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33 chapters
PREFACE
PREFACE
The object of The Canadian Girl at Work is to assist girls in finding satisfactory employment. The further aim of showing them what constitutes a right attitude toward work and toward life through work, underlies the account of each occupation. The book is meant for girls, and for the assistance of fathers and mothers, of teachers, and of those who are interested in questions of training and employment. The life of the average woman is divided, generally, into two periods of work, that of paid e
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CHAPTER I THINKING ABOUT WORK
CHAPTER I THINKING ABOUT WORK
Thinking about work is the beginning of one of the happiest and most useful of our experiences. Through work there comes to us the pleasure of a growing knowledge of the great world and its wonders, the delight of intercourse with other people, and the happiness of friendship with our fellow-workers. Work well done is a doorway to whatever good things we most desire. Best of all, perhaps, to the girl who is earning her living, is the satisfaction of feeling that she is a useful citizen, doing he
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CHAPTER II THE GIRL WHO WORKS IN A FACTORY
CHAPTER II THE GIRL WHO WORKS IN A FACTORY
A girl's first impression of a factory is likely to be that it is a busy place. The people at work and the work itself will seem strange to her. She may even feel that she will never get used to her new surroundings. But she should not allow herself to be discouraged. Although she may have forgotten her first day in school when she was a little girl of five or six, no doubt the schoolroom seemed to her then a very strange place, but how quickly it became familiar and homelike. The girl will ente
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CHAPTER III THE SALESWOMAN
CHAPTER III THE SALESWOMAN
The employment department of a big store is the testing place through which many girls who mean to be saleswomen must pass before they reach the store itself. Naturally the girl should be careful to do herself justice when she goes to the employment department. The head of the department will be certain to note her appearance carefully. The girl should make sure that she is cleanly and neatly dressed; she should speak quietly and politely; and she should show that sincere willingness to be cheer
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CHAPTER IV THE GIRL AT WORK IN AN OFFICE
CHAPTER IV THE GIRL AT WORK IN AN OFFICE
The girl who hopes to succeed in office work should be able to spell correctly and should have a good general English education. It is true that some girls have taught themselves to spell correctly after they have entered business offices; and ambitious, sensible girls, who find that letters dictated to them contain words the meaning of which they do not know, study until their vocabularies are greatly enlarged and improved. But, while they are learning, the employer is not receiving the service
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CHAPTER V LEARNING AFTER THE POSITION IS FOUND
CHAPTER V LEARNING AFTER THE POSITION IS FOUND
The first few days, sometimes even the first few weeks, are often a little difficult for the girl who has found a position and goes to work for the first time. But she can take with her a few simple resolutions which will make most of her difficulties disappear and which may even change them into helps rather than hindrances. She can remember that all the responsible people she knows have had these same difficulties and have overcome them. This thought will encourage her to believe that what oth
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CHAPTER VI WHAT EVERY GIRL NEEDS TO KNOW
CHAPTER VI WHAT EVERY GIRL NEEDS TO KNOW
The world the girl has to live in is the everyday world we know. Some people say that the world is commonplace, and so it is if we look at it from one point of view. But the truth is that the commonplace and the wonderful are so closely joined together that it is impossible to separate them. The girl needs commonplace gifts to live in the world, or she will not prosper. She needs also to be able to see and understand the wonderful side of life. To appreciate both the commonplace and the wonderfu
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CHAPTER VII THE HOUSE WORKER—DOMESTIC SCIENCE
CHAPTER VII THE HOUSE WORKER—DOMESTIC SCIENCE
A young woman who is now the author of two successful novels earned the money she needed to attend a teachers' training school by working as a domestic servant. It was the quickest and most convenient way for her to earn a certain sum of money. Her decision and independence of character kept her from hesitating for a moment to make use of this employment. One young woman who is a capable real estate agent takes a position as an experienced general servant when her usual business is slack. A woma
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CHAPTER VIII THE TEACHER
CHAPTER VIII THE TEACHER
Two girls were playing a game of tennis together. One of the girls was a skilful player, but the other knew little of the game. In a few minutes the skilful player came to the side of the net where the other stood. "See," she said, "this is the way to hold your racket. This is the way to strike the ball." The unskilled player grasped the idea, and immediately much pleasure was added to the game for them both. A singer was giving a lesson to one of her pupils. She explained to her carefully how t
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CHAPTER IX THE WORK OF A NURSE
CHAPTER IX THE WORK OF A NURSE
There are many wise sayings about the trained nurse, two among which may be given here. One of these was spoken by a woman who is herself a distinguished trained nurse, and the other by a woman in a public position who has met many people and is a good judge of character. The nurse said, "Trained nursing will make a woman very good or it will harden her." The other woman said, "I have never known a nurse who was not glad to be a nurse and who was not thankful for a nurse's training." These two s
