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1914
The task of collecting and editing the various essays of which thisbook is comprised, has not been altogether easy. Some literary defectsand absence of unity are, by the nature of the scheme, inevitable:we hope these are counterbalanced by the collection of first-handevidence from those in a position to speak authoritatively of theprofessions which they follow. Experientia docet, and those whodesire to investigate the conditions of women's public work in variousdirections, as well as those who are hesitating in their choice of acareer, may like carefully to weigh these opinions formed as a resultof personal experience.
For other defects in selection, arrangement, proportion and the like,I am alone responsible. I have, from the first, been consciousthat many people were better suited to the editorial task thanmyself—women with more knowledge of social and economic problems,and, perhaps, with more leisure. But at the moment no one seemed tobe available, and I was persuaded to do what I could to carry out thewishes of the Studies Committee of the Fabian Women's Group. If Ihave in any measure succeeded, it is owing to the generous help andunvarying kindness I have received in all directions. In the firstplace, I would express my gratitude to the members of the StudiesCommittee, and more particularly to Mrs Charlotte Wilson, the fountand inspiration of the whole scheme, to Mrs Pember Reeves, and toMrs Bernard Shaw. My indebtedness to all the contributors for theirpromptitude, patience, and courtesy, it is impossible to exaggerate.I hope it will not be thought invidious if I say that without DrMurrell's sub-editorship of the Medical and Nursing Sections, and theunstinted and continual help of Dr O'Brien Harris, the book couldnot have appeared at all. The latter's paper on "Secondary SchoolTeaching" has had the benefit of criticism and suggestions from oneof the most notable Head-Mistresses of her day—Mrs Woodhouse, whoseexperience of work in the schools of the Girls' Public Day SchoolTrust was kindly placed at the author's disposal. Similarly, some ofthe details mentioned in the section on "Acting," were kindly suppliedby Mrs St John Ervine. Lastly—for it is impossible to mention allwho have assisted—I wish to thank Miss Ellen Smith for her unsparingsecretarial labours, and Miss M.G. Spencer and Miss Craig, of theCentral Bureau for the Employment of Women, for the Table whichappears at the end of Section I. This is unique as an exhaustivesummary of a mass of information, hitherto not easily accessible tothe general public.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, READING, December 1913.
PREFATORY NOTE. By the Editor
I. INTRODUCTION. By EDITH J. MORLEY, Oxford Honour
School of English Language and Literature. Professor
of English Language, University College, Reading.
Fellow and Lecturer of University of London
King's College for Women
II. WOMEN A