The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-02

seeking employment in fields hitherto
mOnopelized by men. why should not
women cultivate flowers for profit? The
home Is woman's sphere, out man has in
vaded that sphere. He weaves and spins
by machinery the clothes that women in
former generations ade with their hands.
He has oDopOliZed the industries of sup
plying the wants of the home in many
ways, and many women, driven to seek a
livelihood elsewhere, have turned to fl0ri-
culture. To such | should say DO not go
in for it unless you have mission. The
best care and art and culture are needed"
A number of interesting suggestions to
flower-cultivators followed, and growers
were urged to produce new varieties.
1.-The taste to-day runs TO big flowers, and
as the carnaton is as plastic as the clay in
the hands of the potter, we will have car
nations foot across and five feet high. If
you love your work you will find your
floral children responding TO your most
beautiful IDEAS"
which Mrs. Laura de Force Gordon spoke
very enthusastica and without any
notes, urging the people Of California to
devote more attention to the raising of the
silkworms and mulberry trees. Incl
dentally she condemned the legislation by
means of which the State of California
tried to encourage silk culture, declaring
wisely.
There is no reason In the world, how.
ever. why the deaf and blind asylums, the
asylums for the feeble minded, in fact.
any public institution. should not be made
almost self-supporting by fostering the
silk culture. 1t is work that a child can
perform"
In the discussion that followed, the ques-
ton was eagerly asked, Whether Califor-
mia offers any market for this silk when
prod Gced. Mrs. Gordon replied that $50, 900
worth is annually spun in the United
States. and that the native raw product
should be as marketable as that which
comes from Japan and China.
The last speaker of the afternoon, Mrs.
Mary Newburv Adams. in her paper on
Agriculture. Its Relation To Civilization"
described the need for greater respect
for the agricultural life as the foundatio
of civilization.
The evening session was devoted en-
tirely to the consideration of woman IN
Business" Mrs. w. II. Strong of Whit
tier read a very thoughtful paper upon
1.-The Relation of Woman 10 the Busine ss
World and its Responsibilities, in which
she deplored the lack of business training
among women.
I'VE live entirely outside our vital in
terests. When an explosion comes and we
are thrown on our own resources we have
to handle weapons Of which we know
nothing. Helpless women are being forced
into the business world, they are not fore
ing themselves"
A paper on "Fruit-Growing," by Mrs. E.
P. Buckingham of VacavilIe, gave au enter
taiuing account Of the difficulties that had
beset the speaker in first starting a fruit
ranch, and added useful advice TO those
who wished to start in the same business.
Mrs. L. G. Watkins. in THE Business
Woman's Evolution" urged that women
do not lose their refinement by being assn-
ciated with men in business. "The Bust
ness Training Of Women" by Mrs. N. w.
Palmer. which was read by Mrs. Charlotte
Perkins StetsOp, gave a plain, sensible
statement of the difficulties women must
surmouDt in business life.
An episode in the evenings session that
provoked great amusement was the read
ing OF a poem that. as Mrs. Stetson OBJ
served. "some man had sent in" In dog
gerel verse it besought women not to
reason. A smart answer in rhyme TO the
anonymous writer's sentiments. from the
PEN of Rev. Ada Bowles. was much APP
nian0pd