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CHAPTER X DRESSMAKERS AND SEAMSTRESSES
CHAPTER X DRESSMAKERS AND SEAMSTRESSES
The head of a dressmaking department in a large store in a city, when asked how she prepared herself for her position, told this story. "I never took any lessons; but I had always made my own dresses and my sisters'. I remember walking down the street of the little town where I lived, one day after my father died, and as I passed the door of the best dressmaking shop in the town, it occurred to me that the man in charge of the store had often said that he would gladly pay me good wages if I woul
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CHAPTER XI THE MILLINER
CHAPTER XI THE MILLINER
Millinery, like dressmaking, is partly a factory trade. But it is also, like dressmaking, carried on in shops and in departmental stores. The average girl is interested in hat-making, and is able to turn out a hat which she can wear with satisfaction. But a first-class milliner is really an artist. Her hands must be skilful and quick, her touch light and sure. She must have a sense of colour and form, and originality and creative ability. A girl who combines these gifts with business ability is
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CHAPTER XII MAKING ONE'S OWN CLOTHES. HOME MILLINERY
CHAPTER XII MAKING ONE'S OWN CLOTHES. HOME MILLINERY
In the chapter on "What Every Girl Needs to Know" we found how important it is that girls should have a good deal of general knowledge of the cutting and fitting of clothes, design, what constitutes right line and beauty, the characteristics and uses of materials, and what is called style, which is really often only good design and good workmanship. Girls should welcome every opportunity to learn skill and judgment in spending their allowances or their wages. The girl who buys wisely is able to
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CHAPTER XIII TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH GIRLS
CHAPTER XIII TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH GIRLS
The telephone girl who enters her employment in a city gains the first knowledge of her trade in a school which is maintained by the company. She fills out an application, stating how old she is, how long she has been at school, and whether she is living at home or boarding. She should be sixteen or seventeen years old, and it is better if she has had one or two years in a high school. Her work will require accuracy, and she must be quick in thought and action. There should be no defect in her s
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CHAPTER XIV HAIRDRESSER AND MANICURIST. WAITRESS
CHAPTER XIV HAIRDRESSER AND MANICURIST. WAITRESS
Hairdressing and shampooing, manicuring and chiropody, are almost exclusively the work of girls and women. There has been a decided improvement in these employments, and any girl who takes a serious interest in making herself a thoroughly trained worker in one of these lines of work, provided she has the gifts which are needed, is likely to find her occupation becoming more and more necessary and esteemed. To be entirely successful in work of this kind a girl should have engaging personal qualit
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CHAPTER XV FARM WORK FOR WOMEN
CHAPTER XV FARM WORK FOR WOMEN
Among those who choose work on the land as a special employment are girls and women in the country who have the opportunity to give either part of their time or all of it to farm work, and others from the city who prefer an outdoor life. The problems of the city girl or woman who wishes to engage in farm work are how to acquire skill and experience in her business, capital for land and equipment, labour, transportation and a market. The girl on the farm can solve these problems with an advantage
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CHAPTER XVI THE LIBRARIAN
CHAPTER XVI THE LIBRARIAN
Library work, although unusually attractive, does not employ a great many workers. The work is pleasing, it is valuable to the community, and the associates with whom the librarian works are trained and intelligent. Almost any girl who loves books and reading may be attracted to library work. She should test herself first to see if she has other necessary qualities before she makes up her mind to train as a librarian. A girl who really dislikes detail and who fails in detail work is hardly likel
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CHAPTER XVII WORK FOR THE GIRL AT HOME
CHAPTER XVII WORK FOR THE GIRL AT HOME
We have been referring so far to girls who are earning a living in paid employment, working usefully and happily in almost all the occupations which make up the gigantic output of national activity. Many thousands of girls at home are doing household work which is just as necessary to national well-being. Chapter Eighteen on The Home Employments, which follows this chapter on Work for the Girl at Home, is intended to state more fully the importance of the occupation of home making. The present c
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CHAPTER XVIII THE HOME EMPLOYMENTS
CHAPTER XVIII THE HOME EMPLOYMENTS
The more thoroughly women and girls understand paid work outside of the home, the more clearly they recognize that work in the home is of high standing, intellectually, artistically and spiritually. The most able women in outside work are constantly looking back to the home, hoping that they may be able to introduce into home life and management much that they have learned in other pursuits. One of these women whose name is associated with a famous business success, in writing of her own work re
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CHAPTER XIX JOURNALISM. WRITING. ADVERTISING. ART. HANDICRAFTS. DESIGNING. PHOTOGRAPHY. ARCHITECTURE. LANDSCAPE GARDENING. HOUSE DECORATING AND FURNISHING. MUSIC. ACTING. DANCING.
