The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-03-23
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VONAIS WORLD.
A CLEVER PROFESSIONAL WOMAN.


Miss Dem Is a Successful Landscape As.
slseant to a New York Architect.
Mariery Dean is the romantic name
OF o very practical young woman, per
Aaps the only feminine landscape as
sistant to an architect in this country.
Miss Dean, or N. Dean, is a plump
little woman, still under thirty, and
devoted to her work.
Glow did you chance upon your
profession?" she was asked
"There was no chance about it, %
she replied. II knew I should have
to earn my living when I left school,
so I endeavored to lay the foundation
for profession by my studies in the
public schools, Now I don't want
you to think that all of this fore
thought originated withssmess as q
girl, for it did not. I was lucky in
having 6 very practical mother, who
treated ell of her children alike, boys
and girls. She would ask US, even as
little tots, what we expected to do to
earn our own living when we grew up.
Then as we grew up, while at school,
she would give us advice.
"Her advice to me-" Miss Dean
continued, "was to look for some
other profession besides typewriting,
bookkeeping and teaching. I have no
special ta.nnt, so when I showed a
fondness for architecture she encour-
aged me and suggested that even if I
never succeeded in becoming an arch
itect, I might be an architects assis-
tant in some capacity.
$50, you see, it was my mother
who bent the twig. After T had left
school I came to New York and Of
fered my services to q we'll known
architect. he could not employ me,
but gave me some valuable advice.
Go to Europe he said, If possible,
and spend about at least three months
studying architecture. Not the build
ings so much for every architect has
studied that branch-but their set.
tings. Study the grounds. @ssE7ery
year the number of wealthy Ameri-
cans who wish to tuild handsome
homes is increasing. In the majority
Of cases they take. a fancy to a certain
style of architecture and want it built
on some particular spot, without the
least regard for the suitability. Now,
what you want to learn is how to
build the grounds up to suit the
house. Let the architect build the
house and you build the grounds.
II acted on the suggestion. I bor-
rowed the money and took a wheeling
tour through the British Isles and
several countries in Europe with a
elassmate, who did not have to earn
her living and was willing togo any
route that was to my advantage.
"On my return I became the assis-
t:nt OF my adviser and to-day am
earning comfortable living with a
little money aside for rainy day. I
am the only woman in America filing
such position, so far as I know, and
I am quite sure the field is large
enough for many more.
'Do I superintend the carrying out
my plans? Only so far as to see that
they produce the desired effect. I
know almost nothing about the habits
and requirements Of trees and plants.
That is the business Of the gardeners
who carry out my plans, and I only
see that they do their work in such a
manner as to harmonize with the
grounds. I did not think it is worth
my while to study landscape garden
ing because I would not have time to
see to the planting and culivating. I
am fully occupied as it now stands,
and, as + said before, my profession
is by no means overcrowded. I am
out OF doors and away from the city
the greater part of the time, but my
work is healthful, pays excellently and
I am very fond oft. atlanta Consti-
tuition.