New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-19
"TILLERS OF THE SOIL"
THE PAGE CLUB ADDRESSED BY CON-
SENTATIVE AND LIBERAL MEMBERS.
THOSE WHO THOUGHT WOMEN UNsExED BY
WORK DONE OUTSIDE THE HOME con-
WINGED TO THE CONTRARY By
TWO WOMEN PLANTERS

WINGED TO THE CONTRARY BY
Two WOMEN PLANTERS.
,ocent and interesting meeting Of the Page
Club was held at the home OF Miss Allen, North
Postoflce. Fairfax County, ". Va. where not
only were the topics Of the day taken up as they
have been presented on the Only Womans rage
of Tho New-York Tribune. from which the club
takes its name, but discussion was opened on the
subject of occupations for Women"
The instament OF several new members OF the
old school Of Southern women, those whose occu-
pations were and purely domestic. gave the dis
cusson flavor Of bygone days. Two members
OF the club young women under thirty have been
compelled by the exigencies Of their financial posi-
ton to become farmers-not farmers by proxy. CIV
ing their directions to overseer and men, but
actually going Into the fields themselves and hand
ling plough and harrow. This extreme overstep-
ping the boundaries of woman's sphere had called
down much harsh comment from their neighbors
Of the od-fashioned type and the young women
wished TO have an opportunity to defend themselves
and their position The discussion, therefore, was
entirely between the new and old fashioned women
One of the supporters OF the old school said:
''Woman's sphere is in the household, and out OF
It she is unsexed. There is place for every
thing and everything should be in its place. espe-
cially woman. II money is needed It can be made
in the household. There are many kinds Of home
employment and these can be followed by women
with profit to themselves, but mans work cannot
be entered upon by without rendering her
unlovable and woman made to be loved"
These remarks received much attention and con-
sheraton and the of club opinion seemed
to be in favor Of the od-fashlOned ideas and meth
DDS when the next speaker by practical and
sensible statement Of the not only changed
the fuctuating opinion OF the waverng. but actually
won over some OF the conservative members She
smoke at length Of the load of financial burdens,
our heirooms from the civil conflict OF thirty
wears ago: Of the life led by women before that
crea lures they were made by men. who
mantically tender and devoted to womankind And
these Southern women passed from their cradles to
their graves without coming in contact with the
common things of earth; and yet when wealth
and friends were swept away, those nurtured to
such lives of luxury quickly developed new abl-
ity." The speaker showed how much more helpful
and womany 1t was for the owners OF desolated
plantation to manage and work 1t themselves than
10 part with for a song rent IL for pittance
She asked feelingly: Are not learning from
every source and from nowhere more truly and
earnestly than from The Trbune's Womans Page
that there is no sex in work. IN morality, In any
attribute OF the mind|
"In the work Of our plantation we are success
full" said one OF the women planters. we are
making q good living have gained wonderful
strength and health and still better. Independent
thought Our minus growing as broad as the
fields we plough We no longer look upon life of
The great and noble duality OF work OF all inde-
pendent action, is daily growing clearer 70 our
Vision and firmly believe that Southern
women have a lesson 10 teach TO all women In
showing how with effort may successfully DO
good work IN many different fields Of action"