who have charge of floral establishments. Most of them assist their
husbands; some are widows who have inherited the business. There is
one lady in Brooklyn who has built up a good business solely through
her own efforts. This is a very good occupation for women who love
flowers, who have good taste, an eye for color and the necessary
executive ability to carry on a business by themselves. Most of the
florists in New York and Brooklyn get their plants and flowers at
wholesale from nurseries on the outskirts, purchasing such stock
as they may require from time to time. Land is so valuable in the
city that florists have long since been compelled to give up the
cultivation of flowers; besides, the streets in the central and
business parts are so built up, both in New York and Brooklyn, that
the ground cannot be obtained at any price. Now, they have small
stores where they make a display of "samples" of the different
varieties of flowers.
The work is hard at times, the florist being obliged to remain up the
best part of the night to fill an order, given at the last moment, for
funeral or wedding pieces. The decorating of churches, halls, etc., is
tiresome work, especially where palms are used, and where it is
necessary to climb up and down ladders. The keeping of plants in pots
in the store requires a good deal of labor. Many women call and want
to see what the florist has got. She has to raise up the pots of
plants many times a day, and this is very tiresome to the wrists.
The amount of capital required to start the florist's business is
nothing like as much as it was before the large nurseries supplied the
florists with what they wanted at wholesale rates. The sum would
probably range from $200 to $1000, depending on the location, the
style in which the store was fitted up, and the amount of rent that
had to be paid. The profits are good, but vary, depending on the class
of custom the florist obtains; twenty-five per cent. is considered a
fair profit.
The lady florist would not, probably, care to devote much time to
potted plants. She could keep a few of the more common varieties,
which would be sufficient. Most of her business--and the best paying
part of her business--would consist in making bouquets, and selling
cut flowers. That is more profitable and pleasant than the selling and
propagation of plants, and would require much less manual labor.
Florists keep informed about their occupation by carefully reading the
catalogues issued by the various large wholesale dealers, in this
country, and in Europe, and the interesting and valuable books on
Floriculture that are issued from time to time.
To establish a regular greenhouse, and raise plants and flowers for
both the wholesale and retail trade, would require at least $5,000. A
woman to carry on the business in that way would have to be possessed
of a great deal of executive ability, give her whole personal
attention to the work, and be able to manage a considerable number of
men.
The business is better in the smaller cities than in either New
York or Brooklyn. In Schenectady, it may be mentioned by way of
illustration that, six years ago, there were no florists; now
there are three.
=Authorship.=--Authorship has now become, very largely, a
matter-of-fact business conducted on business principles. If any woman
has any thing to say that is worth listening to she will have no
trouble in securing a publisher to reproduce her thoughts in book
form. The idea that publishers strive to crush budding genius has
long since been exploded. If they were guilty of doing that very often
their occupation would be gone.
The woman who has a manuscript to offer for publication should first
see that it is written plainly on one side of the paper. Then she
should select a publisher who issues books of the same general
character as the one she has written. Some publishers make a specialty
of light summer novels, some of society stories, some of scientific
books, and so on. The manuscript is read by a "reader," who passes
judgment upon it. If his opinion is favorable the publisher reads the
manuscript and decides whether he will undertake to publish it.
The book may be bought for a certain sum outright. Or, a certain
amount may be paid on publication, and an additional sum after the
book has attained a stated circulation; or, a royalty of ten per cent.
on what will be the retail price of the book may be given; or, the
author may pay for the cost of manufacturing the book, owning the
copyright, the plates, and the books printed, and paying the publisher
ten per cent. for taking charge of the publication and sale of the
book.
