New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-15
SPHERE or WOUAN'S WORh.
AS SEEN AND UNDERSTOOD BY AN ENG
LISU GIRL.

A literature prize offered by THE Gentlewoman
for an essay on Various Employments Open to
Girls" was won by Miss Evelyn NJ b. underhii'
In the article she speaks OF the sphere OF woman
work follows:
If i, were true as Kingsley sang, that Men
must work. and women must weep feinae en-
pioyment would be but a dismal and monotonou ls
Lrgement of woman's sphere during the victorian
age has finally dispatched this morbid theory anu
the modern girl, ranging at will from shopkeseplhs
10 Psychology from collecting debts 10 leading
crusade can scarcely complain of paucity OF EN-.
ployment But. though many occupations have have
these. both practical and approximate Is arSe
group of professions dep andng for success on the
application Of special talent Such i, are d,dnnce
teachng The development and direction OF the
intelligence Of a growing child Is work requiring ne
special aptitude and is 100 lightly undertaken q, TS
many unframed girls In the hope OF earning a niue
pocet-moncy To paint bad picture; N Wri,e an
sonata is harmless If annoying occupation
Tho tactlcss teacher who gives her pupl pau
start in life is far less open to forgiveness putting
cine nurs ng journalism and several minor calin ,
cnch as s These however demand
a whole-heared devotion. and cannot be taken up
Ti,c sir who elects to practise as doctor must
give years to ardgous and even lepulsve s'srs
and meet man on his own ground. Girs also nave
this disadvantage. that whie proiessloai an
"o1sidered indicative If not Of lunacy, at any rate
of ''adVan need ana unWomanly views
HER IDEAS OF JOURNALISM
Of Journalism, the same may be said At the
host a precarious livelihood. at the worst dis
agreeable met nod of starvation II Calls Tor bounu-
la.s ,,ct energy and resource and should only be
u,dcrtakon bv ready and accurate observers physi-
rallv strong and mentally serene Cheerful en-
thus.asm IL an Indispensable quality IN all VINO
would successfully face the hard work and unpleas-
ant details Of medicine. Journalism and hospital
nursing The over-refined had better seek interests
elsewhere among the many pleasant and lucrative
employments which may be conducted In the com
narrative shelter OF home.
Two such avOcations. much neglected. are 'he
horolv arts OF drcssmakng and cookery. Victims
UNDERGOING the torture Of a "wreched cook pay
thankfully for an expert adys help. either As in
structress or to superintend a special meal Pa
icnce and attention will give any girl a thorough
knowledge OF cookery, and the work has many las
In dressmahing too a we-tausht AMI tasteful
girl could soon work up connection among friends,
earning a far more pleasant livelihood than many
unlerpaid gOvernesse- or mothers helps.
or another UNDECIDED craft. book binding. | can
personally peak. Appealing to all "bookworms
Il il delightful and profitable to practise admits
work. and gives ample scope to otiSlnal dcslgn
silver wcrk also ana nv s fnr technIca dessn
there Is a. yet adequate market and they must
sin he relegatrd to the domain OF home arts.
ONE EMPLOYMENT TOO COMMON.
There f.. however one form OF cmp.oyment-al-
ready far too COMMONWEALTH girl Of honor
should consider open to hor-I mean the urdersellng
OF her poorer sisters. Many girls Of the upper
classes impellcd by no better motive than cnnui
and discomfort and willing to accept any trhlns re-
muneration rush into the Overcrowded labor mar
Ike, the ruin of those whom necessity compeis 10
can only repeat the grand Old motto-"Nobesse
Oblgc."