The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-21
WOMEN WAGE FARMERS.
Lecture by Mis-. Gan LsughIia Before
Literary Union.

Methodist church was well hlled Satur-
day evening while a meeting was held
under the ausnices of the Women's Liter
arv Union. The speaker was Miss Gall
LaushIin, a young lady formerly OF tails
city, but who Is now prat'cing law 10
New York. Her subiec was, tine Con-
ditiou of the Wage Earning Women.
Miss Laughlin is brilliant speaker and
held the Close attention OF her auditors
for upwards of an hour. she was at times
witty and eloquent and was repeatedly
interrupted by hearty applause. Sne was
intrcducrd in a few words BY Mrs
Charles f. FIagg, the president OF the
union. Mrs. FIaRg said that Miss Laugh
lin had wider opportunities to STUDY TINS
subject than any of the m embers ol ene
union No effort had been made 70 Au
vertise the meeting and as she c0nciuoeo
in her introduction of the speaker Mrs
Iriagg extanded welcome not only to the
members but the many others present at
the meeting
sTbe term wage Garner has broader
meaning when applied TO women than
when applied to men" began Miss Laugh
stricsed to the workers of daily labor.
A woman is proud to be called wage
Garner. Women do not quarrel about
terms and so the woman PHYSICIAN
lawyer and journalist are proud OF being
oallad wage earners Civilization has
advanced far enough so that In two-thiros
of the states the cond i.ions do not now
exist as they did when told of by Mary
Livermore. She earned much money and
put the money in her own name In the
bank. One day shs fosnd that her
husband could draw her money from
the bank. She was surprised but was
further told that her husband owned all
OF her bonnsts and clothing Alas, said
Mrs. Livermore, here I've been masquer-
aiding for twenty years In my husband S
clothes. (Laughter.) Ii wife Is dis
ablsd In a railway accident the husband
can recover for the loss OF her services. IL
is true that in return for that the nus
band has TO support her But she earns
more than her board and clothing A hus-
band and wife mad strove hard for m any
years and had secured a good property
The husband died. His relatives were
greedy and demanded their full share of
the property Tine case went to court and
the wife was asked to hand In bill for
her services Then she put in bill for
the whole of the property. (Applauss
The business question stands alongside OF
other considerations In marriage. In the
last census the wives who performed the
services of their own households wers
classed as non self supporting. Perhaps
in the first census OF the twentieth CEN
tury the women and mothers will not be
classed as dependents. The twentieth
century has been called by various
names. In my opinion 1t Is the indus
trial century. do not believe that the
industrial position OF women has changed
any more than that OF men. There are
women who have made success in the pro-
LESSONS and they are In to stay have
seen well equipped women teachers who
have made teaching their profession,
paid less than some young STRIPPING who
is making teaching a step TO some other
profession think YOU have seen the
same
Miss Lauqhlin, in closing, received
more hearty applause. A reception was
then held and many had the pleas ure OF
personally meeting Miss Laughlin.