The hatchet. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1883-19??, 1900-06-24
GIRLS WHO SUCCEED
THEY MUST BE BRAVE, WISE AND
STRONG.
New York Is the Mecca Of Many Am
bilious Young Ladies' Who Strive for
suecess--some Fall by the Wayslde
Others Accomplish Great Things.


Suecess--some Fall by the Wayslde
Others Accomplish Great Things.
New York Letter)
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 musician.
had scrimped and saved until she had
accumulated a little fund. But when
my heorlne had passed her examina-
lions at the conservatory, she had but
5000 for her two years expenses. This
clear-eyed young woman of twenty
knew that ut the rate of five dollars a
lesson, she must supplement her little
hoard by earning more, but howY Sh'
must have the use of piano and time
to practice, so she could not expect
to earn much more than board and
carfare. Then the heart wearying
search for work began, which she final
ly found. Now she was a governess
for unruly children, now a companion
for q capricious woman of wealth, now
giving piano lessons for little or moth
Ing. And o. so homesick for her
mother and sisters! When matters
looked as dark as possible she was of
fercd a position in 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 valuable use OF
her time that now she is one OF the
most popular teachers in San Francisco
and is charging IS lesson herself
She has large number of pupils and
is as prosperous as she deserves to be,
for every dollar represents hard work,
unfagging courage, and persistent am
bition.
Another Western girl, still in New
York, commands admiration. She was
doing very we'll 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
leries and art schools was too alurlng
to resist, so in spite Of warnings. she
packed up her belongings and started,
confident that her savings would keep
her until she could find a market for
her work. Her ambition was to paint
landscapes. At first she revealed in the
art treasures and work was play. But
clothes soon grow shabby and carfare
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
1t was long afterward that they knew
that those weeks OF silence had been
spent in the free ward a of city hos
pital.. But the wheel Of fortune turned
al last and in time she began to sell
small canvasses to the dealers and she
is now well known so she can command
comfortable living
So 1t 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 sufferngs they
undergo. But not all succeed. 1 know
of one woman who came to New York
intent upon a literary career She
brought letters of introduction to edi-
tors from friends at home, and imagin-
ed the way would be open before her.
The editors read the letters, received
her politely, gave the same answer:
Write something. If II is suitable
for our publication, l shall be only too
glad to use it,"
Then began the struggle that every
new writer experiences. She wasted
paper, postage, carfare, shoe leather,
strength, used up her capital until at
the end of six months, she had to con-
fess failure, for not a single article had
been published. Undoubtedly she con-
founded her desire with ability She
was sure that she could do what she
wanted to do.
OF course anyone Of us would prefer
to sit in well lighted studio or a COM
Portable library and evolve paintings or
novels to astonish the world. but the
plain prosaic fact remains that success
is only for the woman whose talents
and incessant striving force her ahead
of the other strugglers and thus COM
mand recognition. If woman can't
write and can cook. let her choose what
she can do.
And that reminds me of a girl
brought up in a New England town.
we'll educated and well bred, whose
wealthy and fashionable acquaintance
did not deter her from choosing a prac-
tical career. She took course in do
nestle science. She learned to cook, to
analyze foods studied sanitary condi-
tions, etc She has entered into the
subject so thoroughly that some Of her
friends have become interested and out
side of her regular work she has pri-
Vate classes.
So, girls who read this. II you long to
come to New York, don't come unless
you are sure you have ability in your
chosen line and are willing to toll and
moil," and starve a little, If need be,
until your work may be recognized.
1t is only the woman brave in spirit
and strong in health who has show
to success. Heaven help the brave
girls. AGNES OLCOTT.
The Other Side