Southwest-sentinel., 1893-01-10
WHEREWOMEN REIGN
THE GENTLE SEX HAS. BECOME a
POWER IN WASHINGTON.

Hundreds oF Women Hold Working 70
sitions In the Various Departments Of
tho National Capital without LOSING
Their Social Standing.
Washington is getting to be wom-
ans paradise, There is no other place
in the wide, wide world whers women
earn as much money, are as independ.
ent and are as deferenhally treated by
men as they are in Washington. The
influence of women In the affairs of this
mighty nation has been a subject Of FIRE
quent comment. Many interesting and
highly imaginative stories have been told
of the woman lobbyist until the discreet
wives Of most Of our migratory states
men have taken to travelling around
with thom, and never under any circuu.
stances let them remain alone amid the
temptations of the cepital. This is a
palpable injustice to the lawgivers, and
involves an unnecessary hardship upon
the anxious matrons.
In the place of an imaginary and 70.
mantle influence upon the lawmakina
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 mender 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 combination Of politics, so
ciety bobbing and female domination
the women of Washington have estab
hshed 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 DO 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
speculating 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 depsrtmehts
for the emplyment Of women he gave
them an opportunity for Advancement
The thing has worked itself out now and
the female clerk is an established inst
tuition, so to speak, in good standing,
with fair incOme-and sometimes r
fair 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
fact 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 a self supporting creature.
without loss Of standing, and not all
being 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 great many have gone into a
small private brokerage business. One
woman has gone regularly into the real
estate, loan, trust and insurance bust
ness, and has turned ont to be one of the
best business men" of the thousand and
one who keep their eyes on every foot of
ground IN aud about Washington. She
has opened up new subdivisions. formed
syndicates and done booming with the
best Of them. The girls have almost
driven young men ont of the stenogra-
ply and typewriting business, and even
around the political headquarters, where
men only used to be employed, women
now outnunber 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
girl in a tailor made riding habit gallop
ing through Central park ON a stylish
horse? It wonld not be n common sight.
II is not at all uncommon TO see parties
Of shopgirls-salesladie dressed
and well mounted, riding along themosi
fashionable drives, looking as stylish
and pretty and enjoying themselves a
much as the richest daughter of fashion
whom they may pass on the road. The
girls in some Of the larger stores belong
to riding clubs and have riding masters
who take them out two or three times
Baltimore News.