The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-02-03
GIRLS WHO SUCCEED.

To look at her you would never have
taken her for heroine, but she was.
She came from the Pacific coast to
study music. Her mother, a musician
had scrimped and saved until she had
accumulated a little fund. But when
my heroine had passed her examina-
tons at the conservatory, she had but
5000 for her two years expenses. This
clear-eyed young woman of 20
knew that at the rate of S. a lesson
she must supplement her little
hoard by earning more, but how? She
must have the use of piano and time
to practice, so she could not expect
to earn much more than board and
car fare. Then the heart-wearving
search for work began, which she final
ly found. Now she was a governess
for unruly children, now companion
for a capricious woman of wealth, now
giving piano lessons for little OF moth
ing. And, oh, SO homesickk- for her
mother and sisters! When matters
looked as dark as possible she was of
fered a position in a kindergarten,
which solved every difficulty. To make
a long story short, at the end of two
years she not only secured her diploma,
but had made such a valuable USE OF
her time that now she Is one Of the
most popular teachers in San Francisco.
and is charging So a lesson herself.
she has a large number of pupils. and
is as prosperous as she deserves to be,
for every dollar represents hard work,
unflaggging courage, and persistent
ambition.
Another western girl, still in New
York. commands admiration She was
doing very well in her native city, Civ
ing lessons in painting and executing
all the orders that she could secure.
But she wanted to study and improve
in her art New York, with its gal
leriee and art schools, was too allurinG
10 resist SO, in spite of warnings, size
packed un her belongings and started,
confident that her savings would keep
her until she could find a market for
her work. Her ambition was 10 paint
landscapes. At first she revellei in the
art treasures and work was play. But
clothes soon grow shabby and car fare
eats terribly into small income.
Working until late at night, often with
unsuitable food, the strain became too
great, and disaster followed. For weeks
her family. never received a letter. and
it was long afterWard mat they Knew
that those weeks of silence had been
spent in the free ward of a city hos
rital. But the wheel Of fortune turned
at last and in time she hogan to sell
small canvasseS TO the dealers, and she
is now we'll known, so she can command
a comfortable living.
SO i is with so many brave women.
Every day in this big. city BATTLES
against starvation and despair are
fought by girls whose friends at home
never dream of the sufferings they
undergo. But not all succeed. I know
of one woman who came to New York
intent uuon a literary career. She
brought letters Of introduction TO edi-
tors from friends at home, and i.nagin-
ed the way would be open before her
The editors read the letters, received
her politely, gave the same answer:
write something. If it is suitable
for our publication, / shall be only too
glad to use it,
Then began the struggle that every
new writer experiences. she wasted
paper, postage, car fare, shoe leather,
strength, used up her capital until at
the end of six months she had To con-
fess failure, for not single article had