Willmar tribune., 1907-11-27
GE7G HER: ZRA//NZIYGW The HOG@/74Z

Whenever an article is written on
the independence of women, sooner
or later paragraphs are devoted to
the trials and perils of the girl who
comes to great city to earn her
own living
Without wishing to enter into any
discussion as to the truth or untruth
OF the perils besetting the girl, there
can be no doubt as to her trials. For
every profession and nearly every
wage-earning position is full to over.
flowing. In fact, the woman who has
given up months in preparation to fit
herself as stenographer,' telegraph
er. cashier, or clerk finds, on the
completion of her course, that the
supply of capable applicants for
these positions so overruns the de-
mand that a hopeless period of wait
ing confronts her. Often, financially
unable to meet these periods of in.
activity, she accepts, as last re-
source, place at salary pitifully
small, and wholly inadequate for the
actual necessities of life.
Yet there is a department of work
for women so important, and so DIFF
ferent in its conditions and it's out
look, that the wonder is it has been
overlooked so long. 1t is the hospital
training for professional nurses.
This field has, during the last few
years, broadened out to so great an
extent that no one outside Of hos
pital work can appreciate the i'm
mensity of it's growth. A few years
ago professional nurse was a rare
article and generally poor one The
demand for her services was very
limited; her presence in private
house was one of those luxuries af.
forded only by the very rich for their
very sick.
Now it is a different matter. The
demand for nurses has been a cry
of want that? in hundreds of cases
cannot be answered for lack of supply
Yet any hospital graduate nurse can
earn $25 a week for as many weeks
in the year as she cares to work.
Moreover she has, while on duty, not
only her pay, but place to live in,
home where every comfort and con-
sideration is hers. She takes her po-
sition in the household as an equal,
eating at the same table with the
family, receiving the same courtesy
that would be given an honored
guest. Her wage of $25 week, there
fore, is practically Clear Of every ex-
&c -
other work open to women?
To fit oneself for professional nurs-
ing there is, Of course, the training,
and this training requires three years.
1t is three years of work and varied
experience. It is not a playtime. But
it has it's compensations, even aside
from the final goal of complete inde-
pendence, and surety of constant,
wel1-paid employment.
In the best hospitals Of every large
city, the training school is an i'm.
portant adjunct. Here the girls live,
having their room, board, and, in
many cases, their costume furnished
them. They are cared for if illness
overtakes them, Qnd watched over
n health.
AS in every other school, there is
work time and recreation time. The
nurses have, to stimulate them in
their labors, the companionship of
their co-workers, the interest of some
new phase Of existence continually
opening out before their view, the
knowledge that, day by day, they are
becoming more thoroughly equipped
to care for the sick, and do for the
HELPLESS, which is the noblest charity
of them all.
The graduate nurse has no long
waiting for a job. She does not hunt