Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-04
SHALL THE WOMEN WORK?
ASKS BEATRICE FAIRFAX
Says Ono Got Tier Job Back and
Felt Herself Grow
Younger.
no ALLOWANCE WHATEVER
Writer Tells How Ono wife, Whose
Income for Household Was IiN.
tremcly MeaScr, Ovcrcamc Dill.
Guilty by Finding Employment.
ny BEATRICE FAIRFAX

woman writes me: why should
give up my Job. even though tho war
Is over? II has saved my self-respcct
cured me of a dozen imaginary all
mcnts and preserved my sanity. !
need the stabiiizing influence of my
Job. eve nmore than ! do the money"
And she goes on through some six
typewriter pages TO tell me the re-
specially sordid details Of her pre-
war existence. She was married. had
no children. and, with her husba md
lived In hvc-room Nat, or which.
With the exception oc the washing
she did all the work.
She had no allowance whatever and
the money given her for household
expenses was SO mcaScr that il re-
CURED almost supcrhuman arithmetic
20 make ends meet. This work she did
lahhfully., but II never Interested her
paLticularly Then along came the war
ana IL chance to so back and do the
Work she had done before marriage-
stcnography.
Her husband did not object. and she
went back TO her old firm at a sl25
4 month. l quote from her letter: ITO
nave In my own hands once more
nloneE thht l mad earned, and that
nad some Jurisdiction over-was thrill
ING My first pay envelope knocked
no oeu sou ,sn yea + b of my ase d;d
few old debts shat had been bauniin"
NE night and day.
Buys Several Suits.
su,, rhen | boz, bought couple OF decent
trousseau wore out. eighteen wears
$50. Ny wardrobe mad been cn;ireiv
furnished by the cast-on garments OF
ADD I've had TO pin on their be lowered
cart-wheel hats the second season and
wear them, over face that bore the
sosvo"s OIL Mater Dolorosa-but never
My correspondent has renewed her
Souia IN consenial occupation, and is
changing wth the conciusion 'u o. ,: che the
var. may again drive her back 10 the
status or an unpaid servant VINO could
1or me gentleman who got the work
OF her hands gratis. Her conscience
Is not quite secure about her right
70 Keen the job. inasmuch as she would
not actually ,starvc if she gave il up.
10 which ! am going TO reply with
NV auot alto, from tho Old Testament.
And while this woman's body Nigh,
not actually starve Of hunger II She
went went back 10 the druggery or her Ave
SaFdliness. and the discarded hats OF
her nieccs, her heart and her .p!r.,
would undoubtedly perish
Entitled to Rights.
For every human being IS entitled
work and the fruits thereof arc among
mem; But why should woman who
b haS oGGn irained in dimcul, and
suits Of yeas OF study and experiences
and 40 instead work that :s distinctly
; nnr ,r and Tor which neither thanks
And the common sense answer Is.
',hiiGr Is no reason at an: II there were
ware required in the homo. iha, wenid
be a different matter. and If the nus.
nanI were III. and i became necessary
DC something else.
Eut that a trained woman. CAPABLE
earning AN excellent salary. should
devote her gifts TO q surly partner who
80 no, even thankful for having his
e en9n 'F9 sisS by COOS capable OF
lc9non.y. 20 SAY the least
The prtscn, arrangement is tina, the
"os%FtH .n cisNn,or girl. in her hours Of
and wife. She also docs wha, swcen
ing and busting the fla, requires, and
hour And the, gentleman pays the
butcher and calls on high heaven 10
rsssard his plight. and the mad Boi.
turvy condition OF the world. seneraliy
speaking!
Seldom spoke to Her.
Yet he WAS never happy when hi.
VIE wife broiled his chops. and he seldom
ing And he never offered TO repIa &c
these mocking lowered hats OF the
debutante nieccs by anything suitable
fo: Il woman OF forty.
No. ne took It all as matter Of
course but now that these conditions
rave passed. he sroans and slshs ana
talks about the Good old day." "N
describes herself as dead for iftesn
years, is very pleasantly conscious OF
having MAD q resurrection. The peo-
pie with whom she works--old business
associates some Of them--are very
enjoys immensely the atmos phere Of
the the, otee; The firm is we'l-thoush ut OF
ana prosperous and very square with
it's employees. The office is fairly
alive with the Jingle OF success. and
Ss, r, me people are all pleasant and
We hope this lady. having found her
niche IN life after much blind and
frui'lcss cropping, will cling 10 II as
=, limpet 10 rock. II is ever agree.
able for an outsider to dwell on all
the rejuvensting little enterprises thai
are omen TO her-thc ticket for the