The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-11-25
NEW TIMES AND NEW MANNERS.

Elizabeth Cummings says in the Union
Signal: Every woman who has special
work of any sort to do finds the hardest
part of her day is spent in struggle
with tho webs of hindrances woven about
her by old conditions. If she is Dress
II aker, or milliner, she will fiud her
customers do not as rule keep their
engagements to the letter, and after
having her time and patience frittered
into fringe, she too, will break her prom
ises, and join the great army of dress
makers ard millincTs who have the
name of ''never keeping their word
The woman teacher has the advantage
of working within set limits, but even
she has no such privileges of retiring
from social obligations, as do men.
What, not see me? Not come to my tea
party, or dinner? cries her chance
acquaintance with spare half hour, or a
place to fill at table, and straightwaY is
offended. AS for women who from the
nature of their work often labor at b ONE
as authors, artists and teachers of music
their Affections are legion from their
sisters who yet look upon special work
by women as something ensuring pocket
money without asking a male relative,
but as in no way cutting off abunda ant
leisure for making a visiting. The
woman whose activities have always
been confined to her home knows abSo-
lutely nothing about the tyranny Of
order under which work done outside
must 60 on. The article or story, the
sketch or drawing, bonnet or gown,
must be given at a fixed date, whether
the heart is worried or the head aches
II from necessity or choice, one becomes
a tiny part Of the wordls'S machine, one
must keep up, or drop out altogether;
there is no middle way. Bus for this
woman who fights the wolf, or who
chooses 20 enter = profession or trade as
life work society has absolutely no
consideration, and small charity. If her
domestic says, Not at home, to save her
time, she is called insincere, and if she
sends word that she must be excused,
she is not excused, Far from it! The
visitor resolves 'to wait one while before
coming again. Yet this woman worker
Graves good fellowship far more than
the woman OF leisure.
The time has como when we as women
must treat the woman who works with
at least as much consideration as we
accord to men. That All appointment
with dentist must be kept, goes with
out saying, but his time is no more his
little all and possession than is the time
of the dressmaker whom we too often
disappoiut. We ask no excuse from the
butcher or baker, the lawyer or physl-
"must CO., or when he declines an inyi-
tation.
The women who must earn money or
starve increase in number every year.
Opportunities multiply every year, but
women as class do not yet recognize
the fact that the successful performance
of work means helpful conditions. We
need now, not pioneers to open new
doors and new paths, but comprehend
ing sympathy at home, il our neighbor
hood, IN our set. 1t must be accepted
that the woman who must, or who
chooses to spend herself in special work,
be it trade, profession or art is spent
and if her ways are not the ways of the
woman who simply keeps house. they
are not to be criticised but to be accepted
as conditions vital to her work and SO
entitled to consideration.