ing jealousy among the employes,
while a woman is not influenced in that way.

The proprietors of the large bookbinderies make every effort to secure
a respectable kind of help, but young women of loose principles, and
sometimes, it is to be feared, of actual immoral character, get
employment at the trade, and, when they do, their influence is any
thing but good on their companions. It must, however, be largely a
girl's own fault if she allows herself to associate with such company.
During working hours, of course, nothing but business is attended to.
Lunch is eaten in the establishment, and during the lunch hour the
girls gather together in little knots and talk about the last picnic
or the coming ball. But the place is so large, that a girl of reserved
manners can generally keep by herself, or select such companions as
she prefers.

The trade is not difficult to learn, the work is neat and clean, the
rooms where the girls work--that is, in the large bookbinderies--are
commodious, well lighted, and airy. If a young woman, getting her
board free at home, wanted to make a little money by working only a
few months, or a year, she could probably accomplish this object by
entering a bookbindery.

THE DRAMA.--LECTURERS AND READERS.

A woman need not have the genius of a Rachel, a Modjeska, or a Clara
Morris, to be able to make a good living in the theatrical profession.
Probably the great majority of young ladies who go upon the stage are
inflated with the notion that they are creatures of wonderful genius,
and for this reason they fail; they are so taken up with the good
opinion they have of themselves that they will not go through the
necessary amount of work, in the subordinate positions, to perfect
themselves for places up higher. They want to fly before they can
walk. It would seem as if common-sense deserted a woman the moment she
felt a desire to go upon the stage.

An old theatrical agent whose views were sought on this subject did
not offer much encouragement to the aspirants for dramatic honors. I
will give a paraphrase of his views so that the gentle reader may have
the benefit of the pessimistic presentation of the question.

The great majority of young ladies, he observed, "who sought positions
had been members of some amateur dramatic company, which they had
joined from a love of recreation and amusement. The friends of a young
woman continually spoiled her by undeserved praise, and, finally, she