Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-07

had llttle 70 40. some Oh the women
we're handsome. All we're hastily
dressed. The majority looked rosy and
healthy. They all wore a iaunty air as
we'll as ~fashionably cut gowns. Some
we're busy sending or receiving mes
sages. Those who hadn't any messages
to send were reading books or papers.
Some were engaged in fancy work or
knitting. 1t was a great big happy
family. and the occasional ring of a
woman's musical voice was heard above
the Niagara of clicks.
rs the telegraph business a good one
for women to engage in?' | asked him.
Yes was Mr.. Dealy's reply. "A
woman who is smart and quick aud
wants to earn her own living a do so
very comfortably If she be a good ope-
rator.'
Does the supply equal the dcmand?"
eyes. a dozen times over, but good,
smart women are always wanted. We
receive IA great many applications from
| women who want work. They come
from all parts of the country and are
carefully filed away AS soon IA "a va
| Cancy occurs we take the first applica-
tion on file and give whoever happens
to he that lucky heroine the first nance.
We have applications on file now from
received full II year and a half
ago"
What line is necessary to prepare u
young woman for a telegraph o~perator?:'
That depends. A naturally smart
woman will learn much faster than Il
woman who isn't quick and ambitious.
Much depends upon their previous edu-
cation. Women well versed in a variety
of subjects, who can read difficult man
uscript, who can spell correctly, who
can supply deficiencies in messages. in
IL word, women who are smart can be-
come good operators in u year. Others
require from one to three years to be-
come firSt-class operators. Women are
oftener more reliable than men, and we
have some h are quite as expert as
their brothers of the key. How are
women paid? Beginners are paid Sl5 a
month. When they can operate fairly
we'll their pay is increased to $50 per
month. Then us they improve they are
still further advanced until they reach
the average pay-from $50 to $75 per
month, according to experience and
ability. Women operators work niue
hours n day. usually from 8. a. IN.
to $50 p. m, with u half-hour
at midday for lunch. They are
shown no more favors than the
men. They are required to keep their
wires clean of messages. When they
! tlS h'u 'hShS'' bli'N may ~ C'N
or sew, paint, do fancy work or what
V else they choose. Yes, we have q
good deal of talent here. Any number
of our operators earn money after theil
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 opera
tors is Mrs. w. f. Randolph. She is g
widow and sings in Plymouth church
choir. She is also u very clever verse
writer, and u poem she wrote at the
time of Henry Ward Bcecher's death
attracted IA good deal of attention. She
has been an operator for many years
and is u good one, too.
"My long experience has taught me
that, III many respects, women opera
tors are better workers than men, but
altogether not so useful. They are
steady. give no trouble. are absent les,
frequently that men, Il seem to feel ;
keencr responsibility. Quite a number
of I'M operators have been with u:
for ten years. Their work gives Their
"a deep insight into human nature. The,
learn to carry themselves with dignity
They cast aside all frivolous ideas
They make good wives, and their worl
does not unfit them for feminine duties
Scandal? No, sir. Never heard of an,
in all my long experience here. Thei'
presence has II soothing effect upon men
and many a woman has listened t.
Cu2id's honeyed words Is she sat at hel
key, and has found an honest, loving
husband in a nearby telegraph opera
tor. Telcgraphy isn't as prosiac worl
as some people imagine. There is
heap Of romance about it. What a bool
some Of the old operators could write.