CHAPTER XIX JOURNALISM. WRITING. ADVERTISING. ART. HANDICRAFTS. DESIGNING. PHOTOGRAPHY. ARCHITECTURE. LANDSCAPE GARDENING. HOUSE DECORATING AND FURNISHING. MUSIC. ACTING. DANCING.
Many girls who have definite gifts are specially interested in the occupations described in this chapter. As a rule, the girl with a decided talent has no difficulty in choosing the employment which she wishes to follow. But she sometimes is in doubt as to whether her ability is sufficiently great to justify her in choosing an art rather than a handicraft, or an art rather than a profession, or whether her gift should not be used in a directly practical business pursuit. One of the purposes of "
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CHAPTER XX BANKING. LAW. MEDICINE. DENTISTRY. PHARMACY. CHEMICAL INDUSTRY. CIVIL SERVICE. SOCIAL WORK
CHAPTER XX BANKING. LAW. MEDICINE. DENTISTRY. PHARMACY. CHEMICAL INDUSTRY. CIVIL SERVICE. SOCIAL WORK
Among girls at work and at school are those whose mental capacity is developed strongly. They enjoy thinking out problems. They analyze situations, because they want to understand why some particular fact happens to be true. These girls may be executive and practical, but they are always thinkers. If possible, they should remain at school in order to continue their studies. But although a girl who is intellectual may have to go into paid employment early, there is no reason why she should not ev
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CHAPTER XXI GOING INTO BUSINESS FOR ONE'S SELF
CHAPTER XXI GOING INTO BUSINESS FOR ONE'S SELF
Responsibility is something in which we all should share. If girls will observe people, they will see that human beings grow and become better able to work and help others through the exercise of responsibility. The girl or woman at work who feels her responsibility and is able to act on her own initiative is more valuable than the worker who always has to be told what to do. By gradually learning how to take responsibility, the girl becomes fitted to go into business for herself. In the first p
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CHAPTER XXII NEW WORK FOR WOMEN
CHAPTER XXII NEW WORK FOR WOMEN
One of the best known doctors in the country has chosen a special trained nurse to act as his anesthetist, that is, she accompanies him and assists in giving his patient the anesthetic when he is about to perform an operation. This girl when she entered the training school of a hospital had no idea that she would specialize in this way as an assistant to a famous surgeon. Her work is but one of the many examples of the usefulness of the trained woman worker. Varied opportunities in employment ma
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CHAPTER XXIII MONEY AND WAGES
CHAPTER XXIII MONEY AND WAGES
The weekly wage on which some girls live comfortably will give others only the bare necessaries of life, and sometimes not even that. The girl's real wages are what she is able to get for the sum of money she is paid in exchange for her work. Before she can judge whether her wage is good or poor, she must know how much her board and lodging will cost, the cost of clothes, and the total amount of her other expenses. She should know what additional advantages there are in the place where she is wo
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CHAPTER XXIV SPENDING. SAVING. INVESTING
CHAPTER XXIV SPENDING. SAVING. INVESTING
There is only one way by means of which we may know accurately how we are spending our wages. To know this we must keep accounts. Perhaps the girl has an impression that accounting is dull and troublesome. But this impression, if she has it, is a mistaken one. This chapter on Spending, Saving and Investing is not written to keep the girl from having what she wants. It is written to help her to make the most of her wages, so that she will get the most use and pleasure from her spending. A pretty
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CHAPTER XXV HEALTH
CHAPTER XXV HEALTH
Health has more to do with our successful employment than most of us have yet realized. To prove that this is true a woman who is an employment expert told the following story: "The other night I was sitting in my office waiting for a girl who could not come to see me in the daytime. The manager of a business house who was interested in the girl had asked me if I would advise her how to change her work from one employment which she liked fairly well to another in which she was greatly interested
