The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-10-23
Gentle Woman Who is
an Expert Machinist

py diversion from the humdrum and
monotony Of housework, and she en-
joys it. She takes as much pride in
turning out a perfect shafting OF set
OF pulleys or some intricate part Of
an engine as any housekeeper would
In making a good cake OF in doing
q choice bit Of embroidery work.
Mrs. Peters can fire the boiler. keep
ing up the rIeDsr amount Of steam
and water, and can run the engine.
And more than that. she could put II
all together again without any trou-
BILE were it to be taken apart for her.
Threading" a piece of steel. a job
requiring accuracy and speed at the
same time, she does with as much
ease as threading a needle for sew
ing. although the operation is indeed
very different.
In making a shrinking fit." where
in casting must be heated to a GER
tain temperature TO avoid bursting. a
Job in which all machinists often fail,
she has no trouble. This is a job that
is common In all large engine works.
AS one watches her at her work he
is impressed by the scene OF the big
machines responding with surges aud
groans to the delicate touch OF these
skillful feminine fingers.
Since 1t has always been believed
that good machinists must have a nat
ural talent to be able TO develop the
skill successfully. it makes this wom-
ans work all the more wonderful.
None of the tinidity and fear that
woman has. as a rule, around machin-
cry, is seen in Mrs. Peters conduct
in the shop. She pursues the work
with a confidence that is associated
only with an expert knowledge Of the
business.
That Mrs. Peters is the only woman
in America with the pluck to tackle
this sort Of business is probably
true. She does the work. not because
she is compelled. but because she finds
real enjoyment in the handling Of ma
chinery. There seems to be actual
affection in her gentle touch of the
cold steel machines over which she
presdes in the foundry.
II must not be inferred because Mrs.
Peters has proven her adaptability to
such a calling that she is lacking in
the charms and accomplishments that
go to grace womankind. The feminine
side Of her nature is equally interest
ing.
Possessing a good education, she
can converse intelligently upon most
any subject. and can play the piano
and sing with considerable ability.
Her husband declares she has the
most perfect health of any woman he
ever saw. He says ner unusual labor
has not tended to detract from her
womanliness. but that her heart is as
full OF womanly tenderness and SYM
pathy as 1t was when she became his
wife.
Mrs. Peters, when asked how she
happened to learn to work in the shop,
replied with a modest smile;
Wen, we had no children, and !
would get lonesome at home. AS Lay
husband and l always we're compan-
ionable. ! spent much OF my time in
the shop to be with him. began to
use hammer and a wise occasionally.
and then l got to trying my hand at
things just for fun. Pretty
soon found could turn out some Of
the simple jobs that came in without
my husbands instruction. Naturally,
| felt an exultant pride over my
and wanted to do more
difficult things all the time. Now. my
husband tells me ! am safer in some
Of the difficult work than any other
in the shop"