The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-14
FIELD FOR WOMEN
 AS UNDERTAKERS
FEWER THAN A DOZEN FOLLOW THE CALLING IN NEW YORK. THEY ARE SAID TO BE OVER WORKED.
From the New York World.

From the New York World.
 Believing that there is an opportunity for trained nurses in the ranks of em- balmers, and that their services will be appreciated by undertakers, Mrs. Jen- nie Morgan Walters, for many years superintendent of the Williamsburg hos pital, is preparing to deliver in the var ous hospitals of the city a series of lec- lures on the art the coming winter. The field opened by the Rev stephen Mer- ritt for women embalmers some ten years ago has not been sought to such an ex- tent that there is an overcrowding, there being less than dozen women earning livlihood in Greater New York in the un- dertaking business. Three of those are , in Manhattan borough
 Whether or not women will ever be- come a success as undertakers is a aues- ton upon which those having studied the question fall to agree. Some of the em- ploying undertakers believe that a wom- an is united for the business, while oth- CTS maintain that they are as essential in that vocation as in any other of which man has been the premier Mrs. Walters agrees with those who take the latter view.
 ''I expect that many nurses will at- tend my lectures and eventually become embalmers" said Mrs Walters. 'T have no doubt that they will be appreciated by the undertakers. The trained nurse
 s as a rule. a well educated and refined young woman and her training fits her without much extra preparation for the examination she is required to take in order to become a licensed embalmer. If
 s a calling suitable for women. though not one which many women would choose.
 My work now is confined entirely to embalming women and children. but I am sometimes called upon to complete details al the home prior to the funeral of a male person. If Is the place of the woman undertaken to not only prepare the body for the grave. but 10 extend such sympathy as she can to the afflicted ones"
 The views held bv Mrs. Walters are coincidcd with by Mrs Francis A Glas- sey also of Brooklyn. who secured ...e first license to do emhamlng issued by the state board of embalmers. She was an undertaken for three years before she became an emhalner and in her ex- perence she saws that she realizes that womn are needed in this nrofession and hoe conn seled many to enter if.
 Mrs Margaret O'Connor is undoubted- lv the first woman In Brooklyn to enter the undertaking business. She commehced about nine years ago. Mrs. F.. Rerwin. also of Brooklyn. has been engaged for some years in the same occupation. When tha Rev. Stenhen Merritt moved from his nlaee of husiness on West rwen- tv-thlr1 n Ninc.eont street and FiPhth avenue he decided that woman had as much right tn work in the undertaking line ga anv nther person. and he adver- tised for such 2 one There were many ! volunteers but they All nuit after the first tob some Of them hefnre inc work was half done Most of then' collansed when taken into the room where the body :, was tn he prenared for tre grave. 1 T. wac r,roh different to 600 Noev 1 nicely dressed restino in handsone 1 ca slset s,rrounded with flowe~s and oil
 hut one of the women decided that the~ i wouId earn money hr son'o other trada. ] The one who stnrea r o''t was Mrs Kate
 rarrus of No so5 West Nineteenth street