The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-01
MRS CLAXONS VIEW OF BUSINESS WOMEN
~ MET WITH UNITED CHALLENGE in, THEIR DEFENSE
we'!-Kaown Downtown Work.
ers Offer. to Prove 10
MINISTER'S Wife That
They May Be Good
Housekeepers.
RETAIN FEMININE GRACES.


OF the Grand Avenue Baptiss Cliisch, Is ev.
Identity alone In her ideas Of the "idoai
Wife" rs far as the working women u
ST. Louis are concerned.
Many women who earn their living de-
nounce her statements In unmessured tones
only one girl could hc found who agreed
with her Views and she would not express
her opinions;
Some women said that Mrs. Claxon's effort
could only have been born of inexperlence
In the working world Others said she
didn't know what she was talking about.
one girl said That she had no fears but that
she could best Mrs ClnNun attending to her
household duties and boosted that she would
be willing to challenge her 70 make an
omelCt to decide II a working girl could not
Ne as good house wife as even she or any
nther woman vino spends all her time at
home.
Mrs Florence NJ. Latin. manager of the
ladies' department of the Missouri Trust
Company. said:
Il disagree with Mrs. Claxon IN every par
ticular | don't think n working woman
can lose her dignity or maidenly reserve just
because she tolls downtown for living.
And. asain. don't think the St. Louis men
That have come in contact with since
have become working woman treat me-
with any less respec; than l have been ac-
customed TO heretofore. and / have been
Il woman used TO the environments of the
best society.
THE fact that | am straphUider in
the street cars almost dvery evening don't
think lessons me in the eyes OF my friends.
'ihe fact that one is capable To take hold
and make "a success of life work ! think
impresses others with our usefulness. csre
fo1I In. ha o,,Ff Fnti.
II could never become rcconciled to the
theory that woman loses any of her in
divlduality by departing from the ways OF
our ancestors. or course. II would be very
nice II We could all stay home and attend
strictly TO home duties which. think. al
most every girl would like TO do IL Il were
possible. The ways of the world are !
changing. however. and the women must |
l;eep up with them. She can do II. too |
Without endangering her prospect the !
dearest and sweetest. of wives, mothers, sis |
ters sweethearts. --....f..s... ---..' '-...'
How many society girls of St Louis
can cook meal or mend their own gar
inents? or course. There are t. great many
but you will find that the ones that cannot
are greatly In the majority. You will find.
on the other hand that many of the St
Louis working girls make all their own
clothes and even cook their own meals after
returning home from work
Mrs Claxon talks of the working girl |
mixing on the street cars with men and
thereby losing n great deal OF the respect
of the stronger SEX. What does Mrs. Claxon
ride In? Has she got "A carriage. or an
automobile? II she has she Is a very
fortunate woman. but those things are not
necessary in the perpetuation of maldenly
individuality. All girl has TO be at any ,
time Is her own sweet self II she is in
business all she has 10 do Is attend strictly
10 business. and she will find that there ia
a place for her at the top, the place We are |
all striving for"
THINKS VIEWS Rt'BBIsH.
Mrs. Graham Frost, manager OF the wom-
ans department of the Mercantile Trust
Company, declared that Mrs Claxon did not
Know what she was talking about She said:
We'll. just say for me that am sorry for
the Reverend Mr.. Claxon. I think Mrs
claxon's views are all rubbish. She Just
wants something to talk about. and / be-
lieve that she would not enjoy anything
better than TO have the newspapers start a
controversy over her paper
she surely knows nothing about men or
their chiva.ry. or, at least, she would not
hold the views she does If she came in con-
tact daily with the men am working with
Her views are old womanish' In the ex-
IRENE"
WOMAN Is WRONGED
Madeline ii. Menaugh IN communication |
10 The St Louis Republic. declares that |
Mrs. Ciaxon is Gcing the woman wage
Garner Of St Louis a gross injustice by her | ,
views. She gays. in part
81 think Mrs. Claxon's paper will have :.
singing effect on the efforts OF many women