River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-08-11
WOMEN GET BIG SALARIES.
Feminine Professionals and Trades
People Who Are Paid as High
as $4,000 a Year.

~ dI Z IcCIplSuIS VI SlU.UuU per year from
their Vocations. 1t is estimated that
there are over score of others who en-
joy the privilege of spending or saving
at least $4,000 annually which they make
in legitimate professional practice, at
lines of business which they operate in
dependently, or as heads of departments
in the larger places of business, says the
Tribune of that city.
Women in some of the largest State
street stores talk as freely of salaries of
$4,000 year as the average clerk does
of $40 week. And if you feel inclined
to argue the question of their right to re-
ceive such large salaries they will tell
you it is automatic they would not re-
ceive them year after year unless they
earned them.
Compared in number with the men
who receive salaries of this size, one
well known woman said that among her
acquaintance there is about one $10,-
600 year woman to five men who share
similar luxury. Discussing the ques-
ton further, she seemed to think that
the women who receive this amount
under similar conditions of life. She ar
gued that a woman who can command
so large a salary must devote more of
her time to the earning of it than does
the average man, therefore she finds less
time to squander it, "The average SAL
aried man who receives a $4,000 sti-
pend" she added, sis usually in debt.
iuio IN
their habits and find that their reten-
ton in position that pays so hand
somely requires that they be good fell
lows with those in higher authority as
we'll as those among their clients. The
women who draw large salaries draw
them because of their actual fitness for
the places they occupy, and not because
they are convivial and good mixers
1T is not long ago." said the same
woman, that Chicago could boast of but
one woman who received for her services
$4,000 annually. l have known two
women physicians who have received in
excess of $4,000 per year from their
practice, and have maintained this level
year in and year out for nearly a score
of years, but salaries of this size have
been paid to women in Chicago for less
than a decade.
1t is reported on seemingly good au-
thority that two women members of
the legal profession of Chicago have re-
allied an amount approximating $10,-
600 annually from their practice, but late
years have seen reduction in the in
come of all lawyers since the formation
of large title and trust companies has
taken over large portion of their bust
ness which formerly swelled the annu-
al income of many lawyers.
Several years ago, at the death Of her
father, Miss Ada G.. Sweet, took up that
portion of her fathers business relating
to pension claims, and has continued it
ever since. She says she has realized
as much as $4,000 per year from this
work. Though not q practicing attOr
ney, she has familiarized herself thor
oughly with pension matters, and her
clientele in this department of practice
is large. Just prior to the Spanish
American war, her business suffered a
gradual decrease, but several new claims
arising from the recent war have aug
mented it considerably.
! Nearly a score of years ago two young
women entered the employ of a State
street store as employees of the dress
making department. They soon showed
q mastery of the details of the work
required of them and were advanced
steadily. They were known then as
the Misses Reardon and now as Mes
danes J. r. Hull and Margaret McCar-
thy. Mrs. Mccarthy before her mar
riage is said to have been the first wom-
an in Chicago to receive salary of $10
| BOO per year, and it is stated on author
ity that both she and her sister each re-
ceive this stipend as joint superintend-
ent of this big store. They are known
in all parts of the world as authorities
in their line and number among their
patrons many of the wealthiest and most
fastidious women Of Chicago. There is
striking resemblance between the sis
tiers. One cannot talk with them with
out being impressed that they are fully
equal to the situations they occupy.
They are among the busiest women in
Chicago and are deeply absorbed in
Iu6lI WOIh. Mis-. MCCdI lily SpCHuS
much of her time in Paris representing
her firm as buyer for her department.
Occupying a similar position with
another store, Mrs. Catherine Dodd, it is
authoritatively asserted, receives sal
airy similar in amount. Mrs. Dodd is by
many considered the best authority on
dressmaking in America. She is always
busy, and supervises with great tact and
discretion this important department of
a great store. She, too, is abroad much
of her time.
Among the medical fraternity of Chi
cago there is at least one woman whose
income reaches, if not exceeds, $4,000.
Nearly every woman who has lived in
Chicago for any length of time will ac-
knowledge that Dr. Leila G. Bedell re-
ceives a large income, and those who
claim to have inside information place
1t at $4,000 as minimum figure, while
others say that it yields her over $751;
900 annually.
Medical Murder"
French medical opinion has been
strongly moved by theory openly adj