Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-19
HOW AN OHIO GIRL BECAME DENTIST

The number of new occupations in which
women are tihding-or making -their way
is almost phenomenal to the devotees of
the old regime, who cannot conceive of a
woman's holding any stronger implement
than a needle.
1t is reserved for an Ohio girl to take a
leading role in profession that is compar-
atively new one for women-dentistry.
For some weeks the passers-by on Sew
enth street have observed ON the block op-
posite Shillito's sign that read, "Adelia
Riley, Dentist" Drifting in to see Miss
Riley, one finds pleasant, graceful young
lady, with story to tell you about the
way she became dentist.
Miss Riley is from Hamilton, O., where
she first studied her profession under DR..
Howells, the father OF DR.. May Howells,
of this city. The family of the Howells
are all somewhat remarked fer invincible
energy of purpose. In W. Il. .Howells, of
the Attdatic Monthly, this energy became
the motive power of literary work. In DR..
Howells, OF Hamilton, and his daughter,
Miss May, one OF the lady physicians here,
it has impelied into professional life. Two
other cousins, Misses Emma and Corinne
Howells, are teachers in the public schools
of ST. Louis, and very superior teachers
these young ladies are. After finishing a
school course, Miss Riley went to her
home in Hamilton. and, like Clara We're de
We're, felt time hang heavily on her hands.
There was absolutely nothing for her that
was worth doing.
81 think it is the worst thing in the
world for girl to have nothing to do" re-
marked Miss Riley, and l began TO grow
uneasy over it. The most that | attempted
was to read novels" And entertaining as
this may be, the young lady found she
could hardly make it a serious business OF
life
One day her father asked her if she
would not like to study dentistry. She
caught at the idea eagerly.
81 went into it with all manner OF en-
thusiasm," said Miss Riley, "and think
it IS beautiful work. ~
One could not but think of horrible
clamps and Instruments OF torture, but evil
dently these had no part in the young
lady's visions After studying at Hamil-
ton under Dr. Howells she came TO the
Ohio Dental College, on College street, and
took the course, setting up herself as a
professional dentist only last month. The
pleasant parlor, with its bay window, its
book writing table and easy chairs, is
more suggestive of a lady's room than of
an office, save for the great dental chair
that tells its own story
'Do you find that you have the strength
to pull teeth p was inquired.
''Yes, if. necessary" she replied, but
really it is very seldom that it Is necessary.
Dental science has discovered so many
ways that are better, and we restore the
imperfect tooth rather than extract it.
Miss Riley spoke with appreciation of
the kindness OF experienced dentists who
are located in that vicinity, to her, and
that in any case of INDIGESTION or OF unusual
intricacy she could turn to them for any
counsel and aid.
Next year Miss Riley intends to enter
upon thorough medical course, not with
a view of relinquishing dentistry as pro-
fession, but of perfectlng it. She believes
the general state of the system SO closely
affects all dental operations that an under
standing Of it is essential to the best sue
cess in her chosen profession, in which she
is an enthusiast.
1t is the women who quietly go to work,
and do their work we'll, who are proving
tue possibilities of won ally work. One
such practical demonstration is worth a
dozen platform lecturers that grow elo-
quent over the cause" And yet, looking
backward and over the noble women Of
the lecture field, one cannot speak lightly
of them. When Miss Susan B. Anthony
was in Chicago, about to address large
audience some time ago, Mrs. Sullivan, Of
the Chicago Times, was invited to present
Miss Anthony to the audience. Mrs Sui
livan.repled that she could not, as she was
not a pronounced believer in suffrage. 1t
was subject she held in reserve, as an
important one, but regarding which she
had no fixed convictions. The committee
said that for that very reason they wanted
her to introduce Miss Anthony. To which
Mrs. Sullivan replied that it would give
her great pleasure to do so and in the in
troductory words she said that herein
Miss Anthony-was the woman whose
brave words and fearless energy had pio-
neered the way and made special work
possible to the women who came after her.
Specialties in life are now fashionable,
to use weak word where one might use
stronger. Women who are not working
for living still work for its own sake, and
find, after all, that it is well to get work,
and better than what they work to get.
cincinnati Commercial.