CHOOSING A DAUGHTER'S PROFESSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 239, 7 October 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHOOSING A DAUGHTER'S PROFESSION.

The first question to he taken into account should be. "Is the proposed occupation healthy?" The second, "Is it an occupation at which a girl, if competent, may reasonably hope to make a living —a living in the present and a living for old age?" The third question is, "Does it mean a life which ig interesting, and which will enable a girl to develop her faculties to the fullest extent of which she is capable?" There

is a further question which parents; should very properly take into consul-1 eration also, and that is whether fchaj occupation is likely to condemn a girl j to celibacy, or whether she is likely tn j tho course of her work to meet young, men among whom may be one suitable for a husband, should a mutual attachment arise. Girls away from homo, working among other Women solely, have no chance of, marrying, unless through outside friends in the place of their employment, or unless they have long holiday periods which also include opportunities for making friendships. Thus, governesses in private schools, and governesses in girls' and women's colfeges rarely marry, and governesses in private families are in the same position in many instances, especially when they are employed by people who, for want of a better term, are called "society people." Domestic servants, in places where only women servants are employed, and where they are far from their own homes and are living in the country, do not easily marry either. Still making acquaintances is more easily done in that rank of life than in the higher ranks, and so they can often create a social circle for themselves. On the'other hand, it is well known that marriages between post-office employees are frequent, and school teachers, often marry school teachers; doctors not infrequently marry doctors, and doctors of the male sex often marry nurses. 1 should think it probable that shop-as-sistants marry shop-assistants, while I know that sometimes, at any rate, typists marry clerks in the offices where they are engaged. Fundamentally, all marriages are a question of propinquity and opportunity, so it is only to be expected that girls who have no opportunities of meeting the opposite sex should not marry, however pretty, agreeable, and good they maybe. If you live *n a small country town or a health resort, where there are no and send your daughter to teach in a private school for girls, you probably condemn her to celibacy. Parents should not ignore the question 'of their daughter's marriage, hut, on the other hand, they should not in any way count upon it. It is wisest, for the parent to take no risks and to fit his daughter to earn her livino- present and future, without reference 0 to marriage.—"The World's Work."