The record-union., 1893-05-13
Woman in Business

EDS. RECORD UNION: In the editorial
columns of the RECORD UNION of Fri
day, the llth instant, a reference Is made
to "Woman's Congress" to be held in
Chicago on the 18th instant. At the close
OF the editorial the following question is
put:
Does the drift of woman into business tend
10 better her condition, tighten her burdens
enlarge her capacity as mistress of the home
Mt her for wliehood and motherhood, preserv o
the charm of her femininity and the graces
OF her character?
In the beginning, in attempting to
answer this Interrogation, Ishould ask for
division of the question. and desire to
take up consecutively the three PROPOSE
tions therein contained. First-Does the
drift of womon into business tend to
better her condition and tighten her bur-
dens? Second-Does it enlarge her ca
pacity as mistress of the home, fit her
for witehood and motherhood? Third
Does 1t preserve the charm of her femi-
ninity and the graces of her character?
The first proposition believe every
business woman would answer in the
affirmative. We are living in an age in
which the conditions of life have radi-
cally and rapidly changed from what they
were even third of century ago. The
COSb Vi 1lN lnR ldS BLcdJly lHGTedS6U. 1le
ordinary wage-winner would find it inn
possible to-day to support respectfully a
family of daughters whose sole business
was to cultivate the graces of femininity:
but with these increased expenses in liv-
ing have come changes in business
methods, by which avenues for the en-
ployment OF our girls, as well as our bows
have been opened. In December, 1857
an article was published in Harpe1JS s
Magazine entitled "Our Daughters, What
Shall We Do With Them?" If the writer
of that brochure" were to discuss the
question in May, 1893, it would be from
the standpoint, "Our Daughters, What
We May Do With Them,"
The merchant of to-day needs stenog-
raphers, the Government to-day needs
almost countless numbers of clerks, the
school of to-day prepares the daughters,
as well as the sons, of our land for these
positions, and the daughter fills them
with credit TO herself and with satisfac-
ton to her employer. By these means
her burdens of poverty and helplessness
are lightened; ;,she no longer feels that she
is living an idle and useless life, q weight
to her parents, but, in the work of her
hands, finds the satisfaction that all find
who are using the powers given them by
their Creator.
Second-"Does the drift of woman into
business tend to enlarge her capacity as
mistress of the house, and tit her for
wifehood and womanhood?" Most as
suredly the training of the business
woman does exactly this. In a second
editorial in the RECoRD-UNIoN of the
same date as the one which suggested the
article, occurs the following:
We expected it-this drift of woman into
business, this pushing of young women into
commercial and trade pursuits has already
raised the question, SHOULD the business
woman marry?" The very suggestion OF the
doubt is enough to condemn the tendency TO
which we have so often adverted. Should
they marry? Yes, but those trained TO busi-
ness can never be model wives; business
training units women for the Offices and
honors of domestlcity.
This question is not so new that it
should occasion burst of surprise. Some
five or six years ago the New York
World had this subject discussed in its
columns by many noted writer's, and
what added peculiar piquancy to the dis
cussion was the item in another column
of the same paper to this effect: ut is
stated that there are in New York City
alone q, 900 married women vino are sup
porting their families"
AS business woman, as the daughter
of business woman, widowed mother,
whose memory her children bless; trained
from childhood in the details of buying,
selling and getting gain; as a wife. and the
widowed mother OF sons who are not, 1
trust, unworthy members of the COM
munity in which they reside; in the name
of all women who have been compelled
to do battle in the arena of life, l throw
down the gauntlet and demand satisfac-
tlon for statement so unjust to woman
kind.
maintain that the business woman is
all the better qualified. by her training.
to engage in that highest and most
honorable business in which woman can
be engaged, that of managing a home
and so rearing children that they may be-
come respected members of society. A
business training, the earning and the
4 spending of money, teaches those lessons
( of economy of resources ana wise ex-
! penditure which are so necessary, es-
/ peeially in the home of limited means.
and the happiness of welded life is fire.
/ quently wrecked for the want of the