Mercy Grogan

“ After having made inquiries about a great variety of female occupations, I have come to the conclusion that teaching is still the most suitable, and, under certain circumstances, the most remunerative, employment open to women. ”

“ I have had to listen to bitter complaints of the careless way in which ladies execute work that is entrusted to them, of their want of punctuality and business habits, and their ineradicable conviction that they are conferring a favour upon their employers by working for them at all. ”

“ There is always a demand for really skilled labour, and this skill is worth almost any present sacrifice to obtain; besides its pecuniary advantages, the knowledge that one can do something really well (not in an amateur fashion) confers a most gratifying sense of power and independence. I do not agree with those people who think it a hardship for women to have to work for their living ”

“ In the one branch of class-singing, I believe there is a large demand for good lady teachers, as they are most difficult to obtain, and any really competent persons may be sure of obtaining engagements at good salaries. For any one with exceptional talent a thorough training is the great thing to be desired, and this can be obtained at the Royal College of Music, Kensington Gore, where a free musical education, in all its branches, is given for five years, to any one who can obtain a scholarship. ”

“ A course of lessons generally extends over four or five months; during that time students are not only taught the principles of book-keeping by single and double entry, but every effort is made to inspire them with a high sense of responsibility, and to make them punctual, orderly, and earnest, in the discharge of their duties. No student is allowed to go up for examination unless her conduct in the class has been satisfactory, and unless she has shown a desire to do her work conscientiously.
Bookkeepers who have gained certificates almost invariably retain their situations with credit. ”

“ Teachers in the elementary schools receive good salaries, have short hours of work, and are comparatively in an independent position; but I have no doubt many ladies would find the class of children they would be required to teach a great trial to them, as the habits and ideas of children of the lower classes would, in all probability, prove a considerable shock to the sensibilities of ladies who came in contact with them for the first time. The elementary schools employ an immense number of teachers. ”

“ I have also collected as much information as I could for those whose circumstances make it essential that they should at once receive remuneration for their work; but I must remind them that generally what is worth having is worth waiting and working for, and they must not expect to be as well paid as their more fortunate sisters, who are able to give time and money to learn a business thoroughly. The superficiality of girls' education is very much against them when it becomes a question of how they are to earn their living. ”

“ But an ordinary education no longer qualifies a woman for the position of governess16 in any educational establishment; if she wishes to be tolerably certain of securing an engagement it is necessary that she should be certificated, or, still better, have completed her education at Girton, Newnham, or one of the new halls opened at Oxford, and it is most desirable that she should pass the new examination of teachers instituted by the Teachers' Training Syndicate of Cambridge. ”

“ Visits from applicants average about ten daily, and the office has been a centre for the collecting and diffusion of information on all subjects bearing on the employment of women; while many whose names are never entered on the register are put in the way of procuring training or employment, and are warned against persons who, by alluring promises of easy ladylike employment, tempt the unwary to spend their slender means in lessons that are worthless. ”

“ Ladies who wish to learn the work, without desiring employment, can be received on payment of a premium of £10; but it is requested that all inquiries should be addressed to Miss King, Secretary to the Society for the Employment of Women, 22, Berners Street, Oxford Street.
I think many of the large firms might be induced to employ women permanently in copying their plans, if personal application were made to them and specimens of work taken. The great requisites for success in this work are neatness and accuracy; the merely technical knowledge is easily acquired. ”

“ Powell has no objection to increase them if he finds the ladies he employs are willing; of course their work is paid by time. He intends to increase his staff of lady workers as occasion arises. Only a very slight knowledge of drawing is required for the lower branches of this art, and it is necessary to give perhaps three months, certainly not more, to acquire it. The average earnings are from £60 to £70 a year; any one capable of copying figures and painting them on glass would obtain a higher salary, probably £100 a year. ”

“ The principal may require any student to withdraw who in her opinion is not profiting by the course of study at Cambridge. The charges for board and lodging and tuition are 25 guineas a term, and 15s. a year is charged for the use of the gymnasium. Unless under special circumstances, students who intend to pass the Cambridge Higher Local Examination will be required to pass in English history, English literature, and arithmetic, before coming into residence. Those who have taken honours in the Cambridge Senior Local Examination will be exempt from this rule. ”