Contributions for the daily and the weekly literary papers are paid
for at the rate of from $6 to $10 per one thousand words. Many young
women are ambitious to write for the story papers. There is but little
chance of success in this direction. Nearly all of the story papers
have a regular corps of contributors, who often write under several
different names, and who are paid a salary, or so much for each
"instalment" of a continued story. A publisher, however, will always
buy a "sensational" continued story if it is very good, and the fact
that the author is unknown will not count against its acceptance. A
continued story should contain not less than eight, nor more than
thirteen, instalments of about four thousand words each. The pay for
such a contribution would be from $10 to $20 an instalment. There is
a greater demand for short stories for the story papers, stories
containing from two to four thousand words. The price paid for such
tales would be $5 or $10.[A]
[Footnote A: The woman who contemplates authorship, or journalistic
work, is advised to consult "Authors and Publishers; a Manual of
Suggestions for Beginners in Literature." Price, $1.00. Published by
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 27 and 29 West 23d Street, New York. This is not
only the latest but the best book on the subject.]
=Type-Writing.=--Young women in the large cities do well working on
the type-writer. A girl with a good common-school education, who is
naturally bright, and quick with her fingers, can learn in four
months' time to work on the type-writer. In eight months she ought to
be an expert at the business. Some pupils might be required to
practise a year, or a year and a half, before they were thoroughly
competent. Forty words a minute is considered a good average rate of
speed. Salaries of lady type-writers in law, newspaper, and mercantile
offices range from $10 to $20 a week. A woman would have to be a very
expert type-writer, or have joined with the knowledge of type-writing
some knowledge of short-hand, to earn $20 a week. In railroad offices
type-writers are paid $60 a month. Type-writing offices, where
type-writing is done for the public by the job, and where this kind of
help is employed, pay $10 and $12 a week.
Some women open offices and depend on job work. They receive five
cents a folio (one hundred words) for furnishing one copy of a
manuscript, eight cents a folio for two, and ten cents a folio for
three copies. Some charge ten cents per page (three hundred words) for
furnishing one copy, twelve cents for furnishing two copies, and
fifteen cents for furnishing three copies. Several copies of a page
can be taken at one time on the type-writer. This is an excellent
industry for women. No special talent is required, except that a woman
should be a good speller and have a fair knowledge of the rules of
punctuation. A new telegraph company that has just been started is, it
is said, going to employ lady type-writers in many of its offices to
take down the messages as they are received by the operators. This of
itself will create a great demand for lady type-writers.
=Wood-Engraving.=--It requires four or five years' study for a woman
to become competent in wood-engraving. After three years of hard work
she may hope to do some ordinary engraving for which she will receive
compensation. In the Cooper Institute (New York), where the art is
taught to women, the course of instruction covers four years. The
pupils work every day from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. the year round, obtaining
theoretical instruction from a teacher twice a week.
For engraving a block a trifle larger than this page a woman will
receive $50. It will take her from three to five weeks to do the work,
depending on the amount of experience she has had in the business.
Some women occupy themselves on "catalogue work," _i. e._, engraving
the illustrations for mercantile books and agricultural catalogues.
At this branch of work they can make from $20 to $25 a week. There are
very few female wood-engravers at present. To women who have the
necessary talent, and who can afford to give the requisite amount of
time to the study of the art, wood-engraving will furnish a sure means
of making a living.
=Working in Brass.=--This is a new occupation for women that is being
taught in one of the technical schools in New York. A few women are
successfully doing some work in the business and receiving fair pay. A
lady who has a good knowledge of drawing can, it is said, after a
course of twelve lessons do marketable work. Pupils who are able to
make original designs do the best. A course of twelve lessons in the
school alluded to costs $10. The work is by the piece, and is paid for
according to the style of the pattern. For small leaves the pay is
from 60 to 70 cents each; leaves six inches in length $1 each; a panel
10 x 6 inches, $4 to $5, according to pattern. Tiles are popular and
well paid for. The work is very well suited for a woman, and her
earnings ought to run from $10 to $25 a week, depending altogether on
her talent. After taking lessons and learning the theoretical part of
the business it would be well for a woman to go, for a short time,
into some establishment where brass-work is done. There she would
probably get some practical hints that would be of great service.
THE END.
