The Washington herald., 1914-07-12

Some twenty-five years ago there came
to America q young Swedish girl, nine
teen years old. who was determined to
win one Of the great fortunes OF which
abe had heard SO many glowing accounts
in her home town, away beyond the hills
in stockholm, Sweden. Her chief asset
was courage and the enthusiasm Of youth
and fnexperience. Had she realized the
dificulties that would certainly await a
young woman who could scarcely speak
one word of English, and whose sole
training fitted her for q profession which
was barely recognized in America, she
would probably have remained at home
and been content with more meager re-
wards which were to be found there
But she did come, and she did realize
all those obstacles before she had time
to see any Of the glories OF the glorious
country she had dreamed OF since the
time she was a small child. However,
her courage has been rewarded, ana To-
day she Is in possession Of eomfortaole
income. and is recognized as one OF the
foremost Swedish masseuses in the eoun-
try.
Before I left Sweden was very con-
fident that all / needed 10 obtain q solid
mortgage on good fortune was ticket
to America" said Mrs. Buchau In smiling
reminiscence OF her youthful foolharol-
ness. II had studied massage for TWO
years with Prof. Werrmerken, who was
an authority. and as the practice OF mas
sage is as common In Europe as the prac-
tice of medicine in this country, l didn't
expect to fnd any dihiculty in getting
work Immediately on my arrival here.
MY brother came with me, and we had
expected to cross with q family who were
neighbors Of ours. At the last moment,
almost, those people were prevented
through family troubles from leaving
Sweden, and as we couldn't bear the toea
of living on in slow-going stockholm
after we had lived for months in fairy
land Of dreams OF oppulence, we decided
to go 1t alone as the boys say.
"DIsenchantment was ours IN very
short time after our arrival / found that
there was no call for Swedish masseuses
in America, and my brother could md no
work He was well educated, but could
not speak English fuently. and as he
could not AFFORD to remain here without
work. he decided to return home.
There is a common idea that the
world Of work is easier for man than
for a woman. but ] think this Is very
wrong. A woman can always work Tor
her board. but a man must pay for his
My brother had not been brought up TO
do manual labor. and so had not the
strength for II. I obtained work as a
servant while tiding over the lean weeks
that met our arrival here.
Il did not know a soul in America,
and when my brother left for home
felt as IL were the only person in the
world. But l would not 20 home. felt
that there was a place somewhere for me
here. Others had come and battled. and
won success, and determined to entar
the fight
The first thing necessary. knew,
was that l should learn the language.
This was hard work. for after working
all day washing dishes. scrubbing floors,
and 80 forth, there was not much energy
left. Besides. l worried very much over
my hands These are my stock in trade.
and when l saw them all rough and red
I cried myself to sleep many nights.
"One day l went 10 board with a wom-
an whose husband had consumption. and
on the day 1 moved in he was being re-
moved to a hospital which had just been
opened by Mr.. Arbuckle in Brooklyn
for consumptives. l had no idea as
comforted my sad lRndlady that she
would prove to be the bright fairy who
was to open the doors OF success to me.
TT came about in this way. / was out
Of work at the time ! went to board with
her. and she suggested that l try for
work in the new hospital where her hug
band had been taken. / was young and
very strong and had little difficulty in
getting work there. Mrs. Arbuckle, hear
ing of my story. came and talked TO me,
and 1 explained my work TO her. She
got me my first patient, and as start
was all l needed. from that time on !
have had no more difficulties.
To-day the attitude of doctors towari
the masseuse is very different from what
II was in those days. Not every doctor
knows Of first-class masseuse TO
whom he can recommend his patients.
Ny practice works both ways-doctors
recommend me TO their patients, and