Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-08-01
WHAT WOULD YOU Dor
Miss Kate Field Answers In Plain Words
the Letter of n Fond Mother.

the Letter of n Fond Mother.
The Visitor of Sacramento has asked me
to reply to this wall from the wife of
wage Garner in a small town:
My husband, in spite of habits of thrift
and economy, owing to more or less sick
ness and other misfortunes has been IN
able to do more than to earn for us bare
living Should he pass away my daughter,
who Is Is and is graduate of the grammar
school, and myself would be thrown upon
our own resources for support. Impelled
as we feel to aid her to do that which in
time of need will make her self supporting,
we are in doubt as to the wisest course to
pursue. Though she possesses more than
average intelligence, yet our lack of means
has not permitted us to so educate her that
she can hope to earn a living in the higher
spheres of life.
I'VE have before us, then, the choice of
letting her become a domestic in a private
family or of permitting her to go to a
larger town or city, as 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 spurred on by the examples Of some of
the young women in the neighborhood who
have been successful in the city and who
occasionally visit home, wearing city
clothes and exhibiting city manners, my
daughter seems anxious to follow in their
footsteps, feeling confident that she can be
equally successful. Though we know her
to be morally strong, yet we are loath to
let her pass beyond the parental roof, fear
ing as we do the temptations which may
surround her in the larger place. On the
other hand, to retain her at home and to
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 for
herself more important place in the
world May ask that you put yourself in
my place, and tell me what you would do?"
What would do? My dear madam, that
your daughter is is years of age, a 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 fraud.
Why was not your daughter brought up
to some trade? am fully aware that Cali
tornla women are less willing than others
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 it is
useless to escape from the inevitable. I'm
questionably, madam, your daughter has
natural likes and dislikes. If possessed of
more than average intelligence" she
should know what her brain and fingers
are best fitted for. II she doesn't, you who
have watched her lovingly for IS years
should be able to tell her There is plenty
of work everywhere for good milliners,
dressmakers and seamstresses. I'd rather
be an adept in any one of these occupations
than be teacher, unless at the very top of
the profession. They mean more money
and more independence
I'd infinitely rather be domestic" in a
kind family in the town of my birth than
go elsewhere to seek employment in I'M
healthy factories, offices or stores. If,
madam, you have reared your daughter
sensibly, she will agree with me, and, fol-
lowing the advice laid down by Goethe,
she will do the duty that lies next her. If,
however, like the majority of American
girls, your daughter has had little home
discipline and covets the city clothes and
city manners" of companions who, having
gone to big towns, occasionally return to
tell of their success, !" it will be useless to
advise her to let well enough alone. In
your daughters place I'd do such work as
would enable me to remain under nv par
ents' roof that might be a Joy and a com
fort to the best and most unselflsh friends
a woman ever hns.-kate Fields Washing
ton.