimate inma
n for want OF his customary cocktail? VIII
ey five minutes after his incarceration
he would have been inquirng of his keep
:. what his private opinion was OF the d
" mestic policy of the Peruvians. mot ne
'sO essarv for publication" of course; b
us merely 'as a guarantee Of good faith
as etc, etc.
,le Let me tell you, this is the Nineteen
90 Century, and women journalists are moi
''bue stocking" She is a genuine 60
ni' fellow. and takes as much interest in bab
ION and bonnets as she does in politics A
is because of her professional duties she
or neither untitled nor unsuited for hou
in wife and helpmate; par example, mys
a. i can boil eggs.
W OF course, it is axiomic that the won
re, of Europe and the effete East have the
ing vantage of their sisters in the West botf
of education and culture; but il is writ
va that "well get there" TO use a modernis
and when we do, we'll do it with 'b
feet"
ire Will you wielders of the mighty
YER permit your memories TO take you bac
men few years? Why,suc athing as won
and in the precincts OF the sanctum was
known. But this is the age OF electric
and steam, and the editor who is uni
VIC to say to his devil, sGive this ass
able ment to Miss Jones. and tell her | v
the a column for the morning, and wa
the bright and snappy," is poor indeed
q in to be sympathized with.
The woman in journalism must
) 10 will be recognized. Why, it is Ill
the education to attend meeting of the
and Continued on fourth page.)