Putnam's Handy-Book Series
OF
BOOKS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD.
I.--=The Best Reading.= A Classified Bibliography for easy Reference,
with hints on the selection of books, on the formation of libraries,
public and private, on courses of reading, etc.; a guide for the
librarian, bookbuyer, and bookseller. The classified lists, arranged
under about 500 subject-headings, include all the most desirable books
now to be obtained either in Great Britain or the United States, with
the published prices annexed. New edition, corrected, enlarged, and
continued to August, 1876. 12mo, paper, $1.00; cloth $1.50
"We know of no manual that can take its place as a guide to the
selector of a library."--_Independent._
=The Library Companion.= Annual Supplement to "The Best Reading." Five
volumes, for 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1881, each 50
II.--=Hand-Book of Statistics of the United States.= A Record of the
Administrations and Events from the Organization of the United States
Government to 1874. Comprising brief biographical data of the
presidents, cabinet officers, the signers of the Declaration of
Independence, and members of the Continental Congress, statements of
finances under each administration, and other valuable material. 12mo,
cloth $1 00
"The book is of so comprehensive a character and so compact a form
that it is especially valuable to the journalist or student."--_N. Y.
World._
III.--=What to Eat.= A Manual for the Housekeeper; giving a bill of
fare for every day in the year. 134 pages, boards 50
"It can hardly fail to prove a valuable aid to housekeepers who are
brought to their wits' end to know what to get for the day's
meals."--_San Francisco Bulletin._
IV.--=Till the Doctor Comes, and How to Help Him.= By GEORGE H. HOPE,
M.D. Revised with additions by a New York physician. :: A popular
guide in all cases of accident and sudden illness. 12mo, 99 pages,
boards 50
"A most admirable treatise; short, concise, and practical."--_Harper's
Monthly_ (Editorial).
V.--=Stimulants and Narcotics=; MEDICALLY, PHILOSOPHICALLY, AND
MORALLY CONSIDERED. By GEORGE M. BEARD, M.D. 12mo, 155 pages, cloth 75
"Dr. Beard has given the question of stimulants the first fair
discussion in moderate compass that it has received in this country.
* * * The book should be widely read."--_N. Y. Independent._
VI.--=Eating and Drinking.= A Popular Manual of Food and Diet in
Health and Disease. By GEORGE M. BEARD, M.D. 12mo, 180 pages, cloth 75
"The best manual upon the subject we have seen."--_N. Y. World._
VII.--=The Student's Own Speaker.= By PAUL REEVES. A Manual of
Oratory, comprising new selections, patriotic, pathetic, grave, and
humorous, for home use and for schools. 12mo, 215 pages, boards 75
"We have never before seen a collection so admirably adapted for its
purpose."--_Cincinnati Chronicle._
VIII.--=How to Educate Yourself.= A Complete Guide to Students;
showing how to study, what to study, and how and what to read. It is,
in short, a "Pocket School-master." By GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON. 12mo,
151 pages, boards 50
"We write with unqualified enthusiasm about this book, which is
untellably good and for good."--_N. Y. Evening Mail._
IX.--=A Manual of Etiquette.= With Hints on Politeness, Good-Breeding,
etc. By "DAISY EYEBRIGHT." 12mo, boards 50
"The suggestions and directions are given with taste and judgment, and
express the habits of good society."--_Louisville Courier-Journal._
X.--=The Mother's Register.= Current Notes on the Health of Children,
Part I., Boys. Part II., Girls. "The Mother records for the Physician
to interpret." From the French of Prof. J. B. FONSSAGRIVES, M.D. 12mo,
cloth 75
XI.--=Hints on Dress.= By an American woman. 12mo, 124 pages, cloth 75
XII.--=The Home=: WHERE IT SHOULD BE AND WHAT TO PUT IN IT. Containing
hints for the selection of a Home, its furniture and internal
arrangements, with carefully prepared price-lists of nearly every
thing needed by a housekeeper, and numerous valuable suggestions for
saving money and gaining comfort. By FRANK R. STOCKTON. 12mo, 182
pages, boards 50
"Young housekeepers will be especially benefited, and all housekeepers
may learn much from this book."--_Albany Journal._
XIII.--=The Mother's Work with Sick Children.= By Prof. J. B.
