The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-01-07
WHEREWOMEN REIGN
TH- GENTLE SEX HAS BECOME A
POWER in WASHINGTON.

Hu,dr.ds Of Women Hold Working Po-
s.ions In the Various Departments OF
the National Capital without Losing
Their Social standing.
w hington is getting 10 be wom-
ans LIradise. There is no other place
IN tie wide, wide world where women
earn - much money, are as independ-
ent .ud are as de~ferentially treated by
men az they are in Washington. The
influence Of I'M in the affairs of this
might nation has been a subject Of fire.
Gueat comment. Many interesting and
h.ghlyimaginative stories have been old
OF the woman lobbyist until the discreet
wives of most of our migratory states
men have taken to travelling around
with them, and never under any circuni-
stances let them remain alone amid the
temptations Of the capital. This is a
palpablc injustice to the lawgiver8, and
involves an unnecessary hardship upon
the anxious matrOns.
In the place of an imaginary and TO
mantle influence upon the lawmaking
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 mCnder 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 III life, and feel
ing her power has begun by making all
around her feel it, who in turn emu
1,4. To-. -l-.-- c. -
that from d combination Of politics, So
ciety bObbing and female domination
tho women Of Washington have estab-
lishcd 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 be left without a
YOtary and no profession would fall into
decline. Beyond the closing Of a few
charitable institutions things would re-
mai, 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
sufIlcIcntly 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
Specializing in city and suburban prop
erty. An undertaken is about the ONLY
thing OF Importance which would not
be md. Thus far the men have that
buslhes3 to themselves.
When Spinner opened the departments
f. he employment of women he gave
To- IAN opportunity for advancement.
ire thing has worked itself out now and
the I1male clerk IS an established instl
tutI II, 50 TO speak, i'll good standing,
with q fair incOme-and sometimes P
fan face as wcll-recOgnized and an
prov i f by good society, and in a
lnea. IRE fashionable. Her social stand
ing a a class comes perhaps from the
fact tIat She Is more often the friend of
the wives Of statesmen than of the
state EN- themselves, those watchful
guardians exercising some discretion in
tine III 'er Of favors to their own sex.
Ont II this has come the recognition
Of woman "A self supporting creature.
without los Of standing, and not ali
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.
do"tOrS and lawyers are no longer a nov
city, AMI Il great many have gone into 2
small private brokerage business. One
woman has gone regularly into the real
estate, loan, trust and insurance bust
hc>%. ard has turned out to be one of the
best Cuisines men of the thousand and
II who keep their eyes on every foot of
ground III and about Washington. She
has opened mp new subdivisions, formed
syndicatc> and done booming with the
best Of them. The girls have almost
dl'Ien Young men out of the stenogra-
ply ami typcwriting business, and even
N ma thcpolitical headquarters. where
men only used to be employed, women
HOW UUtnumber men two to one.
The best of II all is that with all his
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 wonld You think to see a shop
girl III a tailor made riding habit gallop-
ing through Central park on a STYLISH
horse? II would not be a common sight
IT Is not at all uncommon to see parties
of shopgirls-salesladies-well dressed
and we'll mounted, riding along the most
fashionable drives, looking as stvlish
and pretty and enjoying themselves as
much as the richest daughter of fashion
whom they may pass on the road. The
girls in som" of the larger stores belong
II riding clubs and have riding masters
who tax" them out two or three times a
wcek.-Baltimore News.