The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-05-16
WOMEN AS PHARMACISTS.
A Profession for Which They Seem
to be Naturally Suited.

I entered a drug store the other day
and a bright eyed, intelligent young
woman came to wait upon me. |
handed her a physicians prescription,
and lol the smile froze on her pretty
lips, and a little wave of perplexity
succeeded it.
'I-er-the prescription clerk is not
in at present." she said doubtfully.
IF you are not in a hurry
She hesitated, and to relieve her
evident embarrassment l replied that
| could wait.
"You do not fill prescriptions" /
asked, carelessly.
"Oh, no. she answered, as emphat-
icallv as though l had asked her if
she ruled an empire. Il have been in
the store three years and understand
everything else, but / never handle the
Drugs
Now, that girl, bright and attract
as she was, will always be a flat fail
ure. One who could be possessed of
such natural and practical advant-
ages for learning, and yet, at the end
of three years, not even dream
of handling the drugs has
not one of the qualities which
contribute to success. Five years hence
we will find her either married to
some harmless young man who parts
his hair in the middle and uses white
rose on his handkerchief, or still con
tentedly selling pretty sundries from
the show cases, and not bothering her
head about the drugs.
~ - svr1a,r%o n ~rr1.xr ~. A,.1
women have not turned to the study
of pharmacy. 1t is an occupation to
which they seem particularly adapted,
requiring steady habits. clear brains,
education, self reliance and a light,
delicate touch. Yet, when the prin-
cipal of Couch School the other day
announced to the scholars that a
certain young lady was going to leave
them to enter the school of pharmacy.
many eyes grew round with curiosity
and amaZement.
There seems to be a predisposition
in the minds of girls who are trying
to decide upon a career" to cast
about for something easy; something
that may be learned quickly. and
which will not have too much re-
sponsibility about it. / fear they
want something temporary-a work
that will carry them along easily until
they can make a good marriage, and
which may then be cast aside like an
old glove.
But, girls, to be a thoroughly COM
petent pharmacist and q druggist is
something of which you may be
proud. 1t mean not only that you
have a fair education, but also that
you have given some years, at least,
to study and thought and scientific
experiments.
But you must learn to be a business
woman as well, if you wish to sue
coed. There are some disadvantages
about the drug business for women, of
course, but none that may not
be overcome. The hours are
long, for instance, and there
is considerable night work.
But a modest, bright and popular
young lady can draw custom to any
store and make herself so necessary to
the business that the proprietor will
be glad to favor her in the way OF
hours and night work.
But don't undertake pharmacy with
any uncertain, halfway notions. Make
up your mind that you will wash bot
ties, if necessary, when you secure
your first situation; that is no degra-
dation. You think nothing of wash
ing dishes for your mother.
If you wish to undertake it, there
are no obstacles in the road to a sue
cessful and interesting work in phar-
macy that may not be rolled aside by
a girl who is intelligent and self
reliant, and who is willing to study
and to work.-EgG Hagg6nson an West
Shore.
"A drino fnna.a- ITO Il IL