Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/210

 WOMAN'S WORK 1 88 training home, after which she will enter for two years' training and two years' service. Probationers are instructed by lectures in the theoretical part of their work, and there is also instruction in sick-room cookery. Training is free, and regular probationers are paid li the first year and £^0 the second. On becoming a staff nurse the salary is ;^24, rising to ^27 by annual increments of £. Sisters are paid ;^3o to /40, and private nurses £o to ;^45. After six years' service a nurse's salary is increased by {^^, and after twelve years a second ;^5 is added. After eighteen years' service, and at the minimum age of forty-five, all members of the London Hospital nursing staff are eligible for a pension. Probationers are entitled to three holidays of a fortnight each during their two years' training, with a full month's leave without payment at the end, before actually joining the permanent staff. At the Royal Waterloo Children's Hospital, London, S.E., a probationer, if approved after a month's trial, undertakes to remain for three years. The salary for the first year is ;^5, for the second £, and for the third year ■£'6. Every hospital has some regulation pecu- liar to itself, but the most important condi- tions set out above apply generally. A request wTitten by any applicant to the matron of any hospital for particulars will bring, almost by return of post, fullest in- formation. Applicants living out of London, who are in doubt as to which hospital they would like to enter, should consult the Hospital Library and Charities Bureau, of 28 and 29, Southampton Street, London, to whom letters containing questions as to hospitals in any part of the country may be addressed. A fee of 2s. 6d. is charged for each complete inquiry. Apart from this, the applicant will find a Directory of Hospitals in almost any public library. Prospects A young woman who adopts nursing as her profession enters upon a field of labour where hard work under most trying conditions is the order of the day, but this fact will not deter her if she loves the work. Moreover, the hospital nurse who secures a certificate from a large general hospital has opened the door to a varied and profitable career. She may become a health visitor under a municipal body, or she may take up private nursing on her own account, and earn good money if supported by one or two medical men. Again, a nurse, after completing her train- ing at one of the large hospitals, may apply successfully for a vacancy in a higher grade at another. Whichever way she turns she has good prospects, and will, at any rate, be regarded as a member of one of the highest and noblest professions. Other branches of nursing will be dealt with under this section in Part 3 of EvERY Woman's Encyclopedia. MIDDLE-CLASS GIRLS FOR THE COLONIES Co)Uinned frojn page JJ, Part I By Lady FRANCES BALFOUR Defore accepting a situation in Canada, a girl should consult the Y.W.C.A. or the G.F.S. The latter especially is well-informed about Canadian conditions, and will make inquiries for her. There are disagreeable people and bad employers everywhere, and it is naturally the worst employer who writes the most promising letter. In Canada, the best openings are in the west, and the " Manitoba Free Press," which circulates through the whole of that enormous district, is probably the best medium for advertisement. The girl who intends to take up domestic work can generally be sure of a position within a month of landing, even if she does not choose to engage herself before she sails. But if she wishes for other work she ought to have funds to tide her over six months at least. It is, of course, folly for any woman to emigrate who cannot cook and sew, even though she may not wish to earn her living that way, because if she marries she will certainly have to do it, and, in any case, it is the one trade at which she can always be certain of employment. At the Y.W.C.A. homes, and also at those belonging to the Girls' Friendly Society in all the colonies, board and lodging can be obtained, the prices average about 21s. a week, sometimes less, and it is far better for an English girl to put up at one of these hostels, where she will be perfectly safe, and will obtain advice, than to go to hotels or boarding-houses. All information about the local branches can be obtained from the parent institutions in London, the addresses of them are : the G.F.S., 39, Victoria Street, S.W., and the Y.W.C.A., 25 and 26, George Street, Hanover Square, W. Choosing a Colony In choosing the colony to which one wishes to emigrate, climate and expense, as well as individual liking, have to be con- sidered. Canada is the favourite place at present, because it seems nearer home, the journey takes little over a week, and second-class passage on a comfortable boat can be had for ;^io 5s. But it must be remembered that this sum only lap.ds the traveller at Montreal, and that the country is as large as Europe. The journey on to Winnipeg, for instance, " the centre of the ' oppor- tunity' district," as it has been called, takes two and a half days, and costs ;£5 9s. lod. in " tourist car " (about equal to English