FONSSAGRIVES, M.D. Translated and edited by F. P. FOSTER, M.D. A
volume full of the most practical advice and suggestions for Mothers
and Nurses. 12mo, 244 pages, cloth 1 00
"A volume which should be in the hands of every mother in the
land."--_Binghamton Herald._
XIV.--=Manual of Thermometry.= For Mothers, Nurses, Hospitals, etc.,
and all who have charge of the sick and the young. By EDWARD SEGUIN,
M.D. 12mo, cloth 75
XV.--=Infant Diet.= By A. JACOBI, M.D., Clinical Professor of Diseases
of Children, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Revised,
enlarged, and adapted to popular use by MARY PUTNAM JACOBI, M.D. 12mo,
boards 50
"Dr. Jacobi's rules are admirable in their simplicity and
comprehensiveness."--_N. Y. Tribune._
XVI.--=How to Make a Living.= By GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON, author of "How
to Educate Yourself." 12mo, boards 50
"Shrewd, sound, and entertaining."--_N. Y. Tribune._
XVII.--=Manual of Nursing.= Prepared under the instructions of the New
York Training School for Nurses, by VICTORIA WHITE, M.D., and revised
by MARY PUTNAM JACOBI, M.D. Boards 75
"Better adapted to render the nurse a faithful and efficient
cooperator with the physician than any work we have seen."--_Home
Journal._
XVIII.--=The Blessed Bees.= An account of practical Bee-keeping, and
the author's success in the same. By JOHN ALLEN. Boards 75
"I scarcely looked up from the volume before I had scanned all its
fascinating pages."--Prof. A. T. COOK, in _American Bee Journal_,
1878, p. 422.
XIX.--=The Handy-Book of Quotations.= A Dictionary of Common Poetical
Quotations in the English Language. 16mo, boards 75
"Compact and comprehensive. * * * An invaluable little
volume."--_Providence Journal._
XX.--=From Attic to Cellar.= A Book for Young Housekeepers. By Mrs.
OAKEY. 16mo, cloth 75
"An admirable collection of directions and counsels, written by a lady
of large experience, in a style of perfect simplicity and great force.
* * * I wish it were in the hands of every housekeeper and every
domestic in the land."--H. W. BELLOWS, D.D.
XXI.--=Emergencies, and How to Meet Them.= Compiled by BURT G. WILDER,
M.D., Prof. of Physiology and Comparative Anatomy in Cornell
University. 16mo, sewed 15
"Invaluable instructions, prompt attention to which would often save
life or serious disaster."--_Providence Journal._
XXII.--=The Maintenance of Health.= By J. MILNER FOTHERGILL, M.D.
