Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-10-18
WOMEN AS TELEGRAPH OPERATORS.
They are Bright, Reliable, and n Good
Many OF The M as a bic as Men,

They are Bright, Reliable, and a 5000
Many OF , hem as 4 BILE MS Men.
There isn't a buster spot in all New
York than the operating room of thu
Western Union Telegraph Company
A Mail and Erpres, reporter happen
ed in there a few days ago to inquire
about press message that had gone
astray. Manager Dealy ''calIed up
distant city to make an inquiry. and
while waiting for the reply fell to talk,
ing OF the 500 operators in the big
room, One third were women. There
wasn't a rush of business, and so the
operators had little to do. Some OF
the women are handsome. All were
lastly dressed. The majority looked
rosy and healthy. They all wore n
jaunty air, as well as fash onaby cut
gowns Some were busy sending or
receiving messages. Those who
hadn't anv messages 10 send were
reading books or papers. Some wore
engaged in fancy work or knitting. 1t
was great big happy family. and an
occasional ring of a woman's musical
voice was heard above the Niagara of
clicks.
us the telegraph business good
one for woman to engage IMP" ask
ed him.
Yes" was Mr.. Dealy's reply. "a
woman who is smart and quick and
wants TO earn her own liv ng can do
so very comfortably if she be a good
operator.
Does the supply equal the de-
mandp"
Yes. a dozen times over, but good
smart women are always wanted. We
receive great many appl cations
from women who want work They
come from all parts of the country
and are carefully filed away. As sooa
as vacancy occurs we take the first
application on file aud give whoever
happens to be the lncky heroine the
first chance. We have applications
on file now from women received fully
ono year and a half ago"
"What time is necessary to prepare
aYoung woman for a telegraph opera
tor?'
That depends. A naturally smart
woman will learn much faster than a
woman who isn't quick and ambit Gus.
Much depends upon their previous
education. Women we'll versed in
variety of subjects. who can read df-
hcult manuscript, who can spell cor
rectiy, who can supply deficiencies in
messages. in word women who are
smart. can become good operators in
year Others require from one to three
years to become first class operators.
Women arc Oftcner more reliable than
men. and we have some " no are quite
as expert as their brothers of the kew.
How are women paid? Beginners are
paid Sl5 month. When they can
operate fairly well their pay is increas-
ed 10 S25 per month. Tnen. as theg
improve. they arc still further advance
ed. until the reach the average pay
from 500 to SO per month. according
to experience and abil ty. Women
operators work nine hours a dav.
usually from Il. N. TO 5:3) p. III. w tn
a half hour at midday for lunch. They
are shown no more favors than the
men. They are required to keep their
wires clear OF messages. When thev
are not engaged they may either read
or sew. pa nj, do fancy work. or what
ever else they choose. Yes. we have a
good deal of talent here. Any num-
Der OF our operators earn money after
their regular labor is finished Two
write for the newspapers. Others sing
in church choirs A few give lessons
in music. and one teaches Il dancing
class IN the evening. One of our best
operators is Mrs. w. Z. Randolph.
She is Il widow and sings in Plymouth
church Choir. She is also very clev- |
er verso writer. and poem she wrote |
at the time of Henry Ward Beechcr's
death attracted good deal of alton
ton. She has been an operator for
many years. and is good one, too.
"My long experience has taught me
that IN many respects women opera
tors are better workers than men, but
altogether not so useful. They are
steady. give no trouble. are absent less
frequently than men aud seem to feel
a keener responsibility. Quite II num-
Der OF women operators have been with
us for ten years. The work gives
them deep insight into human nature.
lhey learn to carry themselves with |
dignity. They cast aside all frivolous
ideas. They make good wives and
their work does not unfit them for FEM
mime duties. Scandal? No, sir.
Never heard Of anv in all my long ex-
perience here. Their presence has
soothing effect upon men. and many
woman has listened 10 Cupid's honey
ell words as she sat at her key and
has found loving, honest husband IN
nearby telegraph operator. Tele-
graphy isn't AS prosaic work as some
people imagine. There is heap of
romance in it. What book some If
the old operators could WI te!'
j II