sually well educated, and capable of often making
valuable suggestions to the author.

No encouragement can be given to the woman desirous of becoming a
proof-reader who will not learn the practical details of the calling
in a printing establishment.

In connection with proof-reading it may be mentioned that young girls
or young women find employment as "copy-holders." Their duty is to
read aloud to the proof-reader the copy of the author. If they can
read rapidly and correctly they can earn about $8 a week.

* * * * *

Female compositors are now largely employed in job and newspaper
offices, but it is only fair to state the objections to their
following this trade. In some establishments they are obliged, like
the men, to stand at their work. Physicians state, and the experience
of the women themselves proves, that this is very detrimental to
health. It has been urged by women, also, that in printing-offices
they are forced to hear profane and improper language from their male
companions, who sometimes, doubtless, in this way, harass the women,
sometimes with the purpose of expressing their dissatisfaction at the
employment of female labor. But too much weight should not be given to
this complaint. In all the large, well-regulated establishments such
conduct would not be tolerated, provided the men and women worked in
the same room, which, however, is rarely the case; as a rule, the
female help are set off in an apartment by themselves.

Employers who have employed female compositors say that they cause a
great deal of trouble. They have to have a separate room, and require
to be waited upon a great deal, especially if they are learning the
trade, while men readily get along by themselves. They are sure to
lose more or less time through sickness, and that, too, very often in
the busiest season, when there is great pressure of work, and their
services are in especial demand. Of late, the female compositors in
one of the largest establishments in New York demanded to be paid the
same rate as the men. The demand was not acceded to, and the
proprietors came very near discharging all their female compositors,
urging the objections which have just been stated, together with the
general objection to the employment of female help stated in the
beginning of this chapter.

Notwithstanding all these objections, however, which a woman can weigh
and take for what they are worth, the trade of a