Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-12
QUEER OCCUPATIONS ron WOMEN.
| They Appear TO Be Firmly EstabIish-
| cd in the Business World.

From the Philadelphia Times
The last quarter of a century has efrec-
tually exploded the old idea that woman
has no place in the business world. For
merry there were but three ways in which
unmarried American women could hope to
maintain themselves-by domestic service
by sewing or by some form of teaching
Now the question no longer is, What is
there a woman can do?' but, What is
there woman cannot do?" Not emily has
there been a change for the better even in
the old channels of employment. but there
has been a remarkable development of new
occupations for women. They have ruth
leSsly invaded fields of employment hither-
t. held sacred to man, but they have also
manifested an invention. of which they ware
once considered incapable in originating,
lew occupations in response to the needs
of the hour.
One of the latest occupations evolved by
| feminine ingenuity is that of the profes-
siunal trunk packer. The clever young wo-
man, Miss Blanche Minton, who discovered
| the possibilities of this profession to her
sex, recalled how the majority of people
dislike TO pack trunks and she decided to
| take up the work of professional packer
| she went to the manager of large hotel
| and asked him to recommend her He ad-
| viSed her 10 have cards engraved. stating
terms, and promised to keep them in III.
| office, and also to distribute them amone,
| the guests. The advice of the manager was
| followed. Her first order to pack the
| trunks of d party who had been called away
Unexpectedly, and directed that their bag
| gage be sent after them. There were seven
| huge trunks, and it took all the afternoon
| to pack them and schedule their contents
I iE q small book. The wages Miss Minton
received for her afternoons work We're so
encouraging that she determined to per-
severe in her project. Her success was
| such that she now employs her sister as an
assistant. While she packs the trunks her
: ster sits near and iots down in the little
| book. which is attached to the key and de-
livered to the owner. the contents of the
| various compartments. She makes point
| o. packing all trunks very nearly alike,
sc that any one who has once unpacked on.
| Of her trunks will be able to judge about
| the locality of their various belongings
| Her charges; naturally, are according to
| the size of the trunk. For those under 81
| inches in length she charges $40. while
| for above that size the price is $50
| The chimes of Grace Church, New York.
are famous. but how many who have lis
l tered to them know that they are rung bv
| the fair hands of a beautiful young woman?
| Miss Bertha Thomas has for a number Of
years been chimer and assistant organist
at Grace Church. The chimes are rung by
| means of an electrical keyboard like that OF
| an organ. At every pressure of her fingers
! great bell weighing tens responds and
| from the tower one hundred feet above the
/ music of some sacred chant rings out in a
| brazen clash and clang that can be heard
\ for miles
| Women undertakers are not uncommon
| but woman grave digger is certainly an
| oddly. This gruesome calling is followed
| by a woman in England at the town of
| Lewis. Mrs. Steel, and her muscles are said
| to have been matched by her name must
| have found it both agreeable and remun.
| erative. however. for she dug all the graves
| If the cemetery for many years. Now be-
| ing OF an advanced age she only fills in
| the graves and tends the plants and flowers
! but she declares the employment is NOT at
| all unwomanly.
! Chicago possesses very unusual tyne of
| the new woman in Mrs. Reed. Mrs. Reed
| IS a professional shopper, but of a very
| original order She began her work in the
| usual way by purchasing for women living
| at distance from large stores but gradu-
| ally she has enlarged her business to in
| clude steel work and machine shops and
now makes a speciality of locomotives and
railroad equipment. She has been appointed
| purchasing agent for the new Pacific and
| Northern Idaho Railroad Company, and
| buys tons of steel rails machinery and
| other railroad material. She still BUYS mill
| linery and spring gowns in addition to her
| other responsibilities.
| Santiago, Chile. can claim the credit ~
tproving the efficiency. Yes, and the desir-
l ability, of women street car conductors
| perform their duties in 4 most satisfactor
| manner They are seldom in trouble with
| their passengers, but when trouble does nc-
| cur they blow a whistle and summon the
4 police.