The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-05
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
rHE WAGES OF WoMEN WHO WoRK.
A wousa who t. the Mes or Her Fs-ns
in Defenes OF Her Sex.


To rnr EDITOR OF THE sUS-Sir; Having
read the letter from one Of your readers about
women working for lower wages than men.
would like to say a word In behalf Of my own
sex.
Now. II Il we're not FOR the utter selhshness Of
the large majority Of men there would be fewer
women in the Geld OF labor. ]. too. acknowl-
edge that the proper sphere Tor woman IL
home. But how few men are willing to de-
prive themselves OF even luxures to keep the
women OF the family at homel Look about
you. even in our own city. and how many
fathers do you find sending their daughters
out to work at as tender an age as
the laws OF our city will permit; many
OF them hardly able to read the news
papers when they are taken from SCHOOL,
And ret little self-denial would enable most
families to get along without the financial
help OF the daughters OF the house. How
many brothers deny themselves nothing, yet
SEQ their sisters struggling hard to keep up
the respectable appearance which their posi-
ton In life demandsl Nay. how many men ~
refuse to par their own share Of the household
expenses. leaving the burden on the shoulders
OF sisters, often younger and less able to work
than theyl Their number is legion. but their
friends and companions do not always know
am q woman Just - years OF age. yet
l have done more work In the world than
age OF 10. and have been tho only support OF
my mother. two brothers. and sister younger
yes, l have n charming brother, two years
older than myself whom l have supported
Is he a ioaiSrf Oh no but then You know know
young mon cannot DO like girls they must
have lots q MONEY in their pockets; and eirls
money must In manT cases be the men Of
4 lin
expect my sister to graduate from the Nor
NAL College next June. and hope. being
my brothers who are still at school. For years
past my brother. being man. you know.
has dressed himself up and gone OF with
sister RSs spent her DS SSsSipg hi,i
home making over her clothes aud those OF
h ID R Ss
work OF q man, she Is still only a woman and
must be satisfied with two-thirds, or even less.
OF what her brother would receive for the same
work And yet my brother is one OF the most
affabe Of men. love him very dearly. but |
would be able to do much good with 1t, and he
M brother f. by no means an exception;
to be the men OF their families. l do not deny
that many who have good homes work for pin
man can. Lot the men see to it that
less money is spent outside OF their own
field. But i, You turn the women out you viii
have to open more asylums for orphan chill
dren and for aged parents
Then, again | deny that girls work care
lessly, because they expect to give up work
some day." That 10 not the case they cling to
their work and bring to 1t clear heads. With
them nervous prostration" Is brought on
more often by too close attention to duty than
bauchery, as Is the case with many men.
No one is moro anxious to have equal pay
for equal work than women. They are the
wronRed ones. not tho men. Recompense
should be In accordance with the work done.
with no reference to the person doing It..
Pardon me II | have taken up too much OF
your valuable room. but felt that my case
was the case Of hundreds, maybe thousands,
In this city. When our fathers aud brothers
grow less selfish. We can stay at home. attend
to home duties and have IN ore time to i'm prove
ourselves mentally and physically.
Hoping the men will some day insist that
women be not compelled to work for less
wages than men" remain.
A CONSTANT READER.