The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-26
DAUGHTERS HELP is AT TIMES
HINDRANCE.

For the unmarried daughter OF the
house, who is almost entirely depend
ent upon her parents for support. as
we'll as for the girl who works and
pays whole or partial expenses in ac.
tual money, there is always a restless
period of vague questioning as to
what Is right and best for her to do
writes Elizabeth NJ. Walker in the
Boston Globe. II she is a thinking
girl, these questions become more
complex, for no decision can be made
by comparison with other cases, as
each decision must necessarily de-
pend to great extent upon existing
economic home conditions.
Though 1t is perhaps a very simple
matter for both parents and daugh-
ter to decide upon the most pleasing
arrangement, they may not agree up.
on the more vital subject-what is
best and most expedient. 1t is not
easy for parents to realize what is
exactly best for their children, for
the reason that their innate parental
desire-to give to and to sacrifice for
their own-blinds them to other
exigences.
Different Standard for Girls.
: It has been generally accepted
fact that an able-bodied young man
crate means to support him after he
had finished his schooling and should
be at work, was not q type of the
highest manhood. With girls, there
has been, and probably always will
be, in spite of the ever increasing
cries for equality of the sexes, diff.
ferent standard
Very often girls who really desire
: to be a help to their parents prove
a{ 1hfc 10 rticu.
larly true in the case of grill OF IS
living in a small town in Central
Massachusetts, near Worcester. She
had noted that her two brothers. after
completing their high school course,
went away to the city and found EN-.
ployment. They relieved the father,
fireman, of the burden of their sup
port, but as the proportion of income
which had been expended on these
boys was then diverted to a younger
boy OF years and new baby, there
was practically no increase of sur.
plus. This girl. the only daughter IN
the family. wishing to help. obtained
a situation as local telephone
operator. Out of her weekly wage of
81 she paid to her parents SIS a week
for her board and room, and kept So
for her own pocket for soda. candy,
stamps and little feminine accessories.
Her parents continued to purchase.
as formerly, the greater part of her
clothing.
Help Turned Out Hindrance.
At first 1t seemed to both parents
and daughter that the SIS paid for
board and room was an actual in.
crease of weekly wage, with no cor
responding increase OF expenditure
for food or shelter. Soon. however,
the entire family life. TO the economic
detriment of the home, was reorgan-
lied; and simply on account OF the
daughters attempt to help" First
the girl discovered that she must
have a larger quantity OF waists,
skirts and other clothing for office
wear than was required at home: also
that more frequent laundering OF gar
ments required a more frequent re-
pienishing wardrobe. The purchase
of suitable clothing was no small item
IL increased expenditure. and the
laundering detracted from the moth
er's former efficacy OF service.
OF course. the daughter did not
realize this. or the fact that when She
was too tired to help with the
a hand at the housework" on Satur-
day morning. she only added burdens
10 her mothers already overloaded
shoulders.
Finally. the father. seeing that his
wife could not care for the younger
children. do the work formerly shared
by the daughter, and still remain in
proper physical condition, hired
homework girl to assist her. Al
though her wages were not the
equivalent to the weekly return from
the daughter SO that there still APP
peared to be gain in actual cash
income, the maids waste of food
brought the added expenditure caused
by her employment to even more
than the added income received from
the daughter.
A Family Account Book.
Parents and daughter were all
ignorant of this state of affairs for
some months, for they had not kept
household or other accounts. After
q neighbor suggested the reason for