The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-13


Social Barriers Have Much TO Answer
For-why Boys, Naturally No Better
Fitted, Outstrip Their Sisters.
The rich of today may be the poor of to-
morrow. and it is absolutely necessary for
self preservation that girls born in nfliu-
ent circumstances DO taught some trade or
profession whereby, In case of reyerses,
they may earn honest livelihoods. How
many girls In society. If thrqwn upon tho
world, could earn So week. Can they
cooks Let their own tables tell the sad
and indigestible tale Are they good
chambermaids? How is it possible when
going up and down stairs gives them back
aohesy Have they scientific knowledge Of
the pianos over which they have wasted
priceless hours3 Have they thorough
knowledge of their own languagei Docs
a smattering of French qualify them for
teachingS All, | know all about It'll /
have gone through the phases of early lux
ury and subsequent battling with the
world So keenly do feel the shortcom-
ings OF my own sex and the utter misery
consequent upon them that, were /
mother POSSESSED of millions, my daugh-
ters should all be taught the indispensable
art of cooking and whatever art, profess
sion or trade for which they displayed apti-
tude.
As rule, women arc incompetent
workers, not because they have not the
brains, but because they are superflcially
educated. The wonder Co me Is that wom-
en- do so well, considering their miserable
training and the traditions of society that
are absorbed with their mothers milk. A
girls Generalization begins with birth
and is almost thoroughly accomplished
when she puts on long dresses. As n baby
she Is made 20 look pretty; as a child at
dancing school she hears about beaux and
beauty; at day school there is much less
mental training than there is study of
style" and vapid accomplishments. The
consequence Is that boys starting with no
greater natural advantages than their sis
tors far outstrip them on arriving at ma
turity. Nothing less than inherent genius
has saved the female sex from driveling
idiocy. Nature has been so generous that
IL is about time common sense and educa-
tion came TO its assistance.
And, first of all, women in what is
called society must themselves learn
and then teach their daughters TO respect
work, irrespectively Of sex. Why should
lut bt NNlOOIlt anu
the woman merchant socially ostracizedg
Is il a virtue in Mr.. Stewart to sell dry
goods and crime in Mrs. or Miss Blank
to sell bonnets? A Chinaman would come
to this conclusion were be locker on in
New York. Not long ago / advised young
friend Of mine, suddenly reduced in cir
cumstances, to go into the millinery bust
ness. "You have exquisite taste l." / said.
- Tho orotnnaffAn fc thnranOh1x, Il,
II you please ladylike and in few years
you will make moro money than you can
I'm any other way" II dare say you are
right" replied my society ridden friend,
"but cannot bring myself TO 1t. My rcla-
tivcs and acquaintances would not speak
TO me. "
Browbe by tradition, this young
woman went out rs governess, and sweet
life she leads, being bullied by the chill
dren and patronized by the parents. a
woman competent TO superintcnd the ed
ucation of children ought to be treated
with distinguished consideration, but so
ciety thinks differently.
Will Christian associations take up this
matter and make working girls feel that
they are TO be honored, not piticd, be
cause of their ability TO earn broadY There
is too much patronizing bestowed by the
rich upon the poor. Institutions like the
Christian associations Of this country are
not charities. They are only opponents Of
a duty the wealthy owe 60 fellow creatures
in less fortunate circumstances, and excel
lent as many Of them are they do not he
gin to cover the ground laid out for thom.
When sec the self sacrifice and patient
endurance Of delicate girls living honora-
BILE lives i'm miserable tcnements, / believe
in tho divinity of humanity. The amaze
mcnt Of society ought TO bo not at tho de-
basement of the few, but at the heroic vir-
tue Of the many. Women alone can hclp
women. Lot false social barriers DO re-
moved, and the lack Of thoroughness will
not long be n crying evil. a woman Is
none the less womanly for being a good
worker. No one can excel who is not I'm
earnest Does not the earnest woman
make the best sister, daughter lovor, wife
and mother as well rs the best artist aud
artisats-- Koto Fields Washington
A frap sOpiaI wos piVpn foat ovcpinp by