The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-04
What Girl Graduates Can Do.

Miss Jennie Collins said, last winter
something to the effect that she found the
most helpless of all women, and those most
In despair for something to do, were the
graduates of Colleges and High Schools
The inference WAS that their education had
not fitted them for practical life, and that
they were even less able to take care OF
themselves, stand in their rank and do their
part, than they would be if they had les:
education in school and among books. II
seemed worth while to make enquiry, as the
facts ought to be the other way. One reply
came as follows:
As to what we shall do with our girls, i:
well answered in the case of my daughter.
After getting through her school education
at Vassar College, she said to me. "Now,
father, what am going to do2" My reply
was, '.sAmuse yourself, read, write, ride and
wait for something to turn up" She said
Il can not do that. / wish to be independ.
ent and not be spending what 1 have not
earned. If thou wilt let me go into the
office and learn bookkeeping will be con-
tent, otherwise / am going to study medi-
cine, for will not lead an simless life, but
work out for myself a position" / knew
she was too much like her father to be turned
aside when she had made up her mind to
pursue the right. She went to the Office
and in two months was master of the situa-
ton, although she had never known any
thing about it in her school life. One who
learns by practice in an active business
Office is much more efficient than one who
has been drilled or dulled at school, and can
learn in one quarter of the time.
! AT the end of three monGs the book
keeper left, and she filed his place with
complete success. In my absence her name
was honors6 on all checks and contracts as
my own. One of the la -gest manufacturers
in the country told me as he went into the
office his agent, seeing no one but a lady said
to him, "Now, we shall have some fun.
They went through the transaction trying
at every point to puzzle her, but they
closed the contract with as much ability and
satisfaction as any they have ever made, and
asked her where Mr.. - found so efficient
bookkeeper.
She is now running home which requires
more ability, patielce and endurance il
done as it ought to be, than any factory in
the country. Her business experience en-
ables her to stand amongst men their &C.
knowledged peer, and to train her thret
boys with larger success.
Another father reported that his daugh.
ter after graduating came into business with
him just as his son would have done, and
with the most satisfactory results. The dis
ciplined mind and we'll trained faculties en-
sbled her to command her resources. The
fact of her relationship gave her an Interest
which no stranger could feel. Her father
had a sense of absolute safety in trusting
his affairs with her, due to the combined re
lation of affection and common interest.
These instances illustrate. 1t has long
been the custom of business men to take
their sons into business with them wher
they graduate. 1t will be found to be JUS
as satisfactory to make similar arrangement
fer daughters. If they should afterwarC
have families to bring up, a practical expe,
rience will enable them to discharge thes,
higher and more important trusts and du
ties with care and correctness.
Many women, College graduates, are nov
independent, or earning independence, a
physicians, lawyers, and ministers of TIT
Gospel, others are Professors in Colleges OF
teachers with salaries that are never paic
for inferior attAinments. Still others ar,
wise mothers and home-makers. But ther,
is abundant room at the top of the ladder
and in front. "Covet earnestly the bes
gifts" is as good advice to-day as it ever was
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