St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-26

|
..Are all operators musicians?'
asked rather doubtfully.
perhaps not all good operators eul
| tivate their taste in that direction, but
| if you doubt what / say, just go up III
the central office and see how difficult il
| is to distinguish the sounds made by
| each sex. didn't try it but upon re.
| Election could see that quick hand and
I good hearing are necessary adjunctS to
| this kind of work. She further said
many who were quick intellectually
| could not successfully master the bust.
ness without
~ A SPECIAL GIFT
| Ill that direction. and it was often
amusing to witness the discontinue OF
bright individuals who thought they
could learn anything if they only had a
| mind to try.
IL suppose it's light and pleasant
work for ladies?" l said. quoting line
from book on girls work, which had
lately read.
1T is neither.n she emphatically re-
Piled ''While it doesn't involve any
hard physical labor, yet telegraphing
demands constant mental attention.
All operator who can receive and write
| long message as fast as it is sent, has
to train herself carefully for years and
always have her wits about her."
'Then QuicknesS is the one result to
be attained,' / remarked.
That's good quality, but to do the
work correctly is the first requisite.
Then, III most Offices the operator has all
| responsibility in regard to the messages.
But in large Office the chief looks after
that, and the operator only attends to
! the mechanical work." she said.
/ had been as interested in hearing
about how to learn biography, that [
nearly forgot to ask about the wages and
hours of work. | found the day of ten
hours to be the usual working time.
As this business demands special
training and much careful attention. l
felt sure that the wages must be high.
AS matter of form | enquired, s'What
wages are you paid?''
About $50 month, when you first
get position and from that up to $50"
she said weth sigh of resignation.
but surely you can earn more than
$50 month if you have heavy line
and do firSt-claSs work." said.
mo girl who works at telegraphy in
this city is ever paid more than $50
month";" she said. MANY girls have
ruined their health by too close appli-
cation to work, hoping to gain recOgni-
ton for their services in higher rate
of wages. The company quietly accepts
such work, and if one asks for higher
wages Is told that she can resign if she
thinks the regular rate too low. There
are many waiting for work and glad to
accept any terms which the company
may offer"
L am satisfied by personal investiga-
ton that this story of wages is true. not
only OF this city, but also of every large
city iii the country. When the girl told
me about it / couldn't help wishing that
her story could be heard by those people
who are so fond OF preaching to the girls
that faithful work always brings its own
reward and merit is sure to receive rec
Ognition-may be, but not OH this
planet Pm sure.
ANOTHER GRIEVANCE
which the girls have in this branch Of
work is. that men are paid from one
half to tWO-thirdS more than women who
do just the same work. 1t is always in
order for a manager to congratulate
himself upon getting girl to take
line at $50 month for which man
would be paid sS5.
Il suppose its one of the advantages
of being woman that we receive less
pay for equal work than man; yet it
/. costs woman more to support herself
| and dress we'll than it does man." said
one of the girls ruefully. But Pm not
philosopher, SO didn't try to reason the
| question out, but simply state the fact.
|, Check boys who have picked up
| partial knowledge of operating are often
taken at low wages in place of girls who
have experience, because they can
worry along after a fashion. The man
ager don't mind if the public grumbles
! at the poor service, for chow could the
people help themselves if they tried;
we have the whole system in our own
hands, says the company.
1t must be pleasant to be the s'com-
pany," bat Ed rather be excused from
being an ''emplOye."
Nearly all OF the girls, whom [ have
| met in this work, belong to the class
who support themselves, and they do
not find $50 month atfording margin
for many Injuries. They pay from 50
to s. a week for board, when the in
cidentals and inevitable doctors bills
are added. T find that they dress
quite plainly upon what remains of
their salary. Ill health seems to be
necessary con sequence of the constan
and wearisome mental eXertien.required
IN telegraph operating under the pres
ent system. Girls who have worked
steadily for years have not been able to
save anything, and season oil idleness
would mean hard lines for them.
Although nothing more than COM
mon school education Is necessary in
order to learn telegraphy. yet nearly
every telegraph operator is "a student.
Among them found Il greater number
of refined aud Intelligent girls than in
any other class. EVA GAY.