New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-05
THE BUSINESS WOMAN.
Preacher Discusses Her Effect on
Modern Home Life.

Are business women reducing the number OF
marriages, and do they make good wivesT TINS
was the theme OF the discourse of the Rev. John l.
scudder pastor OF the First Congregational Church
Jersey City. last night. He said. in part;
There is much said in these days about the new
woman. but the newest thing ABOUT ~, bae s 91st
World and becoming Independent OF the sterner sex
OF these industrial women there are SAID 10 De De
and their passage from the domestic sphere to
mercantile careers is making changes IN Sur So
The business woman OF to-day stands out 81 bold
Tbo have sRs pTe6eas er She beees in
freedom and self-support. and refuses 10 3e q
line steam engine To-day she is her own locom9-
tive and IL she marries she marries as an equal
The question OF feminine support must be an,
must gain her own livelihood or become the bene-
Sary OF man FsfRer s 2no st come Outside
pendent spirit looks at her ten fingers and says:
Il can use these and earn my own bread or. II
intellectually inclined she gives toss to her head
Will Try and see what necuniary return the con-
tents OF my Uranium will bring me-
Herein she differs from the maiden OF past
centuries who tried TO solve the problem by trying
pay the bills wien she succeeded She practically
eave up her liberty and too often she became me
usually the one that supplies the funds. II she
FAILURE and StTeT5bie5 lest She should be called an
old maid" During the long. dark centuries or the
FeTient 10 man. ana her Condition has been any
thing but enjoyable. Man has been the unit and
woman the cipner. Behind US is barbarisrn. where
woman has been the drudge of man. Even to-
the price OF male. and In India the laws OF Menu
declare that the wife nay be the slave Of her
son. Even in England, less than twenty-five years
ago II a man stole a knife and bunch OF keys he
his wife down and kicked her in the face he was
IN ages past man has domineered over woman
because might made right, and his strength COM
aS has often sighed for freedom. but not until this
stage IN human evolution has woman been able TO
secure IT. in free America she now has unlimited
opportunity 10 secure her Independence. and, OBJ
tanning THIS she Is not SO I 10 36 srrv S @
less assured Of considerate treatment She will not
nS aRe she very 2g much M N love- This Bachelor
maid IS proud OF her ability 70 support herself ana
insists upon the omission OF the word s1o9ey" IN
slightly word out OF the rite Of matrimony many
! sympathize with this Independent spirit Of the
modern woman. and believe she is Tar happier than
those Of her sex who have Peeeqee her a enc tees
herself 10 be something more man q nan , I1g
She stands erect IN the CONSEQUENCES OF her lhols
trial value and ability 10 paddle her own canoe:
She Is not cringing about and perpetually wailing
Under these circumstances. of course. we must
expect fewer marriages IN proportion 70 me popuIa
ton. The industrial woman, leaping into the ranks
of open competition, tends TO reduce the wages OF
the men. and so far forth incapacitates them for
marriage. This is one sad feature Of modern com
rerciaf life II will reduce the number Of homes.
leaving camps OF unmarried men on one SIDE ana
spinsters on the other But athough me weaolhgs
viii be fewer those couples who do marry VIII be
happier, because they stand on the same Iootlfls
snd mutual affinity will be the basis of marriage in
place OF mercenary motive. The business woman
OF to-day refuses to be moon, revolving around a
masculine earth; she viii be twin star nothing
J believe her industrial training will make her a
better wife. for she VIII know the value of dollar
and be able 70 sympathze with her husband in his
daily toll She will apply business methods 10
domestic economy. Should her husband attempt TO
naltrest her she has courage enough TO separate
from him and return 10 self-support. What she has
done she can DO again. Being fearless and de-
sided she VII be respected end wen treated The
world viii make her superior wife and more
capable mother. The OF feminine imbeclity and
cowardce is fast passing away, and in its place
find the new age Of well rounded. exalted woman
ioOt