WOMEN'S WORK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 513, 21 May 1909, Page 3

WOMEN'S WORK.

;'v';vThe.-liond<mN''baiiy..'Exjireßs , yiia8 i :Btartedi . »;oolumn'jentMed~"Work for Women," jn v^;which'"'tho.ltet\iheliodsAof;.a46ptmg , 'any of ■ the professions or trades open,to feminine - workers' 1 are discussed, ; and. information is •freely given. Some;women who have_6truck •out successfully; for, themselves in different rlinea of workVare contributing, their vidr las ■and'experience, '.with ' the.: .view-of' helping ; 'parents-who;have daughters whom:they wish ■ to-"place."' Thus the : occupation of house ;; decorator i isYrecommendedyas_one. particularly ■suitableto women,.'but' it is ; house decora- ' tion: 'treated '.seriously' as.- a .regular 'trade.' ■ .-It. ..does' :hot; follow'that. because .a 'woman ; 'cah;iurhish'''.a'hp'use.'o'n'.artistic lines; com- .' bined ' with .'economy, -that;she : .is qualified v to plunge into the house decoration, business. Many, experiments ;have .been: made in tralia by'enterprising.women) who'haye"been flattered.bytheir'friends-kto/behVving that '.'their.'excellent taste;,Was;sufficient foundaVtioh'to'begin'.business upon:>. .'But, in'-fact, training and'knowledge; are as;, indispensable ■■ in'this diredtion ( as.they are ;for .'millinery'or tea-room"or;bqardinghouse:, keeping; The ''clever'amateur :_haß' really ,-not.':a chance. : against .'expert, .-for;/"business" is;a'.stern.master. I '■■ An artistic. is,-of '. course! (says,the"prbfessioharnian), ,the'first, ! essential,'butvlt"'must 'be combined, with: a .'.' vein 'ot ■ tural'experience :js- necessary, and it .is gen- . 'eraUy/found that.the:best'clSss of'house de,corator works! more or lessin connection" with a: firm ;qf "architflctß, : 'sb' : as. to,.be' always In touoh with' 1 structural alterations/ Then'the art of. superintendirigvworkmen'! can only : be: • gained'by experience, and it is,the same with '.the: "preparation of '- estimates. 'In addition >b>: a Knowledge of: appropriate - furniture, car-1 pets, and so'on, a .practical education in the' subjects .or.painting, ipaper-hanging, cabinet- !| making, arid' Metal work'comes in'.asa valu'jableyassetAvlt/is ; thatskilfully- . artistic ,women,;who. have relations practising • 'outcome. No fewer than!throe of theleading. • trade,.;have.special opportunities for developing into first-class decorators, and it oSten happens-.that a successful partnership is the outcome. ;.No less than three ;of the leading English', firms, with firstclass " reputations, are; conducted: by brothers andsisters. ' , :