The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-04-15
OH 8nl1etin.
work for women.
From thu New York Times.

a neticc that lately appeared in one
issue OF a morning paper, stating that
the advertiser would like to employ Il
young woman rs a copyist, is said to
have been answered by more than six
hundred persons DESTROYS of obtaining
such position. Now, an incident vi
this kind shows in an unmistakable man.
ncr the immense surplusage OF female la
Dor, and also indicates TO some degree
tho barriers behind which 1t is confined.
The number OF those who would be
likely to see or hear of single advertise
ment must be a comparatively small pro-
portion OF those who wish tor such a DO.
sition. and the applicants may therefore
be fairly taken as representatives Of a
class which, in this city alone, must lie
counted by thousands. No doubt, the
greater number OF those thus situated are
the daughters OF head mechanics, clerks,
and small tradesmen, who have received
something better than what is termed a
common school education, and are not
absolutely forced by the Strengthened
circumstances OF their natural protec-
tors TO go Into the shops or into domes-
tic service. still, the difficulty, while
keeping up certain social appearances,
OF making both ends meet Is sufficient to
v,
at least, OF adding something 10 the fam
lily income. Most OF the occupations by
which women can earn money either in
volve the complete breaking up OF home
associations, or have much in them that
is distasteful to fine feminine instinct,
and thus. when position like that OF
copyist is vacant, the number OF appli-
cants Is surprisingly large.
There can be no question that all en-
largcment OF this class Of OCCUPATIONS IL
a business readjustment greatly to be
desired; but If il is ever brought about,
it will have To be by a certain amount6
special training on the part OF the wo-
men themselves. IL requires something
more than the mere ability TO write
plain hand 10 become even a good copy
ist. The person so employed should
write rapidly as well as distinctly, and
besides this, spell words and punctuate
sentences with a tolerable amount OF
accuracy. All this is in most cases spec
tally acquired skill. and only gained
after months OF hard labor, yet OF
lie six hundred who replied to the no.
tice we have given above, probably not
more than dozen had ever submitted to
this needed training. We are willing 10
hope that in the most cases tn does not
from the want of some directing force,
and on this account we are DESTROYS OF
suggesting one or two methods OF en-
larging the sphere OF wOman's useful
ness, which can be followed out and per-
fcctei by home study with but little. II
any, preparatory instruction.
The first OF these is the Knowledge OF
practical biography; that is, as far a. a
project eye and ear acquaintance with the
Morse alphabet is concerned, and me
ability to receive and send messages on
an ordinary instrument. The labor OF
acquiring knowledge of the Morse
alphabet is by no means as difficult as
many suppose II TO be. The length and
division OF the sounds representing the
various letters can be studied and learned
with a knife and plate as medium as
readily a. they could on regular III
strumcnt, while six months careful
attention should give 70 any one with
average Intelligence the practice neces-
sary TO read messages by the ear at as
rapid rate n tbey are
usually transmitted. The very
little additional knowledge required
for receiving and sending messages
would haye TO be gained al some Office
or commercial school. OF course, the
knowledge does not insure one posi-
ton. but it is certain that the use OF the
telegraph is constantly on the increase,
and that in all but the main city offices
the companies are finding it TO their adj
advantage 10 employ female rather than
male assistants. Indeed. the work seems
to be one for which women are specially
adapted as 1t has none OF the objection
able features which attach to many OF
the employments which demand bodily
or semi-bC Oily eXertion. There is little
reason for thinking that the telephone
will do away with the general use of the
Morse alphabet; but even should tins
prove to be the case. another art would
come into requisition which Is also EN-
inently adapted to be mode OF female
employment, that is. photography 1t Is
singular that so few women have made a
study of this subject il Is not only
an advantage in itself, but is also
medium OF expediting business thai
il growing every day into more and
more demand. In many OF the leading
mercantile houses in this city the entire
! correspondence is carried on by dicta
| ton, and others would willingly follow
this example II it were not for the fac
| that the supply OF shorthand writers II
/ greatly restricted. Perfection in Thu
| line can only be reached after two Of
| three years of close study, but after The
first few months the progress is so APP
| parent and certain as TO be an encourage
| ment in itself. AS in telegraphy, the
| study can be carried on with LITTLE
! expense or trouble.