The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
A Young Girls Purpose and Will
BY MRS. J. B. REID.

q made up my mind when I was very young that I would learn to do all kinds of work that women should know This was the beginning of a very interesting conversation with splendid young wom- an, whose pluck has won for her sue cess and happiness. She realized that her parents were growing old, and her mother feeble She did not actually need to go out to earn her living, but her purpose was to prepare herself so that if there was ever such an occasion she would be equipped. At the age of 17 she had passed the seventh grade in the public schools and she gave serious thought to any step that would take her from her parental roof, and knew the danger of her first impression in the bus- mess world So she sought home in private family, a general help to splen- did. good woman and she tells the writer that she found great pleasure in pre- pairing the meals and serving them. The duties were pleasant and profitable, With out considering the money she received She has access to a splendid library and spends her evenings and leisure hours in reading standard books.
 From this home she went as com panion to a sick woman, assuming the. care of an infant child. This position was more remunerative, but as the parties boarded not so pleasant as the home had been. and not so much time for self im- movement. Her parents began to need her services at home at night, then com n,enced her career as a business woman. First she was employed in department store as saleswoman and agalh sne irleu Kress for a Christmas holiday, and then she worked in cracker factory. By this time she had studied ana adVaheeu herself until she felt prepared to take a stenographc course, and today She fills one of the most important offices of A woman in this city, ana haVlhs trained herself along practical lines, ana in formed herself by constant application she is 4 most interesting young girl, with the highest standard of lady.
 The mother has passed away ana 'lis brave young girl is the homemaker and financial aid to a devoted old father. Sne not only reads, writes and speaks Eng Iish. of French descent, she is equally as nroficient in her native language. She was horn in Franco and reared in Amer ica. though she retains the native ioVe I of art and is a real artist with her needle' and with bright fosses during her mid, | day lunch noui SiiS
 pictures on linen.
 | rrhis vounc woman is an incentive to any young girl who hesitates to become | useful The writer asked Tor Iull us | cussion of the different phases or her career. and she very happily replied: Il have never met with anything put hlho- | ness in my life. l could not spend d moment in regret of my experience, and if | were a young girl without profes- sion | would certainly prefer to go llto
 some good home and have the protection
 and opportunity of growing ana traihiiis
 than to stand behind any counter Asann
 one gets her board free and by system
 matzng her duties one has so mucn
 leisure to read and study.
 The writer is very proud to have this young friend. She embraces intelligence
 industry honor and a beautiful refine
 ment She has ambition worthy of ifni-
 tation, and spends a lire of wonderful
 usefulness. And as she lives in suburt
 and has to ride a distance to her work
 she always carries a good book to read
 on the way: not a moment is wasted; nc
 duty in life unfinished, and she is splen-
 did example of a self made woman. Com . bring all the qualities of leadership
 among young women who are engaged ir
 the business world-friendly with every
 body, she is intimate with none, and in
 terests in her daily duties not only fol her own success, but for those by whom
 she is employed, this is great secret oi
 her success.
 This true story is too good not to tell
 for fear some less fortunate girl need' II to start and hesitates to accept avail able employment lest it does not carry with il dignity. Any service can bs
 dignified, but false pride has cause,
 more hunger than the need of work.
 This is especially so of our Ameri
 can people. The foreigners train |,
 domestic service as a part of an educa
 tion, but the majority of our girls d'
 not train to cook and housework un less they are forced to it; hence oul poor find themselves untitted for man, of the duties that make most usefu