Evening star., 1928-02-05

One OF my friends. who makes real
success Of her profession OF school teach
er. dined with me one evening last
week, and as we sat in easy chairs be-
fore the wood fire / asked her the fol-
lowing question: Tell me-" said, 'hoW
all of you single women. graduates OF
high schools, normal and business COL
leges. now supporting yourselves as
trained workers, teachers. secretaries,
librarians and Government clerks. man
age and make ends meet these costly
days"
She was quiet for moment or two
before answering. How to give you
comprehensive picture In a few words
tonight is a difficult task she said
slowly. IN fact, it is such big un-
dertaking to make composite picture
out of the small army Of women work
ing here in Washington that could not
do 1t. But having earned my daily
bread among them for Is years.
have seen and experienced and have
pretty good idea of the problem OF Nv
ing as my friends and contemporaries
solve it.
"One general summary, first. about
all of us. We have individual ideas
about how we want to live and what
we want 20 do, and those Of US Just
starting out In the business and pro-
fessional world make lots Of mistakes
through ignorance. and sometimes but
not great numbers Of US, because we are
either extravagant or totally ignorant
of the value of money. The great ma
iority have learned, though that to
make out a budget according TO her
own particular needs, and then TO STICK
to it. is the only sure way Of making
ends meet
Salaries run from one TO three thou
sand dollars, with the average around
| twelve hundred When woman has
| only herself to support she can man
| age even on the minimum salary II
/ she lives at home even though the large
| mart of her earnings go toward keeping
/ the home. or if she shares an apart
ment with two or three otner girls,
pooling the expenses with them. sae
can make the money she earns cover
| her needs.
Where a woman is the sole support
| of her family the situation Is traglcally
serious. The one salary cannot take
care Of the needs Of several people, Al
most always. too, in such household
one member is an Invalid and mus
have a lions share Of the budget for
! his or her individual needs. Outside as
sistance or loans are the only answers
10 that situation.
Now to tell you of my group. an
probably they are indicative OF hundred
of others. for. after all we are apt e
work things out in the same fashion
more or less, given the same basic con-
ditions TO start on Well, We have been
in the game long time, and 20 girls
just starting out knowledge OF ouI
methods and Of what we have accom-
phshed might prove helpful.
I'VE earn salaries ranging from eight
cen 10 twenty-five hundred year. Enc
though they do not sound big or ace-
Quate. they are considered so. Il Is tC
me remarkable that ON that amount o.
money women have bought. or are DHy-
ing or are helping to buy. homes, and
besides taking care OF every persona
need. they carry accident and health arlc
life insurance. and manage 70 come OH
on the credit side a. the end OF eacf
month They are the ones who have
made real study OF the art o. getting
your moneys worth They carry thell
business and professional training intc
their personal province and because @:
ther intelligent studying Of their needs
and how TO supply them they do ge'
full value Then. TOO. they are strong
minded enough 10 be willing 20 sklmp
70 suffer and 70 exist until they Eeact
the goal OF their owu h0ne O. free
dom. at least. from financial wOrry anf
can really begin 10 live. An eXcepslnla
few these women: most Of LIS hve. as
do. in a bandbox apartment where III:
medicine and kitchen cablne, are ont
and the same and o percolasor ant
toaster on a double socket coDs-ituss
the kitchen range. Put Your own naul'
TO it-cal. 1t living or Just existing
is all we can afford If We want 70 hav'
a certain amount Of pleasure and rec-e'
alton each year
Talk about the extravaganza O
women, Why. my friends are the liv'
ing exponents OF good olc fashioned