Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-01-28
ChaDfer VII


left ii ever a woman had such
problem to face. l knew
that often it had to be a deci-
,Sion between a man with or without
money, that relatives and similar
considerations often entered into the
lease. But to give up phllanthropic
Iplans of which L had thought until
they seemed part and parcel of my
future life, and which L hoped would
be part and parcel of many other
Lives, was more than felt ready TO
promise.
Yet l cared for. Lloyd Walker,
calm as had been his courtship.
| realized something of this in the
days and weeks which followed.
felt listless, it was an effort to put
my mind upon my work. L lonSed
for his society, his companionshlp
Yet not once did L feel that L could
accept happiness at his hand, on
his. terms. l talked it over with
mother finally. She looked at me
rather quizzically, then said:
Il don't think you really love
He is a pleasant companion, per-
haps the most delightful one you
have known. Love that stops and
thinks of eXtraneOuS matters is not
always the kind of love that would
bring happiness. L should have been
marry Lloyd Walker. But, dear, you
have your own life to live. L, no
one, can live it for you. If your
plans for your future overShadOW
what your life with Lloyd Walker
might be to you it is right for you
to refuse him."
| was happier after this talk with
mother. My plans did loom large
whenever l though Of marrying-not
T hn ri
not be in sympathy with them. SO
perhaps mother was right and L did
not really love Lloyd Walker as a
woman should the man she married
to the exclusion of all her person
atty if he. the man she married,
was to be contented and happy.
Were men narrow? More narrow
than women?
Often l asked myself the question
in those days when L was still a
bit sick and sore over my shatter-
ed romance-shattered almost be-
fore it had begun. But L never IN
those days answered it SATISFACTORY
ly. l knew that there were wives
and mothers who because they had
outside interests WeEe -, none the less
good wives and mothers: l also
knew that there were wives and
mothers who had absolutely nothing
to divert them who were very lndlf-
ferent in the sphere they had chos-
Ell, if not wholly reprehensible be-
cause of the neglect OF their duties
all of them in the home.
from IN n NV " MIN mind. Daily Mr.. stevens
was giving me more responsibility
and that which he did not give l
took. I used often to wonder If 1t
ever occurred to him that L saved
him many disagreeable interviews;
ich would have proved
booticss. That I took the initiative
Whenever I thought best in many
ways which really were not a part
of my Job" and which 1 might have
evaded. But 1 was determined to
prove my own theory-that women
ways if it were possible for them to
have the same training and expert
encc.
training back of the male sex never
could be ours-not for many years.
But if we profited by their failures
as we'll as by their successes; if we
adapted their experiences whenever
possible. and if, above all, we used
some of their business common
sense, 1 figured we must make great
strides.
I was not a masculine woman.
Indeed, l was just the opposite. L
was extremely feminine in all my
ideas of action and dress. 1t annoy
ed me immeasurably when one Of
my girls would assume mannish
manner or talk in a way to ape men.
| invariably tried in every way to
make. them see that it was almost
rs big a mistake in an office as
was the obtruding of their feminin-
ity.
Really girls, young inexperienced
girls, have a great deal with which
to contend, especially when they en-
ter the business world. 1t was mn my
to help them understand what was
proper in an office. what; was taboo.
girls who we're almost useless be-
cause of their inability to judge be-
tween the right and the wrong way
to do things, who knew nothing of
Office etiquette as opposed to home
and social customs, who would be
valuable business girls because they
were quick, had bright minds, and
we're adaptable But, poor things,
they not only had no business train