The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-08-07
The Household.
WORK FOR WOMEN.
A Lecture Delivered in the Hall OF
Philosophy, July ID, 1891. by
Mrs. Emma p. Ewing, of
Kansas City. Mo.

OF the country, written Dy women, III
curing what kind of work there is for
women to do, and what kind Of positions
| can find for each or all Of them. AS
| seldom know anything about the
uttainments or qualifications of the
writer's, / can only reply in general
terms that the opportunities for women
are nearly equal to the opportunities
for men, and that there is an abundance
of work of every description for women
if they will do it. Writers on economic
subjects tell us that less than fifty years
ago but seven industrial occupations
were open to women, while now Stats
tics show that 342 are open to them
Without stopping to ascertain what
those 342 enumerated occupations are,
assert that double that number-if
there are SO many industrial occupa
tious-are open to women. The old
Indian chief, in reply to some one
who complained Of scarcity Of time,
said, "You have all the time there is.
Why don't you use it?D And I, in
reply to inquiring and complaining
women, say. "You have all the work
there is. Why don't you use it,"
In my own special field of labor.
opportunities are opening every day
for women to find employment as teach
er of household science in public and
private schools, as matrons and manag-
crs in educational ana other public in
stitutions, as housekeepers in hotels
and families, as caterers, as cooks, and
SO on; and those opportunities are in
creasing and will continue to increase
as the interest in better homes and bet
ter food increasee.
But women are unwilling to qualify
themselves for such positions. They
think too much responsibility and too
much work attaches to them. Last
summer the proprietor Of asea side resort
wrote me that he would pay liberal
salary to woman who would take charge
of certain department Of his establish
ment and conduct it in an efficient,
economical manner, and wished me to
recommend such one. The day
received his letter also received letter
from woman, enclosing some very
satisfactory testimonials, telling me
what she was capable of doing and ask
ing me if | knew Of a vacant position ]
immediately put these two in com
munication with each other and in few
days heard from my woman correspon-
dent again. This time she wished me
to tell her what pay she ought to have
Tor filing such position. l knew
nothing whatever of her abilities, and
simply replied that didn't like to set
a value upon labor when l was totally
ignorant Of the quality that would be
given or the quantity that would be
demanded, but presumed that the en-
ployer would pay full value for good
service. | have not heard from her
since, but am quite positive that she
didn't accept the position, or didn't re-
tain it. The probabilities are that from
her standpoint, she saw much respon.
sibility and work, and very little pay.
A professor from Southern state asked
me last summer to recommend a com.
petent person to take charge of the board
ing department of school with which
he was connected. I gave him the
names of two young women and arranged
with him the salary he should pay, and
which | considered liberal. The one
he correspondent with first thought the
responsibility too great and declined
The other accepted, but found the
responsibility and work both greater
than she anticipated and at the end Of
a few months resigned aud went home.
A woman once wrote me that she
hoped to get the appointment of Teacher
of Household Science in an agricultural
college, She frankly informed me that
she had no practical knowledge of the
subject, but if she could qualify herself
iu three or four weeks to Gil the position
she would come to mo and take special
instructions for that length of time, as
very good salary was attached to the
position. Ny reply vas that had been
studying, practicing and teaching in
that line of work for at least 20 wears,
and didn't yet consider myself an acom-
/ plished housekeeper and cook. But
though it probable that under my in
structions-if she was remarkably
bright and receptive-she might, in the
course of three months, be sufficiently
qualified to fill the chair of professor Of
household science in the average in
; dustrial college or univarsitv IN anahla