Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1888-12-08
Pullman Herald.
WOMEN AS TELEGRAPH OPERATORS.
They are Bright, Reliable, and u Good
Many of Them as BILE as Men.

y
a MaU and Express reporter happen.
ell in there few days ago to inquire
about press message that had gone
astray. Manager Dealy "called 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 q rush of business. and so the
operators had little to dc. Some of
the women are handsome. All were
lastly dressed. The majority looked
rosy and healthy. They all wore q
iaunty air, as we'll as fash onably cut
gowns. Some were busy sending or
receiving messages. Those who
hadn't anv messages 10 send were
reading books or papers. Some were
engaged in fancy work or knitting. 1t
was great big happy family. and an
occasional ring of woman's musical
ioice was heard above the Niagara of
clicks.
us the telegraph business good
one for woman to engage IMP" l ask
vd him.
Yes was Mr.. Dealy's reply. "a
woman who is smart and quick and
wants TO earn her own living can do
so very comfortably if she be a good
operator"
Does the supply equal the de-
mand?'
Yes. Il 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 fled away. AS soon
as vacancy occurs we take the first
application on file and give whoever
happens to he the lnoky heroine the
first chance, We have applications
on file now from women received fully
one year and half ago"
What time is necessary TO prepare
ayoung woman for telegraph opera
torP'
That depends, A naturally smart
woman will learn much faster than a
woman who isn't quick and ambitious
Much depends upon their previous
education. Women we'll versed in a
variety of subjects, who can read diff
ficult manuscript, who can spell cor
rectly. who can supply deficiencies in
messages, in word women who are
smart, can become good operators in a
year. Others require from ono to three
years to become first-class operators.
Women are oftener more reliable than
men. and we have some who are quite
as expert as their brothers of the key.
How are women paidP Beginners are
paid SIS a month. When they can
operate fairly well their pay is increas
ed TO S25 per month. Then, as thev
improve. they arc still further advanc-
ed. until thew reach the average pay
from $50 to S75 per month. according
to experience and abil ty. Women
operators work nine hours q day,
usually from S a. N. to $3.50 p. II. w tn
a half hour at midday for lunch. They
are shown no more favors than the
men. They are required to keep theil
wires clear of messages When they
are not engaged they may either read
or sew, pa Mt, do fancy work. or what
ever else they choose. Yes, we have q
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 a dancing
class in the evening. One of our best
operators is Mrs. w. E. Randolph.
She is a widow and sings in Plymouth
church Choir. She is also very clev
er verse writer. and poem she wrote
at the time of Henry Ward Beecher'
death attracted good deal of atten.
ton. She has been an operator fol
many years, and is a good one, too.
"My long experience has taught MI
that in many respects women opera
tors are better workers than men, bu
altogether not so useful. They ar,
steady give no trouble. are absent les,
frequently than men aud seem to fee
keener responsibility. Quite mum
Der of women operators have been will
us for ten years, Their work give:
them deep insight into human nature,
They learn TO carry themselves will
dignity. They cast aside all frivolous
ideas. They make good wives anC
their work does not unfit them for fem
mine duties. Scandal? No, sir
Never heard of any in all my long ex
perience here. Their presence has 8
soothing effect upon men. and many q
woman has listened to Cupid's honey
ed words as she sat at her kew, and
has found loving, honest husband in
a nearby telegraph operator. Tele
graphy isn't as prosaic work as some
people imagine. There is heap o
romance in it, What a book some Of
the old operators could write!'