The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-05-16
EMPLOYMENT FOR GIRLS.

In no particular has the condition of
women changed so greatly for the bet
tel, during the last twenty-five years,
as in their increased opportunities for
self support.
Fifty years ago the only occupations
open to women who were obliged to
maintain themselves were teaching,
millinery, dress-maklng, tailoring,
household service, factory work and
plain sewing. The available occu
pations had increased to twenty seven
in 1860, the year before the outbreak
OF the Civil War. A few months ago,
the Chief of the National Bureau Of
Statistics of Labor published a report
IN which he stated the number of en-
ployments open to women at the pres
ent time to Ee 342.
1t is possible for the young woman
of to-day, with average ability and
average force of character, to find re-
munerative employment. Her COM
pensation will be small at first, but by
conscientious work, and bv fitting her
self to do something better, she will
become more valuable, and will COM
mand better pay.
In all Northern cities and large
towns, there are organizations which
endeavor to increase the industrial
ability of young women who aspire to
better work than they are dong, and
to larger wages.
In the Working Girls Clubs, the
Helping Hand Societies, the Women's
Educational and Industrial Union, l
have found girls learning to make but
ton holes hard at work with cash
book in hand, at mental arithmetic, fit
ting to be cashiers taking lessons in
penmanship, and also in grammar, for
the correction of defects in chirography
and colIoquial speech-all with refer
ence to obtaining higher place in the
world of work.
Two young girls, orphaned, poor
and friendless, come to Boston year
ago In quest of employment. They
found it in one of the dry goods stores,
but were paid only two dollars each
per week. Renting cheap and poor
apartment, and carefully outstanding
the little store of money and house
hold conveniences they brought with
them, they joined a Working Girls
Club, were trained for more valuable
service than that performed by cash
girls, and now receive each S. week
as saleswomen, with cheerful deter
mlnation to do better.
There are numerous instances OF
young girls unable to leave their homes
on account of duties there which re-
quire their presence. A young girl OF
Vermont, into whose care was given a
blind mother, and a paralytic father
needed most urgently an addition to
the family income. In the little village
where she lived it was impossible 10
procure it. In despair, and with pro-
fuse and unneeded apologies, she sent
me several pots of fruit jellies: jams
and marmalades, which she wished me
to examine, and tell her how to con-
vert them into money. | found Gus
toners, who Immediately bought all
her domestic wares, they were so ex-
cellent; and as her manufactures in
creased, they found additional pur-
chasers tor her dainties, woo paid for
them the prices she asked.
Another girl, similarly anchored to
her home by heavy cares, was in des-
perate need of money, and yet seemed
lacking in gifts by which it is acquired.
She applied to several families in the
town who were in good circumstances,
to be engaged to repair weekly the
family wardrobe, and the table and bed
linen. To test her ability, she was at
first employed in mending stockings,
and carried home with her on the first
application forty one pairs of hose, all
needing repair, gathered from eight
households. She executed this un-
interesting work so we'll that she was
trusted further. She has pursued this
occupation for at least dozen years.
The repairing of elegant dresses, the
rebosoming and re-cuffing offine shirts,
the mending of lace curtains, with other
like work, requiring care aid patience,
all find their way to her hands, as well
as the coarser work of repairing the
family wardrobe. She has elevated
her nondescript employment into a
business, devotes her whole time to it,
and has succeeded so well that she
now has in a saving bank, laid by for
a "rainy day." small amount which
is constantly increasing.
recall another instance of young
girl, living on a Massachusetts farm,
whom duty held to the homestead for
the sake of her parents and brother
whom they were carrying through COL
lege. She got permission of her father
to carry out some ambitious plans she
had conceived of raising fine breeds of
poultry. She made her first henery
herself, rude but serviceable. She
bought the best books on poultry rails
ing, and studied the business. She has
prospered, enlarged her henneries,
found ready customers and good prices
for eggs, spring chickens and Thanks
giving poultry, and her profits year be
fore last were five hundred dollars.
l was told another instance, on a
recent visit to Dighton, Massachusetts,
where two girls had achieved great sue,
cess in the culture OF strawberries, hav.