Woman's Right To Labour

Practical Illustration of Woman's Right to Labour.
Edited by Caroline H. Dall. (Boston, U.S., Walker & Co.)
Treatise on Deportment, Dancing, and Physical Education for Young Ladies.
By Madame D'Egville Michau. (Newby.)

Mrs. Caroline H. Dall and Madame D'Egville Michau would both object, with equal dislike, to having their names coupled together, and their respective brochures named in the same day. One, an emancipated woman, with stern contempt for the vanities of dress and adornment, desirous that all women should aim at making themselves as much like men as possible, claiming for them "an equal right to labour" at all masculine occupations, and calling upon women everywhere to cease from the domestic and ornamental frivolities which have hitherto been the badge of all their tribe, and to become the hard-working, self-sustained, independent female branch of the human race, living in an amiable neutrality towards men, and in a close offensive and defensive sisterly alliance amongst each other; Madame D'Egville Michau, professor of dancing and deportment, high priestess of elegance, grace, and the conventionalities of polite society,—what can the two women have in common? We answer, a great deal. Madame Michau, training girls to become elegant women, to be the ornaments of the drawing-room and the ball-room, finds that exactly the same virtues of character are required as Mrs. Caroline Dall invokes for "woman's right to labour"; only that Mrs. Dall takes a pretentious, dogmatic and aggressive tone. In their records of the deficiencies in female education, their testimony is agreed; in their opinions as to the remedy, there is no difference. In the result, we suspect that a pupil brought up after the fashion of Madame D'Egville Michau would be more modest, unpretending, thorough-bred, and altogether more pleasant as a woman and a companion, than a girl educated on the proud and Spartan-like self-assertion of Mrs. Dall. Both ladies agree in their remarks on the defective foundation that is laid in girlhood for the future character of the woman; Madame Michau remarks:—

"What a thousand pities it is that the whims and caprices of children are so much listened to at home! A certain branch of education is commenced; and, after a little time, the pupil finds that it gives more trouble to accomplish than she likes. She writes home, stating some plausible excuse for discontinuing the lessons; and the parent, instead of remonstrating with the child, or writing to the lady under whose care the child is placed, at once allows the lessons to be given up. The reason why so many girls are only half educated is occasioned by so much time having been lost in attempting and giving up different branches of education. With regard to dancing lessons, I know many girls who would join my classes if they could fly about the rooms as they pleased; but they object to exercise as well as to being told of their faults; and, as this appears to be the age for children to govern their parents, of course, the education of a girl who has not much mind and is (what is termed) indulged amounts to a positive absence of any knowledge whatever."
Mrs.Caroline Dull testifies:—
"After the publication of ' Woman's Right to Labour,' generous men came forth to help me carry out my plans. The best printer in Boston said, 'I am willing to take women into my office at once, if you can find women who will submit to an apprenticeship like men.' On the same conditions, a distinguished chemist offered to take a class of women and train them to be first-class apothecaries or scientific observers, as they might choose. To these offers there were no satisfactory responses. 'Yes,' said the would-be printers, 'we will go into an office for six months; but by that time our oldest sisters will be married and our mothers will want us at home.' 'An apprenticeship of six years!' exclaimed the young lady of a chemical turn, 'I should like very much to learn, to that I could be a chemist if I ever had to; but poison myself over those "fumes" for six years—not I!' It is easy to rail against society and men in general; but it is very painful for a woman to confess her heaviest obstacle to success,—viz., the weakness of women. 'Six years out of the very bloom of our lives to be spent in the printing-office or the laboratory!' exclaim the dismayed band ; and they flutter out of reach through the side walks of Beacon Street or through the mazes of ' The Lancers.' * * What does common sense demand, if not that women should make thorough preparation for trades or professions; and, having taken up a resolution, should abide by all its consequences like men!"

Both these extracts show the blossom and the fruit of the evil tree of self-indulgence. Women seem incapable of doing anything they are not inclined to do; they are in general as unteachablc as cats, which therein seem the type of the female character; viz., that they are incapable of being controlled or taught. The fault lies at the very root of their life; they are not trained to work; there is nothing thorough in their education; to seem, to appear, to look like, bo rational beings; but it is made a marvel when a woman shows herself to be one. The reform must, as we have so often said, begin with women themselves. Before they undertake great things, such as taking their places as professional men, and going out into the world to push their way in the active walks of life to fame and fortune, let them, as mothers, sisters, and wives, train the girls, the future women, committed to their charge; in earliest life, let them lay the foundation of industry, perseverance, and, above all, of obedience. The habit of honest obedience "to those who are put in authority over her," goes for a great deal in laying the foundation of a sterling character in woman; for self-will is not firmness of purpose, nor is it an indication of strength of character, but women flatter themselves that it is so, and they "hate to be instructed" or controlled; they are radically indocile and intractable. All the talk that is now going on about "woman's work" and "woman's right to labour" is so much wasted breath; women who have grown up in the desultory, self-willed habits which women allow themselves, never can turn to the steady, heavy drudgery of learning a trade or profession thoroughly; those who wish to improve the condition of women must begin at the other end, and train them from early childhood to look forwards to work as a natural condition, and not as a voluntary or exceptional state of things "for a woman." There is not the least objection to a woman earning her own living, or to her getting as much money as she can; Mrs. Ball testifies that men are quite ready to assist her, to receive her, and to teach her,—if she will only submit to the discipline of being thoroughly taught. The subject of Mrs. Ball's 'Practical Illustration' is a young Polish woman, Maria E. Zakrzewska, M.B., who, from assisting her aunt, who was a professional nurse, imbibed an ardent desire to become a physician, and who, by dint of great energy and firmness of purpose, accomplished her desire. There are many points of interest in the narrative, and the lady's indomitable perseverance is worthy of all esteem; but we must confess that we found the tone of the book disagreeable and repelling. It left us with no wish to become acquainted with Dr. Maria, and not the least desirous that any woman belonging to us should resemble her. The practical illustration is worth reading, as a sign of the increasing disposition in women to seek some useful and permanent employment for their energy; but we recommend the little brochure of Madame D'Egville Michau, with its unpretending common sense, to the perusal of parents and guardians, as well as to the young people for whose benefit it is more especially intended. If they will lay to heart and follow out the suggestions, they will not only walk better, dance better, and be more elegant in "deportment," but they will stand a chance of becoming considerably wiser during the process.

The Athenaeum, 7 September 1861

 In 1861 Madame d'Egville Michau's women cousins, the children of George Harvey d'Egville, were already enjoying the right to labour. They and most other women laboured with little comment in the press. Women broke rocks, hauled coal, made nails, gutted fish etc. with no interference from the patres familias. Perhaps they walked better, danced better and were more elegant in deportment? Their only consolation being that Madame d'Egville Michau was only a bad debt away from being in their circumstances and their clogs.