The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-27
woMAN's EMERGENCY.
She Went in to Work, and Did Any
thing.

She Went in to Work, and Did Any
thing.
Several years ago was left in posi-
ton that necessitated my making money.
said woman to a Chicago Inter Ocean
reporter I had no speciality. no train
ing for self-support. l was a genuewo-
man with good sense and good Judgment
knew a good deal of housekeeping
and its problems, as every conscientious
oman who has had a home of her own
does, but l was not willing to take regu-
employment in domestic service. At
first [ tried to find a place as companion
or secretary, but such places were scarce
and 1 hadn't the training for them.
In the meantime / helped several Of
my acquaintances through times Of do
nestle storm and stress, and. though
hated it, allowed them to pay me. a
wealthy woman who knew Of me through
a family connection was called to o sick
husband in Southern California. She had
small children and no one save the ordin-
airy nurses TO leave them with. 1t oc-
CURED TO her that 1 might be willing
to take charge OF the house and family
and she sent for me in Il great rush.
] went and stayed for three weeks. They
paid me royalty.
1t was while I had charge of that
home that / thought Of making emer-
gency work my profession. and the more
] thought Of it. the more the plan opened
out and the more possibilities presented
] talked the scheme over with number
Of women who could be depended upon
to give me employment and tell others
about me They all agreed that there
was in need Of such services. and that
they. personally would be glad TO know
of some one TO whom they could turn
in any domestic complication.
81 put my pride in my pocket and was
willing to help with anything from It'd
ing a woman through a sudden loss Of
servants to experimenting housecleaning
or running a wedding OF course there
are always caterers TO be found, but. ua-
less one employs the best. pays a big sum
and goes in for an elaborate affair. the
caterer doesn't always III the require
ment
Ordinary entertainments need what I've
heard servants cali the lady touch. A
woman Of refinement and good breeding
knows how 10 do things in a fashion
that is quite distinct from the ordinary
caterers methods She understands
china ana linen. too. She has a knack
with flowers she knows exactly how to
make "a room an thar is comfortable
for an unexpected guest
Illness gives rise 10 any number o.
calls for me. though ! am not what
people would cali a trained nurse.
I'm fairly good nurse as amateur
nurses so. bur my work IS more often
outside Of the sicxroom than IN il. taking
charge of The house the children. and
attending To outside matters Very often
I've taken invali5s away when there
was no member % the family who could
go and the person vas not sd enough 20
need @ trsined nurse. IN tire families
where have obtained q hold and where
they know me weli they hive learned TO
depend upor me ard would rather have
nae at hand than strange professional.
even II they have 10 pay as much or
more than they have 10 ray 70 the pro
fess.onaL
I've helped a great many young brides
through the first domestic reefs and
shoals lr most cases they have been
the daughters Of families where I have
been called IN. ard 50 they have grown
used 70 thinking OF me as a help II
time Of trouble.
1t isn't a very imposing profession. IS
it, III never make a fortune AZ IL, and
know some OF my friends Jock upon
the work as mental. but I had 70 cne
talent. ard 1 needed money.
Mrs Hetty Green has offered 20 erect
for Chestertoa. Ird. village OF 1o9 poP-
ulation q Masonic han on the site q one
recently burned. Andrew Carnegie has
offered the same village s library OF his
usual terms.