“ The Committee of the Westminster School for Nurses has made arrangements for training their probationers in a practical way in the wards of the above hospital. Those young women who are desirous to be so trained should apply (personally, if possible, or else by letter) to the lady superintendent of the Training School, 8, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster. It is desirable that the ages of candidates should be between twenty-five and thirty-five. Testimonials of health and character, according to forms supplied by the lady superintendent, will be required ”

“ The head master of the Lambeth School of Art told me he thought it useless for ladies to join the class who had not a considerable knowledge of drawing, such, for instance, as they might acquire by two years' study at some school of art. ”

“ Law Copyists.—Many women are now employed in law copying; they are apprenticed for six months, sometimes paying a small premium of 2 or 3 guineas, but in some cases they are only required to give their time. After six months they begin to earn a few shillings a week, which may increase, according to efficiency, to 25s. Their salary is regular, and does not depend (as it does in the case of men) on their employers having work or not. The hours are from nine to seven, excepting on Saturdays, when they leave a little earlier. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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 Society endeavours to find the necessary expenses, by loan or gift, for outfit and passage to women who are of good character but without means. Many educated or suitable women, struggling unsuccessfully against the over-competition of the Old Country, would be glad to emigrate if they were aware of the existence of a Society able to afford them serviceable advice and assistance. They cannot go through the Government Emigration agencies, and are therefore thrown upon the funds of the Society. ”

“ Candidates must have passed the second grade art examination of the Science and Art Department in freehand drawing at least. Those who have some knowledge of wood carving, or have passed in the other subjects of the second grade art certificate, or in drawing from the antique and the figure, architectural drawing, or designing and modelling, will be preferred. Applications for these studentships should be addressed to the Secretary, at the school.
All students are required to provide their own tools, and work done in the schools by free students cannot be taken away. ”

“ One of the most pressing social problems of the day is how the immense number of women—greatly outnumbering the men—in England at the present time are to be supported. The obvious answer is, that they must be taught and encouraged to support themselves. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The tools students are required to provide themselves with, during the whole time they attend the school, cost about £2, but for 15s. they can procure enough to carry them over the first few months. The free studentships are for periods of six months, and are renewed to promising students. A taste for55 designing, and a considerable knowledge of drawing, are so desirable that I cannot conscientiously recommend any one without them to adopt wood carving as her profession, for although a certain degree of mechanical excellence might be obtained, it would not be sufficient to ensure a livelihood. ”

“ Successful candidates have to attend the Post Office Telegraph School to undergo a course of instruction in telegraphy, for which instruction no charge is made, but they do not receive any pay while at the school.
The course of instruction usually extends over a period of three months, but if at any period of their tuition, or during their probationary employment at a telegraph office, it becomes evident they display no aptitude for the duties of a telegraphist, their nomination or probationary appointment will be cancelled.
The scale of pay for women is 8s. ”

“ Music.—No lady should take up music as a profession unless she has sufficient talent to justify her100 in expecting to be a first-rate teacher and performer. The profession is overstocked to a most painful extent already with second-rate teachers, and, speaking roughly, I should say there are very nearly as many people anxious to teach music as there are people to be taught. ”

“ No candidate will be admitted to examination under the age of eighteen.
The whole examination need not be passed in one year. A candidate may present herself for any number of the groups, or for all; and when all have been passed the candidate will receive a first or second class certificate. All candidates will be expected to produce a certificate of having passed some recognised public examination in English subjects, as—Oxford or Cambridge Senior Local, Higher Local; Society of Arts; First and Second Class, College of Preceptors; Government Elementary Teachers ”

“ Teachers, while on the staff, and employed in the school, are not free to take any engagement without leave from the Committee, given in writing. Teachers holding diplomas not on the staff are free to make any engagement for teaching they may think fit, and may refer to the lady superintendent, who will give additional information as to their qualifications when required to do so. ”

“ It is a great pity that girls are brought up to think that the only way in which they can dispose of themselves that will give satisfaction to their friends is to get married, and if from various causes they fail to achieve this end they will be looked upon more or less as social failures. Although I am perfectly willing to admit that a happy marriage is the best fate that can befall a woman, surely an unhappy one is one of the worst ”

“ Ladies wishing to enter the medical profession can receive the necessary instruction at the London School of Medicine for Women, 30, Henrietta Street, Brunswick Square. It is desirable that they should have private means, as, unless they go to India, where there is a considerable opening for medical women, it would probably be some time before their practice would be sufficiently remunerative. ”