Secretary's Budget. 337 



but I am in a hurry, jump in; I reckon Polly will be glad to see 

 most anybody." And Polly still has the lady doctor. 



The musical world is, in every sense of the word, adorned by 

 ladies. Three of the brightest lights are Patti, Nilsson and 

 Langtry. They receive from 13,500 to $8,000 per week. 



At present, the race which your speaker represents are filling 

 positions in the Government, both as clerks and also transacting 

 official business. I noticed not long ago a little incident illustrat- 

 ing the courage and determination of a lady applicant. A young 

 girl one morning assailed the Hon. John Sherman in his office, and 

 told him she wanted a position. He replied in a very cold tone 

 that there was none. '" But," she says, ''such an answer will not 

 do. If you will allow me, I will come every morning and black 

 your shoes for you, if you can do no better by me." The Secretary 

 was charmed, and in less thah a week she held a position in the 

 Treasury. 



It seems to me that the value of woman^s inventive power is 

 unappreciated as yet. She is quite an inventive genius. I wonder 

 how many of the men in this assembly know that a woman made 

 some inventions with respect to the combined action of the teeth 

 and cutters on the mowing and reaping machine ? And how many 

 of the ladies know that one of their sex has invented an ironing- 

 pan to be sunk into a board for receiving the flat-iron ? This, if it 

 comes into general use, will avoid many burned fingers, aching 

 toes, and much trouble. 



But alas ! I find that woman has done so much that I cannot 

 begin to exhaust the subject. We have seen that there are but few 

 callings, comparatively speaking, in which woman does not find her 

 place. Her genius and ready wit cannot be done away with. She 

 maybe, and has been, besides what has been mentioned, a telegraph 

 operator, an elocution teacher, a professional nurse, and not least of 

 all, a canvasser. 



One thing should here be spoken of — a woman may be a good 

 dressmaker, but not all are. I think the old saying, •' Whatever is 

 worth doing, is worth doing well," finds illustration here. A 

 dressmaker in order to be successful must learn the trade. The 

 average American woman has a good figure, when it is not distorted 

 by a wretchedly fitting dress. 



To take a different view of the subject, let us mention a few 

 ways in which women may earn money, if that is what they are 

 seeking. 



