The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-02-28
HIGH STANDARDS
FOR WOMEN
In BUSINESS
Address by President of
National Federation
BPW

Lake Forest of Detroit, Mich,
president of the National Fedora
ton of Business and Professional
Women's clubs, gave an inspiring
address before the Business and
Professional Women's club of st.
Johnsbury in the Maple Grove
Tea Rooms Monday. Forty mem
bers Of the club were present at
a dinner at the Tea Rooms given
in honor of Mrs. Forrest and in
the evening the rooms were filled
to listen to the distinguished
speaker. "You are my youngest
club" Mrs. Forest said, "and l am
so glad to be with you while you
arc young, for even clubs grow
old quickly"
"The women who are prominent
in business today, are the pion-
GERS who have grown hardy from
their strenuous journey along an
unbroken road. Many of them
are women without college cduca-
ton who went into business be-
cause OF financial pressure. But
their lack of scholastic education
has been amply offset by their
courage and strength and expert
encc which hey have gained in
making their own way. Now the
road has been opened to all wo-
men who care to travel it,"
Continuing the speaker referred
to the rapidly mounting stand
ards of the business womeB, the
/ training now offered for definite
industrial and commercial ends,
the power of organization and the
opportunity of service. Great
stress was laid on the opportunity
of service to women and for civic
bcttcrment.
She referred to the great SER
vice which the women of the
country rendered during the war
and Of the letting down Of stan
dards resulting from the cnor-
nous demand for such workers
and that now a process of sitting
is going on that will result in
raising of standards.
There arc two classes of
people, she declared, those who
build up and those who tear
down. No matter how our mem
bershlp may grow, if we have rot
the spirit of unselfishness our or
ganization will fail. In referring
to the full voting privileges for
women the speaker said those
privileges bring not only great
power, but great responsibility,
adding that the business women
should take their full share of the
responsibility. The need is not
for more laws, but for a more
laW-abiding spirit. She declared
that the Business Womcn's club
should be closely linked up with
civic improvements; the women
should be represented on boards
of control with men, but it is of
vital importance that the woman
to be elected should be the right
woman. The greatest asset of the
business woman is her health.
Proper food, proper rest and
proper recreation are just as vital
as her educational qualifications.
Mrs. Forrest also spoke of the
standards of dress for business
women, declaring that the bust
ness woman owes it first to her
self, then to other business wom-
en- and then TO her employer to
be well and bccomingly dressed.
Well made, attractive and becom-
ing business clothes may very
suitably be worn at an evening
function, said Mrs. Forrest, but
a thin waist and satin slippers
will never find suitable place in
the business office.
The business women who have
reached a fair measure of success
have been so sclf-ccntcred and
selfish that they have taken no
time to make any kind of stand
dards by which the girl could
measure her business career even
as to clothes. The problem of
the business woman of today is
that of building her own business
so that the girl in the same kind
of business can begin her work
where we of today leave off.
Mrs. Forrest declared that it is
as necessary to know how to
spend as to know how to earn.
There are other kinds of thrift
than that of money, and here she
spoke of the waste of time and
the waste Of energy both physi-
cal and mental.
Miss Catherine Morrison with
Miss Alice Hall accompanist rem
dcrcd a solo ut the opening of the
meeting, and at the close men,
bers and guests were given an
opportunity of meeting Mrs. For
rest. Announcement was made
by Miss Mabel l.. Spencer, pres
ident of the club of the next reg
ular meeting, Tuesday evening,
Continued on page 81