The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-20
WOuAN,S Professions.
A Social survey Of the Csiiinss OF the
Home Maker.

To THE EDITOR or The SuN--Sy! I
do not think "Femlnist' secs straight,
II she will excuse the expression, In call
ing marriage profession In Itself. She
confuses marriage and motherhood as
such with the necessary household work
ana care Of children which marriage and
motherhood entail
"Feminlst' evidently undertakes as her
profession not, as she says, marriage ara
moline hood. but the profession OF nurse
in caring for the children the profession
OF housekeeoer and cook In buying and
preparing food the profession perhaps or
housemaid, who keeps everything In order .
or perhaps Of laundry maid. who washes
the othes: or perhaps further. ths pro-
fessior OF Kindergarten or governess IN
teaching the children, or seamstress In
making their clothes.
All these are separate professions that
the great majority OF mothers undertake
and call professional motherhood II Is
not professional motherhood. II 10 un-
divided labor, frequently unsklled 'abor
carried on only too often at the expense
OF the well being Of the children.
The mother OF means may not be haif
90 good q mother as her sisters who are
poor but she can do something for her
children that the poor woman cannot do
she can provide skilled care and give her
chi dren the best OF everything This is
why the percentage Of deaths is compare
lively small among the children OF the
well TO do. The large death rate among
children and the high percentage Of de
fect!ves 10 found among the children OF
the poor. where the mother can neither
give nor provide skilled care.
OF course the only excuse for a m othsr' :
wol king outside her home rather than ln
1t is when by 60 doing she can better
provide for that home. II she 10 so COCO
- - - ha oh n
make II a profession and care for more
than her own ard be paid for II BY tire
no.hers who are not good nurses but
Who ars able 70 make money In the out
eide professions
The motner VINO works ~ pAyir
profession inside or outside OF her home
10 in the same position as that Of the
mother OF means who Is able 70 provide
skilled care for her children and good
food and clothes because she can helr
pay for them. She goes step further
however, than the idle rich" mother. be-
cause she becomes a wiser and stronger
woman, who IL able TO lead her children
GU, OF the Nursery and safely into the
great clamoring world which stage Of
existence !s the breaking point FOR al
young people and Just as serious as teeth
ing and measles and far more lmportant
after all than a thoroughly clean and wei
kept house.
For home and a business are run or
two absolutely opposite principles in z
business everybody's comfort Is sacrhced
20 the success OF the business IN hand
In q home the whole business % runnlne
II must be subordinate 20 the comfort OF
he people IN q A business makes
money. a home never. Working capita
- put IN a business surplus IS sper' .r
nome When homes are run on business
principles it 5 goodby TO comfort
This whole question is one OF the d
vision Of vonans work ard the placing
OF her WORK. Instead OF herself, or ar
economic basis Professions must com,
and professions must go, bu, mothers e
on forever ELEANOR {. IRVING.
NV YoEK Novsmoer Ia.