Wichita eagle., 1889-10-17

Paying for Quick service-The Lot of the
italian Woman-Pretty and Costly Table
Ware-Subjects of Interest to Mothers
and Housekeepers Briefly Discussed,
Women architects are gradually taking
their place by the side of men. And, pray,
why shouldn't they2 If home is woman s
sphere, a woman is just as well fitted to
build house as a man.
A young lady who lives at Newark and
has an office In q building on lower Broad
way, was kind enough to give her views on
the subject TO reporter Miss Townsend is
a practical architect and makes a speciality
of planning and building small, low priced
cottages.
With the present rage for suburban
homes and country life, woman architect
can find plenty to do" said this young lady.
"Do you work fer women or for men most
ly" inquired the reporter.
"Chiefly for women Men prefer to employ
men. But there are many women who own a
small amount of property or earn their own
living, and very properly wish to have their
own homes, which are generally expected to
be modest and small but comfortable"
Il assume that you have built yourself
house, first of ALL" suggested the reporter
Il have,n replied Miss Townsend, land it
was interest in the idea Of women having
their own homes and leading independent
lives, no less than fondness for the profess
sion of architecture itself, which led me to
make speciality of homes for women. Be-
sides, only woman can understand the
needs of women l mean particularly women
who can only afford to invest moderate sum
In the construction Of a roof to put over their
heads"
what do you mean by the needs Of wom-
emf inquired the reporter. "Do they differ
much from the needs Of mena"
VERY much" replied this sympathetic
young lady. Take the matter of closets,
for instance. The average woman requires
three closets for her belongings, where the
average man requires one. Then, too, the
kitchen arrangements must be considered
The average man would rather go TO a res
taurant and bolt his meals than be bothered
with home cooking, unless he has devoted
wife 90 cater for him. But cooking is now
one Of the fine arts, and kitchens are expected
TO be dainty places of recreation Many wom-
en- like TO do their own cooking rather than
be bothered with unframed domestics For
such people design special kitchens, so that
the kitchen is really pleasanter than the par
lor"
~ suppose nurseries receive special con-
siderationG' said the reporter
EXACTLY. Nurseries are not half enough
considered by the average architect. How
can they be, when the average architect is
man? How many men understand the needs
of women and childrenP
'Arent you rather severe on menf' in
quired the reporter.
Not at all | simply maintain that the
element of sympathy is stronger in women
than in men, and therefore woman's work
for women is often more valuable than that
of men"
The reporter was convinced that he had
discovered new type of woman. She was
evidently strong minded, but she was very
pretty and dressed with due regard TO fash
ion. Her dark blue gown fitted perfectly,
and her large, round white collar and broad
cuffs were spotless. Her hair was neatly
braided at the back of her pretty head in the
sensible chic emigrant fashion and her front
hair was arranged in a Russian bang.
How did you go to work to become an
architectP inquired the reporter.
'I made up my mind as child to earn my
own living, and after graduating from a
fashionable school in this city | was suddenly
thrown upon my own resources by the fail
ure of a bank l had no time 20 study a
profession, because had to begin to earn my
own living almost Immediately / gained a
of stenography and typewriting
and entered a publishers Office at the lowest
possible salary-S6 week-which just paid
my board in a cheap boarding house
"But kept my eyes open and soon heard
of another place at wholesale drug estab-
There | got S12 a week. In six
months, an architect whose acquaintance l
had made, in n social way, offered me s14 as
q confidential clerk and secretary. | found
the surroundings of the Office congenial
and ! made up my mind TO become
un architect | learned all / could in a prac-
tical way at the Office, and studied theoretical
architecture in the evenings. took a course
of lessons in architectural draughtsmanship.
Most of my knowledge gained from observa-
ton"
Did you find much difficulty in establish
ing yourselfln inquired the reporter.
'No, because [ had the good viii of several
well known architects, who sent people TO
me. i have never attempted to compete with
men. prefer TO appeal to the needs of wo-
men. Thus fill special demand, and one
which is rapidly on the increase,n she said, in
conclusion Il have built number of cot
tages on Staten Island, in the New Jersey
towns and on Long Island. Ny bread is every
day more thickly buttered, and | am con- |
tented woman. New York Journal