The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-12-15
iWOMEN AS TKLKGRAPHRRs.
The Cooper sehseI ofs Tessgraphy.


One of the most interesting and use
full among the institutions for which
the city of New York is indebted TO
the intelligent and far-seeing intelli-
gefice of Peter Cooper, is the free school
for the instrncfiont of Women in tele-
graphy at the Cooper 1nstitute.d This
school is Mr.. Cooper's pet, because it
not merelely conveys technical ,knowI-
edge, but Immediately places Young
ladies in q positi0n where they can earn
remuneEatiyewagas-ats light aud pleas
ant occupation. The school,, since its
foundation, has been singulariy success
full, and has'turnedi out great numbers
of first-class operators. The institu-
ton is purely gratuitous, not even the
smallest fee being taken from the schol-
ars. They must, however, have salts
factory reference az to- character. and
are only, received between the ages Of
sixteen and twenty-feur. Applications
for admission must be made in the
handwriting of the applicants, stating
their names, ages, previous occupations,
and also the names Of the references.
Next the young ladies are subjected to
a very rigid examination in spelling,
reading and writing, and If this test Is
satisfactorily passed they are admitted
as pupils. As PROF of the strictness
of this examination, out of one, hun
dred applicants on the 1st of October,
only tWenty-thfee were admitted.
These examinations take place on Fri
days only, whenever there are q suffi-
Gent number of vacancies to warrant
an examination. Only forty pupils can
be received at time, and of course
preference is given to those who, by
education and physical ability, appear
best qualified for the business. .-,.,,.
After admission to the school the
pupils are conducted to large room
where q number of Morse telegraph
instruments are constantly clicking, and
there they are placed under the care Of
| the Intelligent manager, Miss Lizzie FL
Snow. They are first taught the tele.
graphic alphabet, and when they have
advanced so far as to be able to read
correctly by sound alone, they are allow.
ed to practice until they feel ready tc
stand the graduating examination, sftel
passing which they are provided with
situations as fast as vacancies occur
Some girls graduate in two and hall
months, others not for sever, according
to their ability and application. In ad.
dition to telegraphy, they are also in
structed in bookkeeping, SO as to be
able, if called upon, to take sole charge
| VI al OAAASS oAANA 1SOP Oh tAO oSSSOLtS
The term begins on the first of October
and ends on the first of June.
The school hours are from half-past
s q. m. until p. M, and punctual and
| regular attendance is strictly enforced
SO much so that the pupils. will not be
admitted after the evening hour, except
in special cases by permission of the
manager, and any pupil who remains
absent three times without satisfactory
excuse, iforfeits her position in the
school. Besides an unexceptional de-
pertinent is required, and pupils failing
in diligence, or who are proved not tC
be suited to the business, are immedi.
ately dismissed. The young ladies who
are at present under instruction in the
school are remarkably intelligent ant
refined, and are much above the stand.
of working girls. The school is, in {
certain measure, affiliated with thG
Western Union Telegraph Company
which supplies all the telegraph instru
ments, and, for the most part, the grad
yates are drafted into the various Officer
of the company. Some, however, ge1
employment in other Geographic com
panies, but they are not specially re
commended from the Cooper School O.
Telegraphy. AT present there are for
ty young ladies, graduates of this schoo
employed in the main office of thu
Western Union Telegraph Company
and five others at the branch Office il
the Cooper Institute, which, in addition
to the school, is under the direct su
pervision of Miss Snow. The averag.
wages earned by female telegraph opc
rators range from $50 to $40 per month