Third and cheaper edition. Octavo, boards 1 25
"The most important book of its kind that has ever been published in
this country."--_Christian Union._
XXIII.--=The Art of Cooking.= A series of practical lessons by MATILDA
LEES DODS the South Kensington School of Cookery. Edited by HENRIETTA
DE CONDE SHERMAN. 16mo, cloth extra 1 00
"The thoroughness of her preparation for the work which this
experience has afforded is seen in the marked success of the
experimental lessons that she is now giving. They are so clear and
methodical, her manipulation is so deft and easy, and the dishes
produced are so excellent, as to win the praise of all who hear
her."--_N. Y. Times._
XXIV.--=Hints for Home Reading.= A series of papers by EDWARD EVERETT
HALE, F. B. PERKINS, H. W. BEECHER, CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER, JOSEPH
COOK, LYMAN ABBOTT, M. J. SWEETSER, CYRUS HAMLIN, H. W. MABIE, and
others. Edited by LYMAN ABBOTT. Together with a new edition of
"Suggestions for Libraries," with first, second, and third lists of
500, 1,000, and 2,000 volumes recommended as the most important and
desirable. 8vo, cloth, $1 00; boards 75
"We warmly commend the book for the guidance not only of bookbuyers
but readers. Its suggestions are invaluable to both."--_Boston
Transcript._
XXV.--=First Aid to the Injured.= Prepared under the authority of the
First Aid to the Injured Society. By PETER SHEPHERD, M.D., and
BOWDITCH MORTON, M.D. Square 16mo, cloth extra 50
"It is a book which ought to have a place in every family, and its
simple rules should be carefully studied and mastered by every
one."--_Providence Press._
XXVI.--=How to Succeed=, in Public Life, as a Minister, as a
Physician, as a Musician, as an Engineer, as an Artist, in Mercantile
Life, as a Farmer, as an Inventor, and in Literature. A series of
essays by Senators BAYARD and EDMUNDS; Doctors JOHN HALL, WILLARD
PARKER, and LEOPOLD DAMROSCH; Gen. SOOY SMITH, HAMILTON GIBSON,
Commissioner GEO. B. LORING, LAWSON VALENTINE, THOMAS EDISON, and
E. P. ROE. With an Introduction by LYMAN ABBOTT. 16mo, boards 50
"No book, we fancy, could more directly appeal to the mass of
Americans than one with this title. * * * Will find solid help in
these remarkable little essays that deal with great
expectations."--_N. Y. Herald._
XXVII.--=Work for Women.= Being hints to aid women in the selection of
a vocation in life, and describing the several occupations of
Short-Hand Writing, Industrial Designing, Photographing, Nursing,
Telegraphing, Teaching, Dress-Making, Proof-Reading, Engraving, etc.,
etc., etc. By George J. Manson. 16mo, boards 60
"Full of useful suggestions."--_Philadelphia American._
XXVIII.--=Health Notes for Students.= By Prof. BURT G. WILDER, of
Cornell University. Uniform with "Emergencies." 16mo, paper 20
"The instructions are never extreme, and always sensible."--_Chicago
Tribune._
XXIX.--=The Home Physician.= A summary of Practical Medicine and
Surgery for the Use of Travellers and of Families at a distance from
Physicians. By LUTHER M. GILBERT, M.D., Attending Physician to the
Connecticut General Hospital. 16mo, cloth 1 00
"Concise, comprehensive, and practical."--_St. Paul Dispatch._
XXX.--=Bread-Making.= A practical treatise, giving full instructions
for the making of bread and biscuits, 16mo, boards 50
G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, NEW YORK AND LONDON.
Transcriber's Notes:
Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.
Passages in bold are indicated by =bold=.
Other than the corrections listed below, printer's inconsistencies in
spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, and ligature usage have been
retained.
Two different versions of spelling for housekeeper and Hand-book occur
in this book (advertisements: housekeeper and Hand-Book; main text:
house-keeper and Hand-book).
The following misprints have been corrected:
changed "Abbot" into "Abbott" in Preface
changed "they are familliar," into "they are familiar." page 5
changed "or eight o'clock," into "or eight o'clock." page 34
changed "gratuitiously" into "gratuitously" page 51
changed "month" into "months" page 55
changed "treshhold" into "threshold" page 61
added " after "to go by." page 75
changed "negro" into "Negro" page 77
changed "about woman suffrage, a" into "about woman-suffrage, a"
page 94
changed "Bee-Keeping.--There is" into "Bee-keeping.--There is"
page 125
changed "Type-Writing.--Young women" into "Type-writing.--Young
women" page 135
changed "excellant" into "excellent" advertisement
changed "and 1881, each," into "and 1881, each" advertisement
changed "134 pages, boards," into "134 pages, boards" advertisement
changed "215 pages, boards," into "215 pages, boards" advertisement
changed "16mo, paper," into "16mo, paper" advertisement