Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-17
Woman's Life and Loue
Are Women Intellectual Snobs?
BY NINIFRED IIARrER COOLEl

Courses in domestic science schools, in
Sccretlrial academies, in nursing, in
accounting. in arts and crafts-innu :
mcrable things that would give her im-
mediate technical training leading to-
ward remunerative jobs, were sug-
gCsted. No. Thc family conclavc de-
cided that she must get cultural educa'
ton. even il she starved the rest OF her
lifc, She simply could not go on with
out two years of college. This required
expensive clothes and a membership in
Il fraternity. so that she could have q
good time. and the work she did in-
cludcd smattCring of French. q course
in literature and. some Roman history
Although her father was out OF the
game and her mother a helpless South
Crr lady" without business ability
enough even to run o tCaroom, she was
thus kept inactive and unproductive for
two precious years, relatives pouring
out cash. 1t is now openly hoped that
She will marry some one before
long"
Such impotence and snobbishncss are
an insult 10 the millions ut rtlricnt.
capable women who are earning their
uoilv broad. Well-tC-dC women al
ways profess TO have tho most SINCERE o
admiration for those who earn their
living. but th"y make it clearly, under
stood that there are dozen iine dis
tinctiors. To be an artist or write
verses is to be on pedestal. even al
though YOUR work be trashy and badly
done. To bn in trade is somehow to be
a bit common.
I know woman who is n university
graduate and Of so many snowy and
brilliant attainmCnts that. from earliest
youth. she has been regarded as bit
nhonomcnal She has done odd literary
obs and endured every humiliation. and
earns about $40 weekly. Another woman
came from EurorC as Il child. and never
had any education. She climbed la
bu, iouSll M out Of poverty and rather
sordid environment. perfected herself
as lie, igucr and buyCr-iirst having
worked long rours in shops as an ap'
rrcnticp-until now she earls Sl6O a
week nlus commissions. and is sent to
Europe sometimes. with large expense
accounts. Incidentally. she speaks sew
cral languages and has read all Of tho
worlds best literature, although She
will on rare occasions mispronOunCe a
word. md never has had any Latin or
mathematics or dozens of the academic
subjects.
The two are friends. and tho latter is
gb,c 10 30 lavish with her huge salary.
She dresses axquiSitely. maintains a
beautiful home. cntCrtains friends and
spends money generously. Tho CollCcr
woman scrimns along. holding Ecl
Lrcnth lest she lose her small salary
for in the years during the war white
collar" folks were undornaid. while
carpenters and bricklaycrs wnXCd riCh
She has had long. narrowing profess
Nional career. trying to find market
ior her refu,gcnt talents. She was not
properly educated for the modern, prac-
tical world.
Storms of protest will not change
facts. II i the undorCurrCnt Of Sn"h-
hsh contempt COR trade that keeps many
women (aud men) poor. Th" factory
v orkcr Of Slum parcntngc is Snatchcc
away from school too soon. But thr
girl Mt the other "nd of society is pre-
vented from realizing her s"lf-cXpr2s'
sion. for other reasons. An inflated
patriotism alters feminine viewpoints
temporarily. Women who drove motor
husses on the streets of London. or am
balances across plowed fields, wer'
laudcd as hcroincs bur il in peace time,
woman had decided that she naturally
was a mechanic. and taken up surl
work. she would almost have been in.
cnrccratcd rs n lunatic. When will w
have horse sense and follow oul
, natural bent