How Women May Earn a Living

by Mercy Grogan

II. To afford ladies the means of thoroughly qualifying themselves in cutting, fitting, and making-up dresses of every description

III. To give employment to those who have become qualified in work-rooms, in their own homes, and in the houses of those willing to treat them as ladies.

IV. To aid those who may be considered competent in opening branch establishments.

V. To assist those who are qualified and desirous of emigrating in finding suitable colonial engagements. Workers will be required to give satisfactory references. They must be good needlewomen, and forward a sample, which will not be returned. The object of this undertaking is to provide remunerative employment for those requiring it; so all those employed are expected to conform heartily to the rules which are essential to success in business. One of the partners can always be found at Albany House, and will be pleased to see any one interested in the work.

Plain Needlework.—Classes for ladies are held at 7, Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy Square Each course consists of ten lessons in plain needlework and cutting out in alternate lessons, according to the German method of teaching in schools. Tickets for one course, £1 1s.; to ladies who take more than one course a reduction of 5s. will be made for each additional course. Tickets are not transferable. Each lesson lasts an hour and a half.

Ladies anxious to start in business for themselves, or to obtain situations as overlookers of workers in wholesale houses, are frequently at a loss to know where they can obtain the necessary knowledge. The firm of Hamilton and Co., co-operative shirtmakers, 27, Mortimer Street, London, is willing to take young ladies to train in business habits and a knowledge of what is expected from forewomen of workers, for a year, at a premium of £5, to be returned in instalments after the first six months. The knowledge of what work really is, and the punctual habits that might be acquired in that time, would prove very valuable to any one wishing to engage in business on their own account.

At many of the large City warehouses ladies could, if they liked, be employed in the work-rooms as machinists, plain-needleworkers, feather-dressers, and to make up artificial flowers and lace goods. In the last-mentioned occupations their taste would be a great advantage. The only objection to ladies being employed is the class of girls they would have to associate with; but of course they need have no acquaintance with them outside the work-room. The work is usually paid for by the piece, and the earnings of tolerably quick workers are from 14s. to 18s. a week. The hours of work are from 9 to 7, with an hour's interval for dinner, half an hour for tea, and a quarter of an hour for luncheon.

The plain needlework can in many cases, if the worker likes, be done at home. Apprenticeships are necessary for some kinds of the work required, but no premium is charged, the girl is only expected to give her time for a few months. This may be difficult at first, but in the end it is always an advantage; the skilled workers can always be tolerably certain of getting employment.

School Board Visitors.—A few ladies are employed by the School Board to go to the children's homes and to make inquiries as to the cause of their absence from school; they are paid from £60 to £75 a year. The duties are frequently very unpleasant indeed, as their visits are considered an intrusion, and are often deeply resented by the parents; but as no special qualifications are required, I dare say many ladies would be glad to obtain the situations. Application should be made to the Secretary, School Board Office, Victoria Embankment, London.

Minor Food Productions.—A Ladies' Association has been recently formed for the promotion of horticulture and of minor food production. They are anxious to establish a college for ladies where theoretic and practical instruction would be given, and scientific training in horticulture and arboriculture, poultry-raising, dairy work, bee-keeping, etc. To carry out this plan a freehold farm is necessary, together with sufficient funds to secure a well-organised system of instruction. It is believed by the promoters of this scheme that country life may be made healthy, interesting, and profitable, by a wise application of intelligence and capital; and that by so doing many openings to beneficial and healthy occupations may be found for women of the higher and lower classes, both at home and in the colonies.