GIRLS’ EMPLOYMENTS.
L. M. (Employment on Board Ship).—We fear you would find this difficult to obtain, seeing that you are not strong at present. Stewardesses need to be decidedly vigorous people. Such positions are commonly accorded by the steamship companies to the relatives of their own officers. It would seem that the work in a cotton mill, though well paid, is likely to be injurious to your health, and therefore if you could find some more healthy occupation, you should certainly take it. Cannot your employer put you in the way of emigrating to South Africa? It would be well to lay the case before him. You should likewise apply for advice to the Manchester and Salford branch of the National Union of Women Workers, 13, Temple Chambers, Brazenose Street, Manchester. With this Union many of the most important societies in Manchester for women and girls are affiliated, and the secretary could tell you which would be most likely to help you. The secretary could also inform you whether there is in Manchester any active member of the British Women’s Emigration Association, the headquarters of which are at the Imperial Institute, Kensington, W. We imagine that emigration would be best for you; at the same time it is possible that work might be found for you in this country under conditions that would better accord with your health.
Lace-Making.—We know of no school for lace-making in London, but very likely by inquiring of the Secretary of the Home Arts and Industries Association, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, you might find somebody to teach you. London ladies have interested themselves especially in the revival of Buckinghamshire laces. The different varieties of Honiton can best be studied in Devonshire. In your place we should be disposed to give particular study to the various kinds of guipure, as these are likely to remain fashionable for some time to come.
An Anxious One (Gardening, Dairy-work, &c.).—For you we should say, Not gardening. It is too precarious a calling for a young woman without private means or any conspicuous fondness for the occupation. Dairy-work, which you could learn at the Dairy Institute, Reading, would be considerably better. If you would like a colonial life with its freedom from social conventions, and if you can do every sort of housework (including, prominently, cooking), then by all means try to emigrate to Canada or Australia through the British Women’s Emigration Association. Except if you think of emigrating, we do not recommend you to call yourself a useful help. In this country the woman who specialises is the one who succeeds, not the “Jill-of-all-Trades.” Make up your mind, we would say, to become thoroughly efficient either as cook, dressmaker, laundress or dairy-worker, then you will be sure to prosper. Of course these occupations are not for everybody; but one of them would be best for you, seeing that your ability seems to lie in the direction of practical rather than intellectual work.
A Mother (Clay Modelling).—The organs of the pottery trade are The Pottery Gazette (Scott, Greenwood & Co., 19, Ludgate Hill, E.C.) and The British Potter (W. Brickel, Longton, Staffordshire). Both of these publications appear monthly, and the second may be obtained gratis. But what we should advise is that the modeller call with specimens of work upon Messrs. Doulton of Lambeth. It is probable, also, that Messrs. Goode of South Audley Street, who deal in some of the finest china, both English and foreign, would be kind enough to advise in such a matter. But cannot the South Kensington authorities themselves put their pupils and examinees in the way of seeking employment in the proper quarters? They ought to understand these artistic trades better than anyone. Teachers of clay-modelling are in some demand for evening continuation schools and the like. It might be desirable on this point to consult the Home Arts and Industries Association, Royal Albert Hall.
Seventeen Summers (Typing and Shorthand Writing).—A typist and shorthand writer may earn from 15s. up to £2 a week. Typewriting can be learnt in about two months, shorthand takes a year of steady practice at the least. You complain that your handwriting is far from good, and that you also have great difficulty in expressing yourself. Now both these circumstances are serious obstacles in the career of a clerk; your prospects in this walk of life are not improved by the other disability you mention. We strongly urge you to turn to some other occupation. A person who finds it a “hard job” to “compose” a letter is evidently not meant to make letter-writing a conspicuous part of her business, as she must do if she is to remain a satisfactory clerk or secretary. Is there not some other kind of work that is less of a “hard job”? You might learn dress-cutting and pattern-cutting, generally, or you could enter one of the better kinds of manufactories. Pray think over your qualifications, and discover which sort of work you do best (for there must be some), and then try to find the means of doing it.