The Republican journal., 1898-05-26
Women and Work.
BY LADY COOK, nee TENNESSEE c. CLAFLIN.
No ,

We saw in a former paper how the sup
ply of women workers far exceeds the de-
mand for their services, owing to the linn
itations put upon them through male
jealousies. When Sir John Bennett ad-
voCated the general employment of women
in watch making, he was mobbed for his
pains. When a Paris firm of printers at
tempted to employ women compositors,
the men opposed it, and the project was
abandoned. When the kidderminster man
ufacturers of velvet placed women at
their looms, the carpet weavers struck to
manifest their disapproval of female la
hour. And in the potteries, the opposi-
ton of the men to the employment of
women was the struggle of years, and the
whole strength of the Trades Union was
exercised ''to prevent women from using
the hand-rest, which was of the greatest
service in producing both rapidity and
precision of work. Girls EMPLOYED in
London as jewel burnishers were able TO
earn three and sixpence a day, and gave
the highest satisfaction to their EMPLOYERS
Yet all We're unwillingly dismissed through
the jealous opposition of the men in the
same establishment.
These are few examples out of hun
dleds which have initiated against the
extension Of female employment, and we
need not enumerate more Uneducated
mechanics and University Fellows have
alike shown the same luminosity to women
Sharing tleir crafts OF academical hon
OARS. Both classes may profess to admire
chivalry in the abstract hut ,hey evidently
had no relish for it in tbo concrete. Both
Join III the cuckoo cry for justice and fair
play hut it would seem that too often
they mean these privileges tor themselves
only. and Will have none OF them for
women
Nevertheless, since 1871, the number of
women workers has relatively increased,
and tAei1 spheres Of labour have been en-
larged and multiplied. For, after all the
course OF justice, though slow, is eternal
and progressive We may not always note
her steps at the time. any more than we
see the grinding march of the glacier, but
We may be sure tAat she is moving with
greater certainty OF advance, and crush
ing 10 powder all that impede her pro
gress. For il morals, as in geology. a
cycle is often required 10 make important
changes palpable.
This iUGVna Siuc1yt .D-+a,,,j;,-, r
Iabouf for women is not, however. an I'M
mixed blessing. Many of their occuna-
tons are no1iOus to an extreme degree
and even where they are not absolutely
unhealthy, the long hours demanded from
growing girls and child bearing women.
and the cruel rules to which so many have
to yield, are highly prejudcial to health
ana temper Some of the ''genteel''
occupations are not exempt from these
dfaWbacks. Nh. Charles Booth. in his
Life and Labour of the People, saws.
The long hours worked in the draper1-
trade combined with prolonged standing
nave a very detrimental effect upon
ulapeiS assistants, causing anaemi, and
general deterioration of health which
ieh0els them an easy prey to Indigestion
constipation, and kindred malades. The
snort time allowed fol meals, and tba
speedily acquired habit of s.holtino,,
1heir 1000, 50 as To make the most of the
allotted minutes. tend in tbe san,a 5;roa
'loA' ne results are most noticeable
among the momen, and especially those
~ busy Shops, where little or uo oDnor-
luhity Ton lest occurs. Unless a girl has
an exceptionally strong constitution, the
excessive strain soor tells on her health
dn" lhuS II happens that many have to
leave tile trade, viii st others give M for
time only to be again invalded 500,
after they return to shop life
1t wa" not long ago that the horrors of
the match making industry we're exposed
III The daily papers, through which az
was alleged, the teeth, Jaws, and bnnos
Oh young women anc girls employed were
destroyed by the fumes Of the INGREDIENTS
We have no hesitation in SAVING that i i
The bounden duty of every civilized
government to protect those who are com
PEELED to labour Tor their bread and -
provide that in every occupation the best
safeguards that science can devise with
the minimum Of risk to health. life or
limb, shall be rigidly enforced Mar
"oulu 'hls governmental interference with
Tree abour be incompatible with the ideas
OF liberty which we have repeatedly ennn-
Grated, particularly where women are
concerned. For while they are denied
ehe suffrage or any other privilege Of
citlzenship, they are unable to nrotect
themselves, and the first duty of apy and
every government is to offer protection
10 The feeble and helpless.
90 tar as We are aware no comn,a+e RI;
9est OF the census of 81 has vet been
made, except that for London bv Mr.
Charles Booth. From this we find that
two hundred and sixty thousand persons
are employed in the Metropolis in con