Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-06-10

OokBUlu8 Low WOAon OhoLC'
After all is it surprising that some OF
the good men are troubled and troubled
honestly that they do not shrink SO much
from contemplating wives wearing the
trousers as they do from the changes
which to them seem inevitable in the home
life? 1t is not strange that the man with
family wonders how he is to support 1t
and compete with the brothers aad sisters
who haven't married and are willing to
work for wages that preclude their be-
ing married and supporting one party to
the compact in the home administering
its affairs. 1t perhaps isn't strange that
occasionally man in the revulsion ex-
periences sense of being Invested OF his
chivaIrous responsibilities. 1t surely isn't
strange that the existing extreme is ex-
citing another and in this light we view
the remarks Of Bishop Doane and his
alarm for the "equipose of relation be-
tween man and woman" Under these
conditions 1t is not surprising that Eliza
beth Cady Stanton believes that her wild
est dreams are about to be fulfilled, that
she believes the triumph of woman over
man is near at hand, that she sees
"women are riding to the suffrage on the
bicycle.
A little calm reflection, we think, will
convince the average person that both OF
these good leaders have jumped little
hastily at conclusions, have overshot the
mark All should take into consideration
the millions of homes where the beauti-
full home life remains and where it must
remain in essentials SO long as we retain
our grasp upon advanced civilization. The
firing of the outposts creates more ex-
element sometimes than the shock of
battle but doesn't decide the victory.
Bishop Doane should recognize the inevi-
table and teach accordingly, teach conser-
vatively, help to avoid disturbances by
clearing the way for what must come.
Those who lead the onslaught cannot
stop to question but there must be conser-
vativc statesmen to help the state to
properly the fruits of the vic
tory And so 1t is too much to expect
that Mrs. Stanton will forego her radical
ism. She is leading the vanguard in what
she is pleased to think revolution. When
the treaty Is finally ratified she may not be
1t may seem presumptous for us to sug-
gest to these good people that perhaps 1t
would be we'll just now to devote little
attention to the wage earning capacity of
tho Sexes Bishop Doane may think that
woman has not the earning capacity of
man. Mrs. Stanton may think woman
has greater. Both ought to agree that
where woman does the work formerly
done by man, man with family, she
should not live upon her fathers bounty
and do the work at wages upon which she
could not support herself in open compe-
~ 40 uOO WOlAdA . ldulU uAoU UAlo
is So 1t is not an intentioned crime on
part. 1t is the natural result
of woman's eagerness to better her con-
dition without having the experience to
secure her due. When the women get
accustomed to their new position in the
industrial world they will demand their
rights and get them. 10 bring this about
as speedily as possible is very important
work and Bishop Doane and Mrs. Stanton
cannot too quickly join hands in under
taking it.
Bishop Doane must confess that the re-
lations of woman toward the industrial
world are changed and still changing and
that nothing short OF u long series of
can turn the tide backward.
And i5 may be timely for us all to reflect
a little in this connection upon the facts
which have been brought to light by tho
recent census. These show marvellous
yet quite steady gain during the past
twenty years III inc numDcr OI women
in the professional and trade &C.
equations.
The increase in the whole number of
persons, both male and female, employed
in gainful occupations has been from 10. :
sos, 9s3 in 1870 to II, 392, 0a9 in 1880 and
%, 735, Sol in 1890. The increase In the
of women employed has been
from l, $50. 2Ss in 1870 to 2. 647, 157 in 1880
and 3,914,7Il in $780, Thus while both
sexes have increased $3.50 per cent, the
males have increased but 76. 40 per cent
while the females have 1879 per cent.
Even In agriculture, fisheries and mining
the number Of women engaged have in.
creased II IA per cent. while In professional
service their increase is 237.S4 per cent
and in trade and transportation 1,051. As
per cent while the males have increased
but 1856. 10 per cent. Then too, there has
been marked development in the occupa-
lions in which women arc now engaged ss
compared with those to which they for
merly were practically confined. In 1870
there were 4l2 females engaged as artists