The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-28
WHAT WOULD YOU DO,
Miss Kate Field Answers In Plain Words
tho Letter OF n Fond Mother.


The Visitor Of Sacramento has asked me
to reply to this wall from the wife of o
wage Garner in small town:
MY husband, in spite of habits Of thrift
and economy, owing to more or less sick
ness and other misfortunes has been un
able to do more than to earn for us bare
living. Should he pass away my daughter,
who u IL erd is graduate Of the grammar
school, and myself would be thrown upou
our own resources for support. Impellee
as we feel to aid her to do that which II
time of need will make her self supporting
we are in doubt as to the wiscst course tc
pursue Though she possesses more thar
average intelligence, yet our lack Of mean
has not permitted us to 50 educate her that
she can hope to earn living In the higher
spheres of life.
I'VE have before us, then, the choice Of
letting her become domestic in private
family Or Of permitting her to go to b
larger town or city, us some of our neigh
bors have permitted their daughters to do
and to seek employment in some factory
store or Office. Being bright and ambitious
and spurrel on by the examples of some Of
the young women in the neighborhood wht
have been successful in the city and who
occasionally visit home, wearing cit,
clothes and exhibiting city manners my
daughter seems anxious to follow in Their
footsteps, feeling confident that she can III
equally successful. Though we know hcl
to be morally strong, yet we are loath t,
let her pass beyond the parental roof, fear
ing as we do the temptations which may
surround her in the larger place. On thu
other hand, to retain her at home and t.
make of her a domestic, which is the only
avenue of employment our limited sur
roundings afford, seems like keeping her
down and preventing her from making fol
herself n moro important place in the
world May ask that you put yourself in
my place, and tell me what you would dop''
What would dor My dear madam, that
your daughter is 10 years Of age, n gradu
ate of the grammar school, and though
bright and ambitious has been taught
nothing by which she can earn an honest
living is one more awful proof of what
/ have known for years-that our public
school system is q fraud.
! Why was not your daughter brought ur
TO some trader / am fully aware that Cali
| fornla women are less willing than other,
to use their hands, but as it has been de
creed from the beginning that man shall
/ earn bread by the sweat of his brow 1t I
useless to escape from the inevitable Tn
questionably, madam, your daughter ha
natural likes and dislikes. If possessed o
more than average intelligence" sh,
4 should know what her brain and finger
are best fitted for. II she doespf, you VIII,
have watched her lovingly for ls year
should be able TO tell her. There Is plent,
:. of work everywhere for good milliners
/ dressmakers and seamstresses. III rattle
l be an adept in any one of these occupation
: than be n teacher, unless at the very top o
the profession. They mean more none
and more Independence.
Id infinitely rather be n domestic" in
, kind family in the town of my birth tha
!. go elsewhere to seek employment in III
! healthy factories, Offices or stores. il
= madam, you have reared your daughte
sensibly, she will agree with me, and, 70
lowing the advice laid down by Goeth,