Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-12
THE BUsiN IS GIRL.


A Young Woman that Knows what She
Wants, and Isn't Afraid Of Horrid Men.
From the New York Bun
The business girl is new feature Of life in
this city. She is the girl you fnd behind the
counter in your favorite candy store, the girl
who makes change at your stationer's, the girl
at the telegraph desk in your hotel. She's the
girl who says to you, Keep your seat. sir;
I've been seated all day." when you offer to
give up your place in the elevated train. and
she says it in such a way that you do not waste
any time urging her, but at once resume read
ing your paper.
She is the girl you will see great many of at
the church fair this winter. She win be short
or tall, slender or stout, eyeglassed or young,
pretty or homely, all as the case may be: but
other things are not so much in doubt about
her. She will plant herself in front of you,
and for the first time in your life you will find
that soft words and parlor manners will not
rescue you.
If You are going to buy anything at the
fair, she says, 81 have especial reasons why
you should buy Of me. Now, Just what is il
you could be induced to buy; something for q
lady or for gentleman, or do you merely wish
you get for it?" You surrender. You can't
help it. The combination Of femininity and
business, womanhood and earnestness. gentle
ness and steady purpose is a strong one.
The business girl is not particle afraid Of q
man. She is not forever thinking of how to
catch one, either. She dresses faultlessly. looks
her prettiest, is very polite, and has soft
girlish voice. but she does not fiirt or ogle or
sigh or primp herself while she ia in mems
company. She is like man in two things:
First she dresses at home, and never appears
to think Of her clothes again till she changes
them. Second. she regards men as they do
each other, in perfect equality and with perfect
confidence. One of these business girls told a
Sun reporter the other day Of q queer expert
ence she had when she was a beginner.
Il was sent to a lawyers Office, said she, etc
do some errand or other, and when got there
he was pleasant enough and business-like
enough, until all of a sudden, while he was
talking to me. he got up. shut the door, came
back, and falling on one knee, seized my hand
and kissed it and told me he loved me madly.
My stars! but wasn't scared2 started up SO
quickly l almost flung him on his back, and I
shot out of the office and back to where I
worked as mad as hornet. Never send me
out of doors again. saidI I, for won't gor I
had hardly got there when in comes the law
yer and he asks to see my employer. and he
tells the whole story. and says he does not
know how he came to do it. He apologized to
me and was very much cut up. and so it all
ended very nicely. Well. time has passed since
then. and give you my word wish something
i
be frightened-not tiny bit I'd enjoy it. I'd
freeze the man and show him wasn't either a
softy or 'fraid cat. all in one sentence What
sentence? oh, can't tell till the time comes
what I'd say or What wouldn't"
One of these business girls was bound I'M
Broadway the other day. She wore long,
tight-ftting newmarket and a jaunty little
hat. She was neatly gloved and booted. and
she carried her pretty head in q way that was
SO different from the way the other women car
ried theirs that if you looked at her from be-
hind you would have thought her naughty;
but as seen face to face it appeared that it Yves
confidence in herself and not airs. that had
raised her chin so far above her neck pin. She
was going right along, too; not mincing along
like a girl out Of boarding school. but Just
planking down her feet. solidly and rapidly, as
If she had as good right to walk ON Broadway
as Mr.. Hewitt himself. When dandy looked
at her with intent to catch a side glance of her
eye he got full. firm look that surprised him
SO much it was all he could do to get his face
around to the expression of ordinary and
casual pedestrian. When she came to Fulton
street big policeman was approaching hud-
die OF helpless women who were waiting to
troop at his heels across Broadway. The bust
ness girl made detour around the group and
strobe out into the thick of the vehicles The
policeman took in her form and her face at a
glance and swayed toward her with that no.
ton that is peculiar to Broadway policemen
elephants. and large sailing craft when they
Ego about"
Look out, miss" said he; 'rn help you
across"
Thank you, I'm all right" said she. and
showed him as neat pair Of heels as he want
to see.
In front of the city hall park a very well
dressed fellow stopped her and asked where
Rose street was Perhaps he hoped to engage
her in conversation; perhaps he was honest,
1t didn't matter which he was.
Go UP to Chambers street. Mt the head of
the park, turn to your right. and it's one OF
two streets after you cross Chatham" said she
''Youre welcome. SIR" And on she went.
In West Washin yton place she saw three or
four young shop girls ahead of her. A half
tipsy man lurched toward them. and they
screamed and scattered like a startled covey Of
game birds. In another instant the business
girl had come up to him, and he lurched back
again in front of her. 1t was dark and q little
lonely just there.
Il say, MISS" said he.
What is it, sir?" she asked, stopping short.
Can you tell me-that is" he was laughing
in his drunken speech; Il don't want you to
tell me nothin just want some fun. Les
have fun"
Then the business girl instead of running
or becoming indignant or indulging in abuse
of the maudlin wretch, let a smile steal over
her features as she put down the hand with
which he touched her arm.
I'm sorry I'm in such a hurry" said she
"please excuse me-" And off she went, leay.
ing him dimly conscious that he was not Ell.
joylng great success in his mission.
There are thousands of these business girls
in New York. New conditions have been de.
veloping them for few years. They are 9