Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-05-22
SHOULD WOMEN WORK.

We were talking few days ago
with a prominent business man of
Augusta on the subject of young la
dies working in offices and stores. He
mentioned the fact that on business
trip in the West he had stopped in
certain city with man with whom
be had some extensive dealings. From
the character aud volume of his bus
mess as / observed it, said he, that
man made from $1,000 to $4,000
per annum, and yet his three young
lady daughters were all employed in
offices and stores, making money for
themselves. OF coure. there was no
necessity for it, but 1t was the greed
for money making that is born and
bred in the people, as we'll as the spir-
it for work. A man in the South
who made half as much as this West
erner would not think of having his
daughters at work. 1t is easy to see.
thought, why the North and West
have the money when every member
of family is producer; but 1t is
also equally plain why the South has
the daiutiest, wOmanliest woman in
the world, reared as they are, under
the gentle and refining influence of
home. 1t is impossible for woman
to 60 out into the world and associate
on business terms with men without
losing some of that gentle womsuli
ness that is so gracious and charming
In our Southern women"
The words of our friend, which we
have quoted from recollection, were
recalled when we read the following,
by Henry t. Fiuck, in the Indepen-
dent:
can incalculable amount of harm
is done by this foolish and criminal
warfare on home life. Instead of be-
ing encouraged in the tendency to
leave the refining atmosphere of home,
girls should be taught that, except
under the stress of poverty, it is sell
fish as well as suicidal on their part
to go out and work. Selfish, because
they take away the work which poor
women and men absolutely need for
their daily bread; suicidal, because
by Offering themselves so cheaply to
employers thoy either drive out the
men or, by lowering their wages from
the family standard to the individual
standard, make itimpossible for them
to marry; wherefore these same girls
who had hoped, by thus going out to
work, to increase their marriage
chances, are left to die as old maids.
or new women, as they now prefer
TO call themselves Had they re-
manned at home and cultivated the
graces and refined allurements of
femininity, their chances for a good
marriage and happy life would have
been much better. Men still prefer,
and always will prefer, the home girl
to any other kind. They want a girl
who has not marred her beauty and
ruined her health by needless work.
or rubbed off the peach blossom of
innocence by exposure to rough
world; girl who has been trained
by sensible mother to understand
and, II necessary, perform, all the
various functions and details that
make home comfort and a JOY"
Of course there can be nothing but
praise for the woman in any walk of
life, who is under the necessity of
earning livelihood, and who bravely
faces the responsibilities of life and
does what her hand finds to do.
Many a woman in the South, as well !
as elsewhere, has found it necessary
to be bread winner, but the criti
clsm is upon the woman, who. with |
no necessity for doing so, leaves the
refining influence of home to iostle
and be jostled in the marts of men. |
Chronicle.