New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-17
PACKARD COLLEGE GIRLS.
SOME OF THE GOOD RESULTS OF WOMEN
TAKING HAND IN THE
BATTLE OF LIFE.


NESS TWENTY YEARS AGO AND NOVA TALK
WITH PROFESSOR PACKARD.
Now that there are forty thousand or more women
employed as clerks in New-York offices IL is IN
+.res,nr 70 recall the time when a woman IN such
q nace was curiosity and. taking 1t all IN all
that time "a not so far distant Fifteen years ago
when a woman respectfully born and reared en-
tered a business office to earn her living her ae-
ouantances regarded her either with eympa'hy
for the need of the step or with surprise because
Of her eccentricity. Her father and orother Il sie
had them felt it somewhat their discredit that
she must work.
To.dav unless possessed Of abundant means
girl picks out a vocation for herseh almost 40
aeon as she leaves of short frocks and stops plait
ing her hair in long braid down her PACK oho
r,ust get Mt some sort Of wage-earning. whether
there is real need of It or not There might come
real need and then she will be prepared neI
friends look upon the proceeding as a matter Oh
course Public sentiment in such regard mas
changed. and various reasons are asslsneo ioi Il,
MI. roo,ion If better office buildings Is one. ana
,hn ambition of women themselves to take mana
IN the battle for existence Is another. SONS Say
that II is owing the increased surplus OF iemaie
popuIation making sef-support on the part Oh
women necessity. But whatever was the primary
cause for this steady influx of women into the busi-
ness world there have been certain occurrences
that gave an impetus 10 the tide, ana IN no snaii
6aprea Influenced its character. Inc opening Oh
efficient business college 10 give Tree tui'ioh "
women who desired 10 take up commerclai WORK
,yos uhat NAV be called definite starter IN TINS
direction This opportunity was offered over twenty
wears ago A number Of women began the course
hut only two or three had the perseverance 10 con-
,,nue 81 ard to graduate. At the commencement
EXERCISES of the same institution last year more
,bar half of the entire number OF graduates were
women and all OF these women foun1 places 'h
business houses within the following six months
because OF their proficiency and the sterling char
acter of the institution.
at was not the women 1 was thinking OF at the
time so mucn the business men," said the
president of PACKARD colege in recalling his In,
qualities in the womsny character that would be
Of Infinite use in a business office If properly APP
the brilliant record as business women that train;
Ing and hSv o9d n be-
in the minor work OF the average business office
than the needless irresponsible boys 'he' generally
Were there many women clerks in New-York
"Yes. Was the reply there We're in the
department stores as essers aMa sna
The typewriter had not come in then but adVo-
the irst Women who responded to my invitation
81 remember well the case OF me liIst Wol.d fi
graduate whom launched into the business world
a publisher sent to for a clerk and was as
tonished when young woman instead OF young
want somebody write letters and look after tnSG
the Office he told her, but want some one VINO
could be called on at any time to DO Whatever Is
needed 10 be done. , q ha,,e
been thoroughly trained and am energetic lie
shook his head D,oa ,re,
have misunderstood. You are lady. couldn't
order you around wouldn't feel free to DO IL;
..Tbe upshot was thai She induced him somehow
to % TO give De her ae 10 pay you he told her.
Seven dollars week is all the place is worth
bSTe never aGi eaTned W Sc much money as that
$50 the agreement was made. The Offices In nose
days were dngy and ugly and oftentimes dusty
and dirty The woman clerk began by idyinS
things up. keeping the desks in order and dustihg
What Tine must get down in the morning.
she asked when she was smgag geo. bere until 10
was the answer , ,,a,o ,.o, a,, ohiec,,on
10 my getting here at 3? | could get things IN
order then before you same d ot,er sbor, time
the woman clerk was ole ,bard that and S has
She Is now making go SSa a bas The sbsol,e
confidence and esteem OF every man on 'he ian
and displays such sound judgment that her advice
Is often asked for in inpor'a9t matter. ,
them into the offices II a thing is out of place.
they put it right ana alla:st unconsciousy theg
that don't come in their particular line when the
thnv on ,e ior, ana pe,hap hnds on Il II il
that par,icuaT facnltynoting htle things ,, and
Invaluable J sent out from this institution three
years ago woman clerk of this kind, who has be
come such a valued factor IN the big office where
she works that the managers actually look upon
me with gratitude because instrumental in
This is the gentleman who sent us Miss L.
my Introduction 10 some Of her cOworkers the
other night at "a dinner. and the Introduction
seemed an eloquent one, for was received as a
highly rated acquisition
zone signal point that has favored women's all
vancement TO places OF trust and Importance in
the business world IS the fact that they are no,
likely 10 be competitors with their employers II is
ALWAYS I'm the OF possibilities that a man
may displace the patron from whom he acquired
his knowledge OF the business but an emnlover
never feels that way in regard 10 Il woman clerk
however indispensable she may make herself She
has created her niche. and. while 1t is a yalu-
able one II is in sphere distinctvey her own in
which she will always remain. Another reason for
the popularity Of women clerks IL that they
are reliable. They are never out on a spree
They are always decent and are always ex-
pected 10 be decent. As 20 the problem Of
sex association I'm the everyday business OF life |
that Is question that Will reconcile itself what
ever the compiled tons The general verdict OF the
American public Is that woman Is privileged 10 |
do W. fteVer she Is competent to do and is likely |
to do well whether II he the sewing on. OF button
or the governing OF a city.
"A S much right to stand the |
earth a man, and 10 me there Is nothing more |
attractive than n bright vigorous young woman |
facing the world with honest eyes. neither bashful