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CHAPTER XXVI A GIRL'S READING
CHAPTER XXVI A GIRL'S READING
Anyone who has developed a love for reading possesses resources for self-improvement and enjoyment which are almost limitless. This love for reading a girl may acquire when she is young, or she may develop it at any time. It is worth while taking some trouble to learn to read well. Reading for the girl at work should include newspapers and magazines as well as books. She should learn how to read newspapers, because as a great journalist said once, "A newspaper is a sign post telling the travelle
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CHAPTER XXVII NECESSARY WORK
CHAPTER XXVII NECESSARY WORK
There is a question which everyone should ask herself about her work: "Is the work that I am doing adding anything to the wealth and well-being of the world? Is it necessary work—that is, is any one single person dependent to any extent for his or her existence on what I do?" Necessary work has to do with providing the necessaries of life. These are food, clothing, shelter, light, heat and every other service or commodity which helps to keep us alive and adds to our efficiency as human beings. A
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CHAPTER XXVIII WHAT ONE GIRL CAN DO FOR ANOTHER
CHAPTER XXVIII WHAT ONE GIRL CAN DO FOR ANOTHER
"No work will have as much happiness as it ought to have, or will be as well done as it should be, until fellow-workers exchange experiences and advice with one another." Every girl can learn something about her work from others in the same occupation. To learn from a friendly fellow-worker is pleasant and easy compared with the difficulty that we find in learning from people who are not specially interested in showing us how to work. Some of the happiest groups of workers are those who have org
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CHAPTER XXIX CIVIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
CHAPTER XXIX CIVIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Learning to be a good neighbour is an active enjoyment which lasts us all our lives. Our civic duties and responsibilities may be summed up by saying that they are the duties and opportunities of a good neighbour. We should study our civic duties and responsibilities carefully so that we may know how to vote rightly and wisely when we are given an opportunity to vote on public questions. The privilege of voting as a citizen is of the highest importance. But it is not by any means the only duty o
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CHAPTER XXX THE BEST KIND OF WORK
CHAPTER XXX THE BEST KIND OF WORK
Summing up what we have been able to learn, and what the world has learned, about employment, it is generally agreed that hard work is best. By hard work is meant work which requires from us the putting forth of all our energies and which calls for all our gifts. Work is very beneficial. As a man has said, "It takes the nonsense out of people," not the fun out of life, but the nonsense out of people, foolish, wrong, mistaken ideas which make people disagreeable to work with or play with or live
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LIST OF OCCUPATIONS
LIST OF OCCUPATIONS
Accompanying, see music. Accounting. Acting. Advertising. Anaesthetist. Architecture. Auditing. Banking. Basketry. Bee-keeping. Blouse making. Bookbinding. Bookkeeping. Business managing and owning. Butter making. Buying, see store employment. Candy making. Canning. Care of children. Catering. Cheese making. Chemical industry. Children's clothes making. Children's nurse. China decorating. Chiropody. Civil service. Commercial traveller. Companion. Composition, see music. Comptometer operating. Co
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BIBLIOGRAPHY.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Art of Right Living, The, by Ellen H. Richards: Whitcomb & Barrows, Boston (1904). Business of Being a Woman, The, by Ida M. Tarbell: Macmillan, New York, 1916. Careers: Women's Employment Publishing Company, London, 1916. Classified List of Vocations for Trained Women, by E. P. Hirth: The Intercollegiate Bureau of Occupations, New York, 1917. Commercial Work and Training for Girls, by Jeannette Eaton and Bertha M. Stevens: Macmillan, New York, 1915. Cost of Cleanness, The, by Ellen H. R
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