Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/51

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33 The sphere of woman's work is ever widenm", and now there are innumerable professions and businesses by which the enterprisinsf woman can obtain a livelihood. This section of Every I Woman's Encyclopedia, therefore, will serve as a guide-book, pointing out the high-road to success in these careers. It will also show the stay-at-home girl how she may supplement her dress allowance and at the .same time amuse herself. It will deal with : Professions j Woman's Work in the Colonies Little Ways of Making Pin- Doctor ' Canada Money Civil Servant A ustralia Photography Nurse 1 South Africa Chicken Rearing Dressmaker ' New Zealand Sweet Making A ctress Colonial Nurses China Painting Musician Colonial Teachers Bee Keeping, Secretary Training for Colonies Toy Making Governess j Colonial Outfits, etc Ticket Writing, Dancing Mistress, etc. I Farming, etc. etc., etc. MIDDLE-CLA^tS QIRL^ FO^ THE COLOHSES By LADY FRANCES BALFOUR GREAT deal is done to encourage English maidservants to emi- grate, but girls of the educated and cultured classes are con- stantly assured that there are no openings for them in the New World. If they call at one of the colonial emigration offices, they will get but little satisfaction, on the ground that the Colonial Governments are not allowed to encourage emigrants who will compete with their own people, but only farmers, farm labourers, and servants. Yet in the present crowded state of the Enghsh market for educated women's work, it is just the middle and upper class girls who have most difficulty in finding openings at home. In my opinion this cry that " Ladies are not wanted " is a mistake. A really clever, energetic, adaptable girl, even though a " lady," has more chance of earning a good living in a colony than she has of earning a meagre living in England. But she must be trained for colonial life, which means she must have an expert know- ledge of every kind of domestic work. Governesses are not wanted in any colony, nor are lady bookbinders, jewellery-makers, artists, indexers, or other professions which arise only in a country full of the leisured rich. Secretaries, bookkeepers, kindergarten and music-teachers, and so. on, cannot be certain of success over-sea any more than ihcv can at home. But the girl who can cook and sew, who understands laundry work, the care of poultry, something of the management of children, and the care of a house, may emigrate to any colony she chooses, secure of finding a dozen people ready to compete foi her services when she lands. She will get at least as good a salary as any lady- servant, companion, or housekeeper in Eng- land, and is certain to meet with oppor- tunities that she can never hope for here. What we should call a lady-help is called there a " home-help," and will receive a salary commencing at ^25 to £^0 a year. Our emigrant will have to work hard, no doubt, but she will work with the family, as one of the family, on a perfect social equality with them, and be treated with far more consideration and friendliness than most highly certificated governesses receive in England. She will share in all the amuse- ments that are arranged, and need never tear to be out of a .situation for a day, for every colonial agrees that the Colonies arc crying out for women who can do old- fashioned women's work really well. Even if the emigrant does plam domestic work (and it should be remembered that in all colonial cities the houses and flats are fitted with laboursaving appliances, gas-cookers, perpetual hot-water supply, ccntial-heating furnaces, which save much of the drudgery servants still have to put up with in England), her lot will be a happier one than that of half the gently-bred working women in England — nursery governesses, c