Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-16
WOMEN In BUSINESS.
THEIR IGNORANCE OF ITS WAYS AND
HOW THEY DISPLAY 1T.
Post-offlces and Banks Upset by the Guile
less Questions Of the Dear Crea-
tures-What They Want, &c.
written for the Dlspstoh.l

Not very long ago there appeared in
Good Housekeeping very interesting
article hearing the above title. Soon
after reading IL | heard from an eye
witness the following incident. which
seems to illustrate very forcibly the
truths embodied int he article referred to :
A young gentleman had occasion TO go
to the post-ofice in a large city to send
of money order to some one with whom
his firm had business relations. When
he reached the department devoted TO
that special branch he found the clerk
in very animated conversation with n
genteel, neatly dressed lady, who was
also trying to send off a money-order.
D1sMAY OF A PosT-oFFIcE CLERK.
She said:
81 wish to send some money to a
friend in Chicago. How must | do 1t y
There are two methods, madam, "
replied the clerk lone 10 a money-or-
dor and the other is a postal-note.
u want to send 1t on one OF those
blue things"
both Of them are blue, madam"
"What DO they cost ?"
"The money-order costs eight cents
for any sum under $40 ; the postal note,
three cents for any sum under 3.
(Which is the safest ?" 1.-THE money
order" After this came a labOrious ex-
PLANTATION OF the reasons for the positive
and comparative safetiness Of the two
methods. Then, and not until then, 1t
was revealed that she wished to send
9lI.5O, which. OF course, required a
money-order, rs no sum over - IS sent
by a postal-note. After asking for a
blue thing" she was quite unprepared
for the bringing out of n "whlte thing, "
and was appalled, to hear that the latter
was only an Qpphc0t'or for A money
order, all the blanks On which she must
fill.
ct have nv gloves on, won't you
write it for me-" she asked sweetly,
but the clerk pointed TO tho rule printed
on the application "Postnasters are
prohibited from filing up this blank
With a sigh