ay
give her employment for seven or eight months only in the year. In the
better millinery establishments the girls are laid off without wages six
weeks or two months. In large departmental stores other positions are found
for the girls and they may be without employment for only a few weeks. But
the girl must understand that if she is earning ten dollars a week for
thirty weeks in the year as a young milliner her income is only three
hundred dollars. For this reason it is wise for the young milliner to have
a second occupation. She may spend her summer months working in an hotel
as a waitress or caring for children or picking fruit. In the winter slack
season she may find a position as a saleswoman. If she can afford to remain
at home, she may spend the time in replenishing her own wardrobe, and
sewing for members of her family. She may also get some orders for making
hats from friends and relatives. She should use the slack season to attend
classes in design and salesmanship, skill in which will increase her
efficiency and her earning power.

CHAPTER XII

MAKING ONE'S OWN CLOTHES. HOME MILLINERY

In the chapter on "What Every Girl Needs to Know" we found how important
it is that girls should have a good deal of general knowledge of the
cutting and fitting of clothes, design, what constitutes right line and
beauty, the characteristics and uses of materials, and what is called
style, which is really often only good design and good workmanship. Girls
should welcome every opportunity to learn skill and judgment in spending
their allowances or their wages. The girl who buys wisely is able to make
the same amount of money give her twice the return in value which a
foolish girl who buys carelessly receives from her ill-considered
investments.

It is a wise plan, therefore, for every girl to learn a good deal about
dressmaking and to be able to cut out and sew many of her own garments.
She should also study buying. The best teacher she can have in learning
how to buy is generally her own mother. But sometimes her friends will be
able to give her help in this way. Girls who work in factories where
clothing is made, and girls in shops and stores, learn from their work
when blouses, coats and skirts are skilfully cut and well made. But this
is part of the general knowledge that every girl should have. One girl
can easily help to teach another who in return will be able to assist her
friend in other ways. Not to be eq