The Washington herald., 1911-09-04
For the Continued Interest
of Readers
WHO CONTINUE ARGUMENT
SIr. kemper Presents Excerpts
from Many Letters Published to
Prove that World Is Not Dettered
Financially, Morally, or Socially
by Woman's Work in Business.
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

The discussion of the advisabillty OF
women working in the professional and
commercial world originated in an ar
ticle by Frances L. Garside. in which
she presented few facts and cOnclu-
sions
Seeing this, Mr.. c. L. Kemper wrote me
a letter deploTing woman's dcsertion of
home life for the perhaps more eXCit-
Ing field of work downtown.
Then the open discussion began. in
which many opinions have been express
cd upon the subject readers giving some
very solid and serious reasons both for
and against women holding remunera-
tive positions
Reading the letters which have been
published thus far. Mr.. Kemper has
reached the conclusion that his point is
proven. and sends me another article
for publication, quoting from the letters
published to sustain his summing up OF
the matter
Replies First to "Business Girl"
Here is his further argument Of the
subject:
With reference TO Business Girl I
admit that most business women are
sensible and we'll educated but that
in no way refutcs the proposition that
business life is destructive OF their man.
ners and morals. for being sensible and
we'll educated has not prevented some
OF the worst moral mistakes in history
Moreover. II We are to accept Miss Gar
sides statement that great many
working girls are doing double dutv-that
is rushing home 10 do their share of
the hOuSework. while their brothers do
little at home or clSewhere-I must say l
do think does Cra1Sf fDI
their intelli.enCe.
As to the percentage Of marriages
among business women J should certainly
like to SEQ some statistics on this point
"Ono Of tn" business women who has
written on this subject SAYS she stands
only one chance in "A hundred to mar
~. These are the women who lower
the marriage rate, while others working
for 'pin money spoil the market for
the women who must work and for men
who might o'herwis" support a wife.
Love. We are often told. is blind
But tn. man in the marrying mood, If he
can find a suitable mate is exceedingly
keen-eycd and timoruus.
Men Will Not Marry Her.
With her manners criticised every day, |
her morals doubtful. her love of extrava-
Eance well known. her nerves and health !
seriously impaired is it any wonder that
so many men prefer TO remain bachelors |
% marrying a business girl?
when inquire the attitude Of moth |
srs toward their daughters working out |
side their home, many will he strongly |
against it. while many others will prob |
ably admit they have but little say in |
the matter
The girls decide themselves that they |
want to he wage-earners, and against |
their better Judgment their parents let |
them go. The money the business girl |
makes outside her home enables her to |
enjoy pleasures far out of proportion |
to her station in life. What is the oh |
viOus result? The seething social un-
rest that a Washington mother points
out. ]
Quotes Many Letters.
The following quotations will suffice 20 |
show what a majority Of the more ma
ture women think Of the subject. She
loses her uneGualed feminine charm
through the necessary subOrdination of
her peculiar womanly traits to those es-
ECntiaI to a successful business career
When not necessary. il should he con-
sidered crime and disgrace to 20 into
the business world I do not believe
that her presence in the business world
makes for the social, moral. or financial
UpliCt of the world all things consld-
motherhood IS a menace To the race, and
women working outside the home do
this
Can there be anything stronger written
against women working outside the home !
than these foregoing statements? No
Brother Reed. ii seems along with sew
eraI others. has taken the wrong side
10 this argument.
Predicts National Suffering.
Unless this army OF women workers
outside the home is checked the nation
will suffer. for the home is the basis Of
and any system that tends
directly or indirectly 10 lower the moral
social and physical tone of women must,
indeed. be regarded as a great and grow |
ing calamity.
This is not q hasty conclusion, unsup-
ported by fact or observation, as the
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