The Virginia enterprise., 1906-08-03
WORK "a BLESSING AND NOT.
{ a CURSE. S. z.. !.
/. WORK

a CURSE. . .:
Don't Pity Yourself The Busy Poor:
Happier Than the, Idle Rich-Earn
S Every Cent Of Your Wages
ga fully and Have Well-shod Feet
The Distinguishing Marks Of; a
Lsady-Expect NO Favors Because
#ss Of Your sex-True Heroism Of the
! rs Mothers Of the Poor-The Privi-
1ege Of Helping at Home.
.sH BY MARGARET E. sANGsrER.. j J
5Acopyright, 1906. by Joseph B. Bowles)
szz4 Whatever you do, don't pity YOUR
self. ...~...@
Don't spend time in wishing Won
were better off,, that you had more
3mone7, an easier position, longer: yaca-
lions, and better time, Nobody has
50 good 9 time as. the person who has
work to do that is necessary in the
great scheme of things, and that she
thoroughly understands Your work
may 0e obscure, buff it is well done.
lt counts for just as much as the
work ci the greatest man or woman
on this earth.
=: The chief trouble is with some Of us
that we are too ready to think of our
selves before we think of our work.
This is the most 7wasteful blunder that
can pc made. Put the work first and
yourself second, and make up your
mind that If, YOU are taking wages
from anybody, you will earn every
uollar or them to the last cent.
One morning some months ago I
stood by an open window in a dense
~ crowded section of New York city.
IL was away down town where the
to1lers live, and I watched with great
interest the procession of people who
We're going to their places of business.
Although it was early, they had been
at breakfast and were walking stead
lly forward toward the Offices, shops
ana factories where each had his and
her place: In that throng 1 noticed
a great<many girls. Some were alone,
others were in pairs or groups, but all,
nad 'he intent, eager appearance of
those who were straining toward q
goal.
They had :he advantage over the idle
rich OF being the busy poor. But
they did not look In the least as though
poverty we're burden or a handicap.
Most OF !hem were comfortably dressed
with short skirts and jackets, trim
little sailor hats and well-shod feet:
their eyes were bright, they wore the
air OF those who had a pleasant day
before them. After all, what is wealth
except a good deal of luggage to carry
on the road? What is poverty except
marching without too much weight to
cucumber ones steps? Nobody is poor
who can pay her way and save little
for the day of sickness, or the day
when the works may shut down. No
body Is rich who has more desires than
she has dollars to crafty them.
= II orc is poor girl who must work.
the wise course for her is to try to
advance her own worth in the mar
ket. For example, one should not be
contented to be a mediocre saleswom-
an or slovenly stenographer, or a
mere drudge who watches the clock
to ascertain when her day will end,
SO that she may drop her work at the
first stroke that sets her free. Be-
cause one has not much money.
there Is no reason why her work
should be rated low in the scale. A
girl who is an expert, in what she un-
dertakes. who is responsible, punctual
and accommodating will surely forge
ahead.
: One girl think of whose early home
was i'll a rear tenement, in a great
city, whose educational ADVANTAGES
were extremely limited, and who
learned her art of stenography and
typewriting in working girls club,
in the evenings of winter when she
was serving in the. daytime as a cash
girl In department store. She found
employment in publishing house. At
first her lack Of vocabulary and of gen
eral Information told against her, but
she was quick witted and watchfu},>
and neglected no detail. Very soon
she mastered all that she needed to
make her valuable. Before long she
was known in a large establishment as
a young woman who might be depend
ed upon, who was efficient, trustworthy
and CAPABLE. She was promoted from
one department to another, and her
salary was Increased from time to
time. After awhile she was able to
give Up her work and establish herself
independently as a woman of business
employing others. va Force, energy and
skill = help their possessor, and she
had them. ~ :-@~> y s.,- .-s--.-- - >:
young woman who undertakes reg /, =
ular daily work must remember that
her health Is her most important as-
sci. In going to and from the of
fee or mill or shop. she must be
dressed for any weather, and sne must
not commit the folly Of spending 50
much on her best clothes that she has
no everyday ones fit to- wear. A bust
ness outfit should include an Umbrella.
overshoes andsrain coat In these days
of shirtwaists that 4 may be easily