Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-01
NLR'0PENS UP new FIELDS
f0R WOMEN's ENDEAV0R
May Opportunities to Be Presented
to Take Place Of Men En-.
gagged In War.
yocATIoNs BUREAU is ACTIVE
Secfetarial School, to BE Conducted
3 by Smithdeal Business College,
Gives Opportunity for Special
Preparation in Office Work.
by KATE LANGLEY BosHER.

Among the many changes and up
heavals brought about by the world
! war. upon which America has entered,
few stand out with such startling clear
ness as the necessity for women en-
terlng occupations and professions for
which they have had no training or
preparation. Even in the work for
which they are peculiarly fitted they
have had so little opportunity for de-
yelopment that it is the exceptional
girl who finds herself ready to-day to
meet what is to be required OF her in
tho years ahead. 1t is. therefore, with
something of shock that we of Virgil mia,
: and, indeed. of the entire South. are
beginning to realize how unth inkingly
we have gone along the road that has
led us to the high. hard wall of unpre-
sparedness. against which we have now
Dumped with such dismaying sharp
ness.
= In vague. irresponsible sort of way
we have long known our girls did not
have the opportunities for vocational
training that girls in other sections of
tho country had. but in tho hope that
they would somehow muddle through
! until the men they would doubtless
marry would take from their fathers
shoulders the burden of their support,
we let 1t go and tried not to think
too much about it. If necessity forced
many girls into the world of work
& and stenography, and teaching and
reporting. and embroidering, and things
OF that sort, could meet tho require
ments Of the situation until marriage
ended it, or until those who pursued
such occupations had accepted the col
.orless motony OF a life that offered
little IN the way OF growth or self
expression and our guilty conscieuces
we tried to hush.
yoCATIoNS BUREAU
DOING ADMIRABLE WORK
= For a time we kept them quiet the
condolences which shamed US with the
e6ortless acceptance Of our limitations
in providing OUR educated young wo-
fnen with fresh stimulus, new points of
Wow and intelligent enthusiasm for
broader and bigger lines of work than
those that had hitherto seemed all that
custom in this part of the world per-
rnitted. But though our pride was
panied, we did little to. overcome our
deficiencies and handicaps. and not
until DR.. Orie L. Hatcher came and
took the matter in charge did we real
ly arouse ourselves to action, or rather,
indeed, respond to hers.
For nearly three years the Virginia
Bureau Of Vacations has been in eS-
istence in the city OF Richmond. and
s during that time II has done admirable
work along formative and forward
looking lines. and yet comparatively
few people yet understand it's purposes
or the reason of its being. Much has
been written of it. much has developed
from its inspiration and directive guild
ing, but the city, as whole is as yet
unaware of its possibilities, and gives
not to 1t the sympathetic and practi-
/, cal cooperation. which it so splendid
! ly deserves.
From the perspective gained by dis
&tsnce and from the familiarity with
what was being done in other parts
of the country. together with the stimu-
lating contact obtained In great edu-
cationaf centers and institutions. Miss
Hatcher realized with keen insight
that the city Of her birth was not
equipped with an organization which
should serve as sort OF clearing