The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-20
FOR FEMININE READERS
RELIC or An Old PREJUDICE LIN
GERS WITH WORKING WOMEN.
House Decorators Who Prepare
OF Hot Watcr--Thc Fashions.

The average working woman has little
respect for other working women, says a
writer in the New York Sun This doesn't
mean that she is without respect for her
SELF. OF a certain self-satisfied sort but it
does mean that that self-respect is not
broad enough to include Difference for fell
low wage-earners, and 1t must logically
follow that it is a very low grade of per-
sonal regard. The woman wage-earner
whom one most often meets has but the
one standard of gentleship-unlimited leis-
ure According TO her, the worker no mat
Ter how creditabIe or remunerative her
labor may be, is something just a little to
be ashamed of; quite beyond the pale Of
ali those who sit with folded hands, no
matter how much more content, not to say
comfortable. those hands might be if en-
gagged III good honest employment. 1t is
but another phase of the false and ore time
all prevalent squeamishness as to confess
ing financial straits; a modern development
of that spirit that q decade ago led an
impoverished family to declare that they
only took boarders for company sue
ccssful woman teacher who did really love
her work. used to say that she was the
only member OF her guild she ever met who
taught because she had to-alI the rest
whose family have recently lost everything
disposed Of some embroidery at the Wom-
ans Exchange. When an intimate. friend
congratulated her upon her good luck at
finding a way of making money, the girl
out at the elbows and patched as to shoes
as she was, FASTENED to say: "Oh, it wasn't
the money. You see, / have so much idle
time on my hands now. and this embroid-
cry does entertain me So" The new phase
Of the old subject was brought the other
day to the notice of the head of an
elusive and very prosperous girls school
in this city. The principal desired a stenog-
rapher in place of the amanuensis she had
heretofore had. Applicants one after an
other presented themselves, and with each
one the principal found some cherished no.
ton as TO the good sense and stability of
the modern business woman laid low. IL it
wasn't one thing, II was another, but she
at last realized that they were all imbued
with the m-as-good-as-you-arei idea. The
principal finally engaged young girl who
was less ''uppish" than the others and
whose spotted veil was not quite so obtru-
sve. AT the end OF one week the girl re-
signed her place. .sWhy, / pay you So
week more than you were getting i'll your
downtown Office" said the teacher. Yes"
said the. girl but ] like it better in the
office. It's more fun for one thing, and
then''-she paused but the teacher begged
her 10 continue. We'll, it's this way" the
girl finally blurted out; you see, it's sort
of more honorable for me. 1t amt because
/ don't like to be employed by lady, but
you're a lady who works. Why, none of
my lady friends do anything except one
or two, and they're employed by gentle
men in offices; l don't know any type-lady
who is employed by "a woman who works,
and. to tell the truth. we think it a little
beneath us. I'm sorry with a commiserat-
ing glance at the teacher, but the So a
week extra couldn't make up Tor IL, you
know" The teacher steadied her voice for
one question. Don't your men employers in
the Offices wOrk?' she asked "Oh, yes, in
.s.Iff In tfifIf
men. It's different with women" 1t may
be Of interest to add that this teacher sub
sequently secured a man Stenographer, he
having no objections, he said, Ito being
employed by Il woman who worked With
such standards as those in the minds of
the rank and file, the business woman
has a good many lengths to go before she
can hope to attain even quota of that
which her apostles declare for her.