The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-10-06
WOMAN'S CLUB DEPARTMENT
Miss Shelton SOuter, Editor for Oc-
tOber
A WORKING woMAN's DESTINY


It is the evening of business day
in the life of young woman who
earns her living. Every hour of that
day has been filled with care and re-
sponsibility. The office phone has
rung several times that day, and the
| feminine voice at the other end has
called for the man of the Office. whose
business success is largely due to the
efficiency and skill of the business
woman. She knows from what she
would rather not hear that he has re-
| ceived many invitations to spend the
evening in pleasant homes, in an at
mosphere of cheerful companionship.
He is sought by the marriage seeking
woman because he is a successful
man.
Suddenly the lights of the city
shine out in the evening twilight.
They shine in and over thousands of
homes, in many of which the success
full man is welcome. The Office girl
stands at the western window of a
many storied office building and looks
out over the human construction pile
| before her as she has done on eve
nings in the past. To the west the
last rays of sinking sun fall in long
streaks between the high building and
sparkle like shimmering blades on
the surface of the sluggish river that
wends its way to the sea. Slowly, as
if in a kind of peaceful unrest the
ships of many lands move back and
| forth, telling of the worlds trade,
and travel, and toll, to all of which
the conditions of the age, subject the
onlooker. Realizing this, with look
of expectancy frightened by pleasur-
able anticipation, she turns her face
toward the north. The homes of the
city stretch away in endless avenues,
these homes and avenues, glorified by
the ancient oaks, which now at the
twilight hour pointing upward, re-
mind this young woman that she may
never have an earthly home, and must
look higher for the realization of her
dream. AS she raises her head from
this panorama, the youthful face
shows a faint smile and it grows
brighter for now there shines out far
across the miles that lie before, the
4 lighthouse light near the mouth of
the river. Sailors sailing these wat
ers watch for that light, because it
enables them to avoid the perils of
this rugged coast Why does this
young woman watch for the light?
1t tells the sailor of dangers which
under adverse conditions might de-
stroy his body. 1t brings to the wom-
an more solemn prophecy. 1t tells
her that all about her are dangers
which will eagerly destroy her soul
as well as her body if she should
prove too weak to carry the burdens
of the age. But lighthouses did not
always signify danger. When Alex
ander placed the first one which his
tory records at the mouth of the Nile,
he placed it there as an invitation to
the world to invite all to partake of
the wealth, the culture, and the hos
pitality of the greatest city of the
earth. So to this young woman the
light shining out across the miles and
years that stretch away into futurity,
bears an invitation to her and her
nine million feminine co-Workers, to
enter upon another era where the
working woman herself shall stand
out as conspicuously and as nobly as
, did that ancient light and city of old!
To the young woman at this hour of
the day which is often the hour of her
temptation (for who can carry the
burden of the day alone through the
| night?) it brings courage, faith and
hope.
That woman who goes out in the
/ world day after day, year after year
seeing her youth pass into a common
place middle-age, and that period into
an old age devoid of charm or love
gives all to the world that lies with
in the gift of a member of the human
, race.
The mother, wife, sister, sweet
heart serve those they love. THEN
: sacrifices and hardships are sweeten-
l ed by the knowledge that theirs is &
l mutual service, both given and re-
ceived The soldier goes to war tt
. fight for his country. He hopes tt
achieve honor, fame, power, and otter
does. He risks his life for persona
e glory as we'll as for his country's de
{ fense The man who goes out in the