Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-01-04
WASHINGTON.
WOMEN IN THE DEPARTMENTS.
An interesting Letter from Miss
Emily ward Washington Life
interestingly Depicted.

Perhaps the majority Of women
would, if given their choice, prefer
to remain in the home than be-
come wage earners in the world,
however advantageous the oppor-
tunity for the latter might be. But
inasmuch as some women must be
bread-winners, and as each year
the number seems to increase, 1t is
probably only a bit of wisdom to
prepare girls for sell-support, and
by making them capable and sell
reliant, assist them to c'nquer tho
more easily the difficulties and dis
couragements, to teach them TO
do their duty in the sacred shelter
of happy home, if they be so
fortunate; if not, to do well and
cheerily outside Of the much
talked of "woman's sphere"
Once it becomes duty, it is no
longer uniting, and if the WORK IS
fitted to them and they to the work
it will be found that there is in
congruity.
Since 1868, when Gen. 5 llinner
gave women place in the Depart
ments, Washington office life has
answered the question. what
shall | do ?" for many woman
unframed for any special work, and
has made comfortable MANY home
without other support. Like every
other work, it has its pros and
cons, but its advantages, to my
mind, outweigh its disadvantages.
1t is true that office life is not all
pleasantness and profit. 1t is true
that while, in some cases, the work
is varied and interesting, it is rath-
err the exception than the rule, and
the average work of the several
Departments is monotonous to an
extreme, the sedentary life is irk-
some, the daily presence of SO
many people wears on one after a
while.
The buildings are handsome ar
chitecturally, the rooms nicely car
peted, and each desk furnished
with footstool, and every possible
material and convenience for writ
ing, yet few of the Departments
are well-yentilated, and are kept
too warm in winter, SO that the air
is heavy and one goes home with
headache. The days work be-
gins at 9 a. m. and is finished at
p. M, but in a city with dinner
hour from 500 to 600, little can be
done before 900 or after A o'clock
hence, practically the clerk has tc
delegate to others personal business
matters and shopping, or exist with
a minimum of attention TO them
all of which hinders real progress
as well as being a serious annoy
ance at times.
All this is is doleful array Of
facts, but, conceding their exist
ence as facts, there is reverse side
to the picture, and it is this phase
of Department life in Washington
that I wish specially to notice.
Looking at it from strictly prac
teal standpoint, the hours, from
until 4, with one-half hour at moor
for lunch, are shorter, and the pa.
better, than i'll any other employ
ment now open to women, exclu
sive, of course, of those whom Ma
ture has endowed with exceptiona
gifts, but, as someone has said
"the present age has given US blu
one woman who has the privilege
of refusing to pour forth her night
ingale song unless $1,000 swell hel
bank account for each perform
ance."
Then there is the liberal allow
ance of vacation Of thirty days
the regular salary being paid Will
on leave, besides the privilege o
thirty days. sick leave with pay
if the necessity arises, or sixt.
days in cases of protracted illness
AS rule, the salary Of clerk j
deducted for any time taken owe
and above the sixty days allowe'
by law. Each Department has
well-equipped library for the bene
fit of the employees, the only re
striction being that book canno
be kept out over two weeks, excep
upon application, when the LOAF
may be renewed tor an additional
two weeks. Thus, without an.
cost. the Department clerk has &C
cess to the best literature, includ
ing all the new books and period
icals; and, as rule, you will flint