The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-16
TILE NFY WOMAN.

of fashion. She has developed during the
rast few years, and she viii pass away.
Ten years ago Il would have been thought
very ,,nbecouing for girls 10 wear dress
Initiating q mans vest display with us
turneG-down collar. laring neckties and
studs. Yet even that innovation soon be-
came tame and it was followed in turn by
the hat, the CATERS, the overcoat, and now
by the bifurcated garment We can be
na.isnt with II as a transient fashion
which will pass away with the hardly less
offensive crinoline.
But the nineteenth century VIII leave
behind II a new woman. whose virtues
will stand out in striking contrast with
the fofbles Of a fashion plate. There are
many Of such women 10 be found in the
United States. but the pioneer will be rec
ognlzed In Emily Faithful. the English
woman, who died a few days ago. Within
the past half century Englishmen have
held in high esteem three women who dis
played remarkable courage One OF these
was Grace Darling the daughter OF the
lighthouse keeper at Farne Islands, whose
heroic rescue OF a shipwrecked crew gave
her worldwide fame. Another was Flor
ence Nightingale. who established the
band of female volunteer nurses which did
such splendid service in the Crimean war.
The third was Emily Faithful.
The great army OF women now occupied
in commercial pursuits owe much to the
efforts of this noble sister. II is hard to
realize that only twenty-five years ago
movement 10 promote the employment OF
women should meet with bitter opposi-
ton. The sentimental cry was raised that
woman would become unsexed by engag-
ing in labor hitherto regarded as suitable
only for men. II Is true that a condition
which drives girls into the ranks OF me
chanical labor IS an unfortunate one.
Those who esteem the sex most highly
prefer 10 see IL confined TO the home cir
Gle: but the unfortunate condition existed
and thousands OF helpless creatures found
themselves limited TO domestic drudgery
or 10 the factory. The great over-supply
OF women seeking employment as domes-
tics subjected them to indignities. to mis-
cradle accommodations and to toll which,
we are proud 10 say. no house servant in
America would or need submit to- Gov
ernesses were little better off, and the
same demand for work in every avocation
lowered wages everywhere TO a starvation
point Emily Faithful saw in typesetting
@ work which women could do, and she
set out to the task OF training them. She
~ nv nNnnfnPeh
by men who. not unnaturally, feared the
effect OF the introduction OF females into
new lines of labor by driving men out or
reducing wages. Her success was. how
ever. complete. She did not extend the
employment OF women to any appreciable
extent in the printing business but her
example broke down the prejudice. and
telegraphy. stenography, the typewriter,
sewing machine and other mechanical i'm
rrovements rapidly made way for the
amelioration of the condition of thousands
OF poor girls.
The barbarous notion of woman's entire
subordination to man was succeeded by
the poetic chivalTy of later days. which
made woman the superior OF man That
homage did not make her intellectually
better on the contrary it taught her that
| she was a pretty creature 10 be pandered
/ TO with compliments. fed upon the sweet
1 meats OF fattery. sonnetized IN Anacre-
| onic idylls. and etherealized in romance
! when the age OF serenade and gallantry
| passed away Il left the sex untitled for the
! prosaic epoch of Industrial and commercial
/ commonplace. II left woman impractical
/ but disillusionized: II forced her to the
| bitter necessity OF relying upon her owr
| mental resources and the devices OF her
native wit 10 meet the hard conditions Of
! an everyday struggle for existence. But
! woman s. today the equal OF man. Al
/ women are not equal TO the best men. but
/ the best women are the equal of man. and
| relatively. as sex 10 sex. they are equal
I Intellectually woman has gained; the only
fear Is that she may lose in genueness. re
( fnement and domesucity.
While credit ia deserved by those womer
who seek TO earn an Independent living By
their own skin and labor the prospect &.
not pleasant one. The evolution OF tbs
new woman has IT'S advantages but It de
s,roys the ideal Of the petted daughter
and sister. tho comranlonshlp Of wife ant
! the home-loving mother