New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20
VIEW YORK TRIBUNE SUNDAY DECEMBER 90 1908

work has. almost without exception to be done
over again. They usual" lat handing It In.
and resent any criticism OF it II it were per-
sonai insult. When I deal with Northern wom-
an even II she is inexperienced in business it
doesn't take any time to make her realize that
she must give hundred cents worth OF work for
every dollar she IS TO get She knows she has to
90 the work to please those who give IL to her.
ana not according to her own preconceived notions
u IL and she takes comment, adverse otherwise.
Just as a man would. Southern women want all
sorts Of little extra indulgences and allowances:
business routine gals them and they are forever
acting and talking if it was great cOndescen-
sion on their part to enter office anyway. They
are insufferably airy, and they not at all par
tcular about the truth"
I've heard Mrs. Brown say said a quiet voiced
woman. that the Blank Association" mentioning
the New-York branch of a we'll known organiza-
ton. composed of Southern women. is practically
carrying two hundred or three hundred semi-de-
pendent Southern girls and women who have come
here to make a living and have fallen down on it.
II does seem strange q rule. they are as
well educated as the average woman from other
locaItes'-
But they not educated for any particular
purpose; that is their principal troube-their hope
less aimlessness'' the rejoinder, and they
seem to think that because they had grandfathers
or because they never had to put their hands 10
anything before. therefore they should be allowed
to draw fat salaries and do next 10 nothing as
matter OF course. Some OF them won't even con-
descend to enter Office. and only accept work
at home, with the provision that no one shall
know
A man appeared upon the scene at this point IN
the impromptu symposium. and he was appealed to
for his views the subject under discussion
Yes" he said, 4 have employed good many
Southern women in various branches of my work
1t seems to me they are very much like the rest
Of woman nature Yes, they rather more in
clned to sociabiity than activity" he continued
with a smile: but I have had one in my employ
for nearly fourteen years now, and I haven't a
more conscientious. Intelligent or trustworthy
worker She is always gentle hammered and oblS-
ing, and always pleasant tempered Though l
happen to know that she has temper. and a
quick one. she is gently bred to show 1t, no
matter what the provocation, and always feel
that literally and adequately represented by
her. whether I in my office or not There are
who are personally crude or Impossible, and many
a would, like myself. prefer some one who mas
perhaps less technical training but IS neVer'heeSs
% 6 56s 6 T5 previous speakers
.tbers' are 'TieTfv Of northern gentIewornen in
business; it is Just the Whitney, helpless. dependent
attitude Of these southerners that appeals to the
puTblipd masculine temperament
SIZE HAS MORE INDIVIDUALITY
The man laughed. u admit he said. that
though New EugIander. like the unself-assertive
difidence Of a Southern woman better than the
assumed omDipotence OF many Of my own fem
mime compatriots TO work with day after day.
And then, the same grade Of work, one is apt 70
find more gently bred Southerners. The woman
from DixieIsud who comes to New-York with the
purpose Of earning her living. as a stenographe
even, is apt to be person of more individuality
ana force OF character than the Manhattan or
the same profession i'll a night school. 1 certainly
should not continue 10 pay salary person who
| ala not MI the bill. 10 matter how needy she
HllShL appear. such cases are candidates for the
ph1lanthToDic, not the business, world. know,
my bellef Is that plain truth is the only foundation
for help charity. If you will But don't YOU
think that il is only because after the Ianentabe
Iashlon OF our kind We prone 70 enlarge
on the heIpessness Of the helpless ones that the
impression abroad Of the wholesale failure OF
are hundreds and hundreds in this city earning an
/ honest living, supporting families, working hard
day after day, making complaint and giving
complete satisfaction TO their employers But no
body hears about these. They themselves are the
last to speak of their circumstances and the
world goes by unheeding and harps on the per
centags OF failures
But they're impracttcabIe." insisted a mem
| Der or the speakers audience of five, and they
usually spend their last cent for dress some lux
real need overtakes them.
Again the man laughed. IF you are New
! Engla1der,' he said You know that there are
| Just many definitions for the word need as
| ger may be disturbing TO people Of our cal
ibre than the incongruity of some partColored ap-
parel But, you say, there are beings otherwise
built, and their needs just real TO them
| to Perhaps they seem impractical!
! only because standards matter of fact
/ and material I know a young Southern woman
| who. out OF the mun1cent salary Of s. a week.
pays 81 for room, dressing and living on the re
/ naming IS. She does this only by the most barren
| economy, the plainest home prepared foods and