The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-18

An Embarrassment Experienced by
the Girl Who Earns Her Own Money.

the Girl Who Earns Her own Money
The Pathfinder.
In these days of the new and nobler wom-
anhood, in these days of women VINO think,
work and go about as freely and lndepend-
emily as men, the question OF the age-hon-
ored treating custom that makes men pay
for their women companions, wherever tney
may go together. street-car fares, tneater
puzzling and embarrassing one TO many an
MISUNDERSTANDING girl who earns her own
money
OF course the society lady has nothing
to do with any such question. she IS
stamped a dependent and one TO be pro-
tected. But the teacher. or the business
woman--What right has she to go about let
ting her men friends defray any portion or
her expenses? What right, ethically, has
az IL she would he a free-moving indi-
vidual? Moreover, it profits her nothing,
even from a business standpoint. For is II
not due in part TO this principle OF mem
footing the bills that womans labor Is not
worth what mems labor is? The public,
recognizing that man pays Tor women SO
much all the time, anyhow, tries 10 even
things up by giving him the larger salary
And how this old-time custom-a custom
founded on a different order of things, one
which seems to be living beyond its nat
ural life-does handicap a girl In having
good time, in doing things she wants to do
that merely to take a street-car ride with
her 10y friend puts her under a certain
obligation-however small, the principle Is
the same-the girl could, when she felt ike
hearirg an opera, say, Come on; let us
go. and not always have to await the i'm
vita ion of her friend, who often IS kept
sion OF costs would make both happy AS
ii is tbs natural preferences of women are
restrained, tanned 10 meet those of their
men companions A girl cannot even say
she likes a certain actor without the fear
that it may be taken as hint that she
wants to be invited to go to the play
Her naturalness and freedom of mind and
spirit as well as her business advance
ment, are more or less taken away from
hDTs nv or
that is why women. as class, are found
to be affected and hypocritcal They are,
but they are not naturally And. as this
relic of woman slavery wears itself cut.
women will prove how they love 10 be as
free and natural as men. and, also, how
much more truly companionable in that
way they may be to any friends of the male
All hail. then, to the Dutch treat" and
equality as to sex. But hold on there a min
ute. Isn't there one obstacle in the way.
very difficult to get over Many man who
Will deVoutly say amen! TO al TINS would
perhaps hesitate TO let his woman compan-
ion pay her car fare unless he We're made
to feel that she would not think him Hieanly
stingy to let her. He would rather pay car
fares all his life than TO be thought stingy-
oh. odium of odiumS. And he is right. too.
Nor can we EXPECT chivalrous maanood 10
initiate this reform If. on the other hand
a girl sincerely explains her motive and on
the ground Of better acquaintance and hap
pier times together insists on gong halves,
then the boy would be a monster To hang
on TO the Old mannish idea of the treat
once the principle Is established there is
nothing To prevent any amount OF eXcep-
tlonal favors according TO needs and abil-
tiles
Thus il appears that the continuance or
discontinuance of this unfair custom OF
woman treating rests primarily With the
woman | believe that many women go on
accepting this custom. unthinkingy Doubt
less, too, there are many who eagerly and
helpessly seek and depend on these friend
ly favors. Fut for those who can think
and who hold precious their w0many ind-
vlduality there is no excuse, when once they
have considered the question. for not maxi
ing at least earnest protest.