Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-02-27
STORY OF STRUGGLES
Of SHATTERED WOMAN
Too Old at "a to Find Way to
Earn Her Own Living
in World.
From the London Daily News.

1T Is two months since the financial
crash that left me homeless and al
most penniless, and still the problem
OF how to make a living is unsolved.
1 am A years of age, an awkward time
OF life to be thrown on the worlds
mercy, no trace of youth left, and only
the remnan of good looks, and the
market for the services of middle-aged
women beginning the battle for exist
ence is difficult to find: indeed, up to
the present, it has eluded my search
altogether.
Friends came forward with that SYM
pathetic understanding and quick gem
crosby that distinguishes them from
relations. and between them raised
enough for me to live quietly for three
months and look bout" Now look
ing about is a most bewildering oc-
cupation: suggestions for a career
have covered professions. trades, and
enterprises. from the stage to emigra-
ton. from literature (of the most re-
munerative kind. of course) to laundry
work: from the detection of crime
against social laws to fortune telling
and card-sharping; from companion to
Il dear old gentleman who will die soon
and leave you all his money to cook
neutrality-suspicious. n fourth at
bridge in a burb boarding house.,
until my brain reels at the amazing
cataloS. but l start %valiantly search
ing.
The stage? In the old days I had
acquaintance on or connected with the
profession, but time and some thous-
ands OF miles have dimmed their re-
membrance to the point of forgetful-
ness. The powers that be in stageland
are doubly and trebly guarded. The
first guard is generally a stage-dOor
keeper or commissioning, usually an
old soldier. Instinct seems to tell him
that / belong to the class THAI officialed
him. and an inquiry about his medal
ribbons brings Il smile and II shadow
of u salute-that barrier is passed.
Tho next is more formidable, whether it
tbe stage manager. secretary, or dresser.
l have never passed his barrier yet.
Must | confess that inherited tendency
and the passing of years have taken
from me the slimness of youth and I
could only play %"grandes DANES" a
part that occurs in about one of every
10 plays produced?
Emigration? The kindly ladies in
charge of the various societies for Its
promotion gaze at me sadly when
disclose my want of capital and my
superfluity of birthdays. and write me
tenderly next day that their commit
tee do not advise women over 40 going
to the new countries in search of a
livelihood. as they can hold out no hope
of employment"
Laundry work? would do it if
Scu'u SCl IL, out 'PPiNalICi SO 81 Aho
resulted in refusals hardly audible for
the laughter behind them.
From detective work my soul re-
coils.
Card sharping and fortune telling,
though no doubt extremely profitable,
are in the shades outside the law. and
/ may admit that have not attempted
any of these last mentioned. but | have
no doubt that they require q special
training and Amplitude which l do
not possess.
Moribund persons of wealth are very
| carefully guarded by their eXpectant
families, and are as inaccessible as
tneater-land deities.