The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-07
WOMAN and HER WORK.
About Four Hundred Occupations
Now Open to Her.
NEW AVENUES OF EMPLOYMENT.
Women OF Taste and Refinement
are in Demand.

"O"nn I'm nO-DovlAlnH new
- Unisue Oceup.tions-A Glance at the
sprine fashions-The Test OF the Rainy.
day Gown in Boston-Tho Latest News
orthe Educntlonni worid-what the See
10 Doing In Every supernundnns Cline.
Within the past year many OF the officials OF
working women's societies. as well as others
who are interested in the welfare OF women.
have become acquainted with refined. clever
old lady who has entered the lecture field.
Her quiet mannors. quaint dress. and soft
Southern accent have distinguished her from
the younger women lecturers. Those who know
herh history have great admiration for the devo-
ton. self-denial. and remarkable pluck and per.
severance which sho has displayed through
the greater part Of long life that has had
some extremely unpleasant sides. That for
many years she should have remained I'M
known to most working women seems strange:
that sho should now receive scant recognition
from them Is somewhat OF reflection on their
appreciation OF favors received.
It Is now nearly thirty-iive years since Miss
Virginia Penny began her labors for tho work
ng women Of this country. She was then a
resident Of Louisville. her birthplace. Thrown
upon her own resources by sudden financial
reverses. she had become u teacher in a SOM
mary for girls. During that period she real
lied how few avenues OF employment We're
Open for women, especially in tho South.
where social pride closed to them most Of the
few branches OF work that they could. without
loss OF standing enter in the North. When IL
legacy enabled her to so back to life OF ease
she concluded to investigate for herself the
question OF womans labors. and. as far back
ss 1853. she began tho work t. which she has
devoted the greater part ii her life.
At that time only seven occupations were
- IN - AFRO
now. owing in considerable degree to her
labors. there are nearly 400. Her work was o.
the severest and most trying nature. She
visited the libraries of New York, Boston. and
Philadelphia. spending four years in prelimi-
nary Investigations. Shc sent thousands Of
circular letters to merchants and manufacture
ers. employed assistants. and visited between
i've and six thousand shops and stores.
In 1853 she published. at considerable eX-
pense. n book containing tho results Of her
abors. In it she showed conclusively that
many OF the occupations which had thereto
fore been open to men only might be oren to
women also. 1t was the first publication Of ;lle
kind and it attracted much attention.
In the most recent OF her lectures. entitled
New and Odd Employnients 81 Women
Miss Penny shows that there are few
fields OF labor in which women OF
to-day have not engaged. and that
their ingenuity in devisng new occupations is
not exce!led BY that of man. Persons who
have observed the progressive emancipation
OF woman will find among the occupations she
mentions some that arc unusually interesting
and novel. Ono wcniua makes a business o!
dressing wealthy women for parties. recep-
tions. and other social affairs. She selects the
materials. directs the styles in which the
dresses are to be made and decides upon the
jewels. gloves. and other accessories. Shc
also dresses and trims the hair and GrranScs
aud loops the dresses. The display OF her
taste Hna Judgment is well raid for. \ woman
In Las Angeles has made u specially the artot
decorating rooms for dinner and evening par
ties. She sends her card to all newcomers who
have homes and are likely TO entertain. She
dccorates the rooms with flowers arranges the
tables. festoons the drnpcres and brings out
tho harmony Of color with wonderful effect.
Another California woman. who follows q
similar occupation. had charge OF all the AZ
rnnGements Mt the great Fair wedding.
California society still talks OF tho Wedding
OF Herman Uelrich and Theresa Fair
at San Francisco. in May. 1890. All the per-
sons OF social prominence in the state and
many society people from remote parts OF the
country were present Tho house had been
decorated magnflcently and the most beaut.
ful flowers and palms OF CALIFORNIA; varied
Growths filed the halls and rooms with their
fragrance. All present united in praise OF the
artistic success OF tho decorations, and the
reputation of the woman who was responsible
for them was established securely at once.
Philadelphia woman avranges and super
vises the dinners OF weather. women. She Is
practically in charge OF the house during a
dinner party. While the dinner is in progress
she directs the movements OF cook and walt
ors. and keeps an eye on the little details
which arc frequently O. supreme Importance
in securing the best effects. The hostess Is
relieved Of all care. and she need not torment
hor soul with doubts about the roast wiilo
trying to look happy. Another woman is mas
ing comfortable livelihood through the prep
aration OF pudding She acts in accordance
with the principle that it PAYS 70 know ono
thing better than anybody Disc, She assert!
has bent All her energies toward making other
people think SO. she does not retray thu
orders to private families. Sic ha: s"iiv,!' ,"I
ea9lEh women Of mennS .. t.e merit u ;i!e
Perhaps the most curious OCCUPATION con-
ceived BIZ woman, however, y th@t vf dinner
msn. as s"s yss =" n 'T" eo [y
She srend; y part 4 each DAY. in yIsjtin.:
houses AND tastin: II. di,hsa Intended tST
Shows the cook new wa Of prrplr!n. u!s shes
She s,, has a larsc numb%r q Eat!onnr,, ani she
and she charges literally f!r Ecr services. II
is questionable. however, whether the Amrri-
can housewife would take kindly to such an
invader OF the household, and possibly the
pioneer in such an occupation in this country
would mad II accomrauicd hY yeTatp lriniS
~ TINS city young woman has turned her
attistc talents 70 business advantage. and. in
Stead OF stnrv!n. IN studio, has won tor
hersei! n reputation as an artistic interior
decorator. which has r.. ultvd in con sidugatl.
pecunary profit She designs turniture and
selects decorations and furnishing, Tor people
OF wealth but o! less refined tastes. She
makes contracts to furnish and decorate
houses. or gives advice and suggcs.
lions, at SO much an hour az hcr time.
Another woman moves along tho same
lines. but with distinct ideas. she ha- q Ger
tain number q customers, all OF whom are
She goes TO the house Of each customer At
stated Herio;ds ami remGSr; all tho furF,
drawing rooms. She then directs, the
Slssni1s. Of the E9 fSn ,b and the fn
scratched, or injured in the handling.
ona the as ey
AOcordtng to her ideas. AS she has excellent