The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-10
FOR FEMININE READERS
woMEN ARE BECOMING a GREATER
FACTOR IN BUSINESS LIFE.
Domestic Problem That Differs with
Every FamfIy-What a woman's
Crib Has Done-Odds and Ends.

Whether the broadening influence of
woman in this country is 10 win it's twen-
tieth century triumphs with the ballot or in
the sharp competitions OF business and pro-
fessional life is a question concerning which
one persons opinion is perhaps as good as
another's, says the New York Mail and Ex-
press. That women are gaining in political
power is u~ndeniable. In four States they
have the right 10 vote for candidates for all
Offices, including the presidency. In others
they can vote for nominees for borough,
school and county offices and are them
selves eligible TO those positions.
Yet If we consider the trend Of the educa-
tional movement we shall find that the
growing power of woman is likely to be ex-
erted hereafter chiefly in other than polit-
zeal affairs. She has invaded the learned
professions. She is rapidly monopolizing
the occupation of teaching. Various
branches Of the mechanical arts have been
opened for her. She is engaging In mercan-
tile pursuits and in many directions she is
successfully performing tasks which until a
comparatively short time ago were almost
exclusively restricted to men. Her swift
advance along these avenues of endeavor
has its primal impulse I'm the liberal spirit
which controls the policy of our great insti-
tutions Of learning. They have opened their
doors TO welcome her. She is a successful
competitor with the young men in the pur-
suit of knowledge in all its branches. and
with the intellectual equipment thus ae-
quired she becomes an equally successful
competitor In the practical affairs Of life.
Her educational progress can be illus
trated by a few facts collected by Prof.
fIarrfe IT, noffonaI r,-,focfOnar 81 aIn-
cation. He reports that the high schools Of
the United States in 1898 graduated
q, 12f girls and only 20.3H boys. Between
1872 and 1899 the number of male students
In college in proportion to the whole popu-
iatiOn increased nearly 100 per cent, while
the number OF female students increased
Eix-f0id in the same time. OF the sixty
foremost colleges and universities in the
Country ali but nine confer degrees on
women. Every college founded since the
war Is open TO students of both sexes. Only
three State colleges in the UniOn-those of
Virginia, Georgia and Louisiana-exclude
eirl students. Practically all the schools IL
the country below the high-school grade
are in the hands of women teachers, and
50 per cent. of the teachers in the nigh
schools of New England are OF the gentler
SEX
If these facts have any meaning 1t is that
fhe competition of woman is destined to
become a steadily charging factor in the
practical activities OF business life. Few
girls are willing to undertake the arduous
task OF q college course for its own sake
hhe great majority enter upon 1t seriously
resolved TO profit by il, and to share with
their masculine rivals the rewards which
belong to wholesome ambition and high
eEdeavor. This sort of rivalry is a benefi-
cent force for social advancement. 1t
gives the widest scope for the law OF the
survival Of the fltteSt and serves as a con-
slant incentive to progress in character
ard achievement. And under it's stimulat-
ing influence the question of what we shall
Go with opr girls has already been trans
formed into What will our girls do
uIfb rS3