The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-24
A WISE SUGGESTION!

Make Girls Independent Whatever Their
Station in Life May BE.
Would it not be wiser far, asks an occa-
slonal contributor in the Century Magazine,
to induce young girls in thousands of hap
Ply, prosperous homes to make ample pro-
vision for any and all emergencies that the
future may have in store for them! Could
better use be found for some of the years
that intervene between the time girl
leaves school and the time she may reason
ably hope to marry? The field for woman's
work has been opened up of late years in so
many different directions that q vocation
can easily be found, outside the profession
OF teaching, that will be quite as congenial
to refined tastes, and considerably more
lucrative bookkeeping, typc-writing, te-
legraphy, stenOgrGphy, engraving, dentist
~. medicine, nursing and q dozen other Oc-
equations might be mentioned. Then, too,
industrial schools might be established,
where the daughters OF wealthy parents
could be trained in tho practical details Of
any particular industry for which they dis
played special aptitude If it is not be-
meath the sons and daughters of monarch
to learn trade, it ought not to be beneath
the sons and daughters of republican
America to emulate their good example,
provided they possess the requisite ability
to do So
Two years will suffice to make any bright,
quick girl cOnverSant with all the mysteries
OF the art of Housekeeping, especially if
she be wise enough to study the art prac-
tlcally as well as theoretically. The man.
agement of servants and the care of the
sick and children viii be incidentally learned
in most homes, and can be supplemented
1,xvo MOI nx-+op 90, 81
hygiene, etc, than was possible at school,
Sewing need not be neglected either, while
leisure viii readily be found for reading or
any other recreation that may suit indi-
vidual tastes. Another year or longer may
be added to the time devoted to these pur-
suits if desired. But, above all, let two or
three years be conscientously set apart for
the express purpose of acquiring thorough
experimental knowledge of some art or vO-
cation which would render its possessor
self-supporting, and, consequently, indie
pendent
II the tide of public opinion favoring such
course would but set in many u one would
be spared untold suffering and misery in
after life. Let the rich set the example in
this matter. They can afford to do what
ever pleases them, and, therefore, have it
in their power to mold public opinion Be
not afraid, girls, that you will find your
self-imposed task irksome. Remember
that occupation is necessary to happiness
and that there is no reason why you should
not dream while you work
The cry will be raised that there is dan
ger that such plan as the one advocated
here will tend to give girls a distaste for
the quiet retirement of home, but there is
little cause for fear. Not one girl in twenty
will voluntarily choose a business life in
preference to domestic happiness. Indeed,
it is absolutely certain that happy marriages
will be promoted by this very independence
among women. Not being at leisure to
nurse every passing fancy, girls would
elect to wait patiently until the light of true
love came into their lives.