St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-23
A Minnesota POLITICAL INCIDENT.

~ lSthIN U ~ ~
Indeed, he assured me that he had about
three calls for every finished shorthand
writer whom he could graduate.
| interviewed all the other teachers
with about the same result. Pictures
of speedy success and prosperity, re-
curing only a comparatively small out
lay of labor and cash, fairly daZzled my
mind.
But just day or two ago l saw
more than dozen bright young girls
looking for places, and they claimed to
have received training in business col
legeS. What was the reason they
couldn't obtain emplOyment?' / asked,
wishing to be sure about the result be-
fore entering college.
We had long argument, but finally
the professor said plainly: mot every
girl makes a success of StenOgraphy.
She may take dictation rapidly, but that
is not sufficient. She must understand
grammar and punctuation. A kn0Wl-
edge of business methods is indiSpen-
sable. With those attaInmentS, young
lady is assured"Of success.
That's rather a formidable array of
facts" l suggested. 'HOw is one to ac-
quire all those other qualities besides
shOrthand?'
Still the professor argued that all
those requisites could be learned even
by the most ignorant and simple maiden
if she would spend an extra term or two
at the college. Of course, this inStruc-
ton would be an added expense.
GETTING To BE A CRAZE.
Next day, after the above discussion,
happened to meet business man who
had much experience in hiring girls and
ought to know something about it. This
is the way he stated the case: Its
getting to be a perfect craze among
girls to get some kind of light employ
ment where the work will be easy and
wages good"
Il don't see anything wrong in that
ambition" | said. 'Why shouldn't a
girl educate herself to fill good posi-
ton and earn wages enough to enable
her to enjoy some of the comforts and
luXurieS of life?"
81 didn't wish to give you the impress
sion that it was wrong for girl to be
ambitious to better her condition. 1t is
only natural and right that she should
do so if possible. But feel sorry for
girls who have pinched and saved in
order to learn shorthand and after
wards found it impossible to retain a
position because their general infOrma-
ton and knowledge of business was so
limited that their work was of no use to
the busy employer" said this mer-
chant.
NATURAL APTITUDE NECESSARY.
"Granted that girl receives a bust
ness education, is she then sure of sue
cess?' asked of an expert stenogra-
pher who is earning SIS month.
Natural aptitude has much to do
with success" said the lady. Not
every girl can learn business forms. or
even become fast writer, You'll find
| that about one girl in ten makes a sue
cess of the work and command from $50
| to 500 a MONTH"
"If that statement is exact, then it
would hardly pay girl of ordinary ed
ucatiOn and ability to attempt the
task" REMARKED.
NY informant assured me that she
| spoke from experience, and carefully in
| VeStigated the matter. As a result can
state that l found only three or four
ladies who receive 500 per month.
! About the same number receive SIS per
month and few more at sos. Ladies
who receive such wages possess unusual
| aptitude for their business and their
work involves responsibility and the
| greatest accuracy.
| Adv AN lAGES AND
But what of the large number of girls
who hold positions in ordinary houses?
l have met them and can truthfully say
| that their work has its own diSadvan-
| tages. Of course, nearly all have a
| clean, we'll lighted and nicely furnished
| Office in which to work, but they are not
| always happy for a. that. One says: 81
have worked here two years and my
wages have not advanced beyond $50
per month";"
| ''Why is that?"
because the firm say that they can't
afford to pay more. In fact, the work is
not worth any more to them, and if ]
am dissatisfied, why they can get a
| graduate fresh from the business col
lege to take my place; so stay, al
though the wages are not satisfactory.
''HoW many hours do you WOrk?''
"The work isn't at all arduous," she
said, perhaps not more than six
hours of the day; but l have TO be here
nine hours every day, and sometimes /
had rather work steadily, for then time
would pass more quickly"
"Of course you don't have to work
evenings?" l asked, more from habit
than curiosity.
Eyes, often L have to stay an hour OF
two in the evening, but l wouldn't dare
complain or ask for that time" she
said.
.'Why not?" queried.
because my employer says that he
allows me so much spare time during
the day that of course l won't object tC
making up some of that time by work.
ing evenings"
WORKING OVERTIME.
find that large number of the stem.
ographers work evenings on about The
same principle. They don't complain
much, but if / spent my day at the place
of business l wouldn't feel under any
particular obligation to work evenings
in order to show my gratitude for hay
ing to sit idle during the day when
light work would be much more pleas
ant than enforced idleness.
| Nearly all the girls seem to be treated
kindly and courteously by their EN-
ployeTs. Some who are not used tC
working for themselves seem to fee
hurt because the wealthy employer
doesn't introduce bis daughter to them
but the employers son is apt to seek &C
Quaintance without that formality. But
these are trifies light as air.
| MUST DRESS WELL.
1 1 do fbiuIy hn M