The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-04-23
GIRLS RUNTHIs TOWN
MARcELLus, MICH, is ENTIRELY IN
THEIR HANDS.

Control Politics and Business-sh.ve tho
Living and Bury the Dead-Go to Lodge
and Club Meetings While the Husbands
!, Stay Home-Now They want More.
The new woman is IN her sphere in
the village of Marcellus, Mich, which,
If signs and pretensions are verified,
will soon be controlled by the fair sex.
Marce1lus will 60 down into history
as a town practically run by the new
woman, who not only controls the man
agement of the public schools, but also
has word to say in the conduct of its
political affairs, and in the administra-
tion of its varied business interests.
The town has the distinction Of hav-
ing the only woman undertaken In the
United States. There also resides in the
village female barber, and it Is need
less to say she enjoys generous patron
age. These women are master hands in
their respective professions, and are pos
SCISSORS of comfortable fortunes.
The movement, which has attracted
more than state attention, first assumed
form in 1898, when the poor manage
ment of the schools of the place resulted
in the election of two women members
Of the board of education.
This was the starting point Of the
new woman movement. and the mascu-
line portion of the village was dazed by
the audacity of their wives and sweet
hearts.
Next spring. it is officially announced,
the new women. under the leadership of
Mrs. J. Cromley, who is the prime
originator of the movement, will at
tempt by the ballot to secure the abolish
ment Of the sale of Intoxicating liquors
in the village.
Three saloons are now doing business,
but the agitation, which has been per-
sistent, threatens to wipe them out.
The time has come in the affairs Of
the town when the men have been forced
to acknowledge themselves back num-
bers. In many homes domestic affairs
have simply changed about. The wom-
en- now go to the lodge, ride the goat,
attend the meetings of town clubs, while
the husbands remain at home to care for
the infants.
The first woman to go into business
was Mrs. Anna Walters, the wife Of the
resident undertaken. Her husband was
taken ill at a time when business was
exceedingly brisk. He was without as
sistance, and in despair turned to his
wife, who was not slow in mastering
the exacting requirements Of the busi-
ness, and the wants of customers were
given equally as good attention as though
the husband himself had performed the
last functions for the dead.
The result of Mrs. Walters practical
requirement of the rudiments of the pro-
fession will be a partnership with her
husband in the business. She is typ
ical new woman, claiming that her sex
is better fitted not only in the'manner Of
conducting business affairs. bnt that it
takes greater interest in making them
successful than the men.
Mrs. Melissa Decker is another wom-
an whose success has been nothing short
of phenomenal. It is she who trims the
public whiskers. She wields the razor
deftly, shaves with skill, and for nine
years has found time to hold chair reg
-ular1y in her husbands shop, calling
"Nexti" in manner that would do
credit to an old timer. Her fame has ex-
tended far and wide. and in consequence
the patronage of the shop has doubled
the last two years.
/, A notable instance Of the growing
power Of the new woman is the ousting
Of the male janitor in the United Breth-
rem church and the appointment Of q
woman as his successor. He was de-.
clared by the official church board to be
incompetent, and Miss Ella Wilcox, q
pretty girl, got the position.
Marcellus, the only town in Michigan
practically controlled by the wives and
sweethearts of its former rulers, prom
states history. York Recorder.