15th February, A. D. igoo. 



ESSAY 



BY 



MARY E. CUTLER, Holliston, Mass. 

 Theme: — Remunerative Out-Door Occupations for Women. 



It is a matter of common remark, that the second half of this 

 century has witnessed a tremendous extension of the sphere of 

 women's work. 



While clerical and stenographic employment on the one hand, 

 and factory labor on the other, have furnished the chief fields 

 for this extension, still almost every department of business has 

 experienced the infusion of the new element, even the pro- 

 fessions opening their doors, and women doctors, lawyers and 

 clergymen becoming by no means uncommon. 



Agriculture is no exception to the rule. The world has not 

 heard so much about the woman farmer : but she exists and 

 flourishes, indeed is increasing and multiplying upon the face of 

 the earth. 



The violent manual labor involved in field work possesses no 

 attraction for American women ; but in many branches of 

 farming, horticulture, floriculture, poultry raising, etc., women 

 occupy a large portion of the opening. 



Fifty years ago no occupations were open to women, except 

 cooking, sewing, teaching and factory work. Few women were 

 sufficiently educated to teach. Those who were, received from 

 $4.00 to $8.00 a month, and " boarded 'round," while men for 

 the same service were given $30.00 a month and board. In 

 that day not even woman herself had so much as a dream of 

 entering the professions of law, medicine and theology. When 

 the genius of Harriet Hosmer impelled her to take up sculpture, 



