New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-06-01
y NDITOR OF THE TRIBUNE ::

III Oil iiiCclNlcW reported re-
Gently in Sunday Tribune
Mrs. Raymond Robins expressed
the opinion that in the present in
dustrlal crisis women will retain in
measure the work they have taken
up during the war, and that incom-
patibility between the Job and the
worker will adjust itself for them
as with the men. This latter clause
suggests question that has trou-
bled many of us during the war.
namely, What combination of tradi-
tions and superstitions regulates
the division Of labor between the
sexes, anyway?
Can you throw any light upon it?
To take few of the most COM
mon examples: Why are men almost
exclusively employed in jewelry
stores, and in handling books, pict-
ures, furniture and dress goods?
This work would seem to be com
patlble with the strength and nat
ural fitness Of women.
Last winter, when women ap-
peared in almost every department
CT labor, we put it down to war
conditions,' and, not being a think
ing people, didn't feel the incon-
slstency Of going downtown in a
street car run by woman and then
purchasing stickpins, hot chocolate,
parlor curtains, dress goods and
rocking chairs exclusively from men.
The newspapers told us that the
women were Loyalty doing their bit
for the country becaus he men
were scarce. And we were content
l made round of the department
stores to verify this impression, and
found IN each case the same anoma-
lous situation: In the departments
where business was rushed and bar
gains were being scrambled for. in
v'rlably women clerks; in the cool
and quiet regions of furniture. RUGS
pictures, etc, men. Many of the
latter were of draft age-wlat
families or dependents they may
nave had, alas! | know not.
At present, with the advent of
the elevator girl, the situation is
even more pronounced. During the
last week | visited five Of the lead
ING department stores in an effort
to match q piece Of satin. In all
OF these places the satins were sold
by men and the elevators RIM bv
women. was old-fashioned enough
to confess to q slight feeling Of re-
Demon. Is 1t matter of choice. OF.
natural fitness, or some mysterious
law OF the managers? The elevators
were being run by women; the silks
were, | presume, being effectively
sold by the men. In my own case il
was a bit dlscouraging to find that
three of the men were partially color
blind. The elevator girls all looked
under twenty. Perhaps there is an
age limit in the silk business. !
went up two flights with one young
woman. She pulled two heavy
levers twenty times in making the
trip, called each floor, both WAYS.
naming its contents, answered sew
enteen foolish questions politely.
(Samples: "No, madam; next floor"
"t'urniture third. madam" Eyes.
madam, millinery here, to YOUR
night etc. Strange to say, she
dld not appear out of breath when
She reached the last floor. but her
eyes were feverish and her back was
aching. She was neat, inte]liqent
looking, busincsslike. OF the MON
who waited upon me among the sill,
and dress goods all were apparnotlv
of middle age and in sound health
except two; one of these was
slightly lame, the other suggested
tuberculosis. They looked as intel.
ligent as many a man I have seen
holding down a man-s;zed job.
Now. these conditions may have A
perfectly logical explanation. but I
have not been able to find any one