Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-02
WOMAN AND HOME.

WOMAN AND HOME.
MRS. E. A. CONNER ON THE CHANCES
OF SUCCESS IN JOURNALISM.
Women of the Communication to Enter
tain Company-New Method Of Washing
The Boston woman's Umbrelia-Style
of r-Writing-Paragraphs.
At the recent meeting Of the Illinois Wo-
mans Press association the following letter
from Mrs f \. Conner, better known as
Eliza Archard, of the American Press asso-
citation, was read by DIR. Alice 3. Stockham
Ii had been written in answer to inquiries
put to this lady by DIR. Stockham concern
ing newspaper work for women:
J. What qualifications must woman
have to become q fairly successful jour
nalist.
Answer-A natural inclination for writ
ing, good health, strong will and indom-
liable courage and perseverance. Not the
least also is a sunny temper
2. What preparation
Answer-A fairly good education, the
broader and higher the better, and the habit
of steady industry. She should be great
reader of newspapers, particularly OF their
Geographic dispatches, absolutely keeping
track OF current events all over the world
So she will be able to write on any general
subject, which every journalist, who is
master of his profession, can do.
My own success, such as it is, l owe first
to the habit of work to which my mother
81, int
tual discipline received years ago In the
course of study at Antioch college
g. Whal difficulties stand in her wayl
Answer-A good many. They are about
half without and half within herself. The
obstacles without come chiefly from the
trade spirit opposition of men They want
the plums IN the profession for themselves,
and are therefore ap: to try to keep the
women out, and to belittle their work as far
as possible. This ID more the case east than
in the west Men Of the west generally are
more lust and chivalrous to women than
those of the older states. Women are not SO
plenty out there. In the newspaper field
wonanis chances are best In the west; in the
field Of pure literature they are best in tho
east
The obstacles within herself are her phys
ical and emotional nature, and her lack OF
training to regular business ways A girl
who determines to succeed in journalism
must take the best care Of her health, and
put thoughts of things other than her occu-
patton out OF her head People can work in
this world or they can 'have a good time,
as we say. but they can't do both at once
This learned from sad experience
She must learn to control her emotions
To a man there is no such horror In an
Office as a crying woman, and quite share
mis- feeling. She must put her pride in her
pocket forget that she is a woman, and re-
member only that she is q business machine
A newspaper Office is not a parlor, and
editors and reporters are too busy to be
carpet knights IL hard working news
paper man in the same room solaces himself
with an occasional cigar, or even in a fit of
Observation-Disclosures drops "swcar-wordn I'M
beknownst shc need not pretend to notice,
that is all. Men have some rights The
boys" in a prominent newspaper Office l
know o. used TO tell me that l could never
become a complete journalist until l had
learned to smoke and swear.
Our bright, busy girl, who goes into
Journalism, should take things as they come,
with imperturbabls good nature and ignore
what is unpleasant at first Then, by and
10y. Mnen her maSculiue coulTereS coine 70
know her they will regard her with feel
ing of brave comradeship and good
fellow. They viii help instead of hindering
her The disagreeable things will cease of
themselves. Some of the pleasantest associ-
,atioas of my life are connected with news
paper Offices And i must say that as a
class | have found men journalists the most
accomplished and agreeable of their sex. All
things will yield at last before determined
spirit and perseverance and industry. The
womnn who succeeds in newspaper work
must prepare TO give up most of the social
enjoyments SO dear to the hearts of most
Young ladies' II will be better if she gives
up all thoughts Of matrimony until her sue
cess is made. That is what many great act
resses and singers have done. Domestic life
and the building of a career by n woman
will not harmonic in this age Of the world
Is the car Ger worth the sacrifice. Yes, a
thousand times
4. What course would she best pursue to
gain footingl
Answer-I know Of nothing better than to
write short and lively communications and
send them to editors They will mostly be
rejected, but il they are really worth any
thing they will see the light by -and-by. 1t
Is best at first not to expect pay for them
II they are printed a good number of times,
then at length the gifted writer might
mojestly hint that if the able editor cared
further for her contributions perhaps no
would not mind putting a proper price on
them. Sometimes il is possible to obtain an
introduction to an editor through n friend
or acquaintance The chances are better
when this can be done Occasionally
brilliant school girl attracts attention by
her writing, and place is made for her
without trouble. But it is not easy to secure
q footing. Like another journey in a
famous poem, the roads winds up hill all
the way" for most But don't know any
thing that is easy that is worth while.
Finally, cur bright girl will not he reg
ular journalist until she gets the training Of
one. The only way to get that is just to go
into an Office and get it
g. What pecuniary support can she reason
ably expect, and how long may she have to
wait before counting on any incomel
Answer-She can earn fairly good liv-
ing and lay up something. Ii is n shade
better than school teaching. There are
perhaps half a dozen newspaper women in
the country who receive S., 90 TO 81, 900 q
year. The pay Of the rest ranges from so
to $50 q week, with far more at the former
figure than the latter. Many add to their
incomes by correspondence outside of their
regular paper.
How long she viii have to wait before
getting an income depends wholly on cir
curlstances l received $40 for my first
SIX months OF newspaper work Most will
be able to do better than that, however, if
they have any success at sn-Intcr Ocean
New Method of Washing.
Take seven pounds Of bar soap, two pounds
of ssl-soda, one pound Of lime Cunslackeh,
two ounces of boraN, one ounce OF alum,
one ounce of benzine ldeodorizedl, and put
them together in the following manner: Cut
the soap in one gallon of cold water. melt it
slowly until free from humps Il make it in
my boiler or the hack of the stove, HOW lay
the sal-soda and lime in a deep vessel and
pour two gallons Of boiling water over it,
stir and let it settle, then pour Oft this I've
and add to ,he melted soap, stir and keep
hot but do not Toll it: now put the alum
and borax in two pint cups about halt full