South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-20
Give Girls Only What They Are
Worth, But Make Them Work. More.

The public school curriculum should be made
up OF various practical subjects. For instance.
stenographers are always in demand, and the
efficient ones are able to command good sub
stantial salaries at ali times. To the objection
that this would soon result IN the business
world being overorowded with stenographers l
answer no The average working period Of
the girl stenographer is between the age OF
sixteen and twenty-five years. At the expi-
ration OF that time she is ready 10 establish
a home and assume the duties Of wife and
mother This constant process Of elimination
leaves a gap that must be filled, and 1t would
be normally filed. All girls are not fitted,
again. to be stenographers. These should be
brought In the schools to the highest point OF
ericieu ~ IN whatever they are best fitted for.
II is against all the laws OF progress for
girl to expect a salary of ten dollars week
when she is really worth only five. She should
never get more than she is worth.
The fundamental principle underlying all
e6iciency is health healthy body and mind
lends an attractiyeness that has no peer. It's
possession has always been the means of gain
ing employment and advancement for the girl
who lives at home, and the lack OF II has been
q big factor In the present ineniciency of those
who have either neglected themselves or have
been neglected.
The class Of wage-earners in which l am
most interested is not that earning ten dollars
or less. but the one which earns between
htteen and twenty-five dollars week. In this
class lies the salvation of all working girls.
Conservation OF this class Is imperative Their
comes offer satisfactory environment, stlmu-
Ista Ambition create health and efficiency, and
4, tba final analysis establish standards that
ara paramount In the elimination OF the present
dav social and industrial evils. Observe a girl
reared In q home OF this kind. In nine cases
ont OF ten she is superior TO her mother
Dhvsically: she has broader Ideas and ideals;
she a. more practical and is unQuestiona0ly the
nations greatest asset now and for all time
20 come.
"a 70 be inoculated into the less fortunate ones
those In the ten-dollar-a-Week class. II Will
breed discomfort. desire 10 work for the bet
ter things OF life. and clearer conception OF
what IL meant by efficiency. With this revo-
Iution will come adjustment OF salaries apd
the many other things that are now occupy
Ing the attention OF legislators throughout these
United States
Humanity has never been subject for
legislation and II never viii be.
hold that a girl should have whatever will
make her efficient. II. for instance, she Is
earning FIVE or six hundred dollars year and
feels that spending two hundred of that amount
for clothes and other things will make her
happier. contented and efficient then she Is
perfectly justified in doing this
one often hears about great sacrifice max
fng character. and so on, but the percentage OF
cases where II has worked harm. has thwaFTed
and crippled people mentally and physically
Is exceedingly great ! have often been mis-
understood on this subject; ] speak only from
an economic standpoint, and do not consider
sentiment when discussing the topic Self
sacrifice and self-denial are like liberty In the
number of crimes daily committed in their
names.
II Is the ambition % every girl 10 be well
dressed and 20 appear respectable. When she
cannot get the things she craves-nice clothes
aud other necessIties-by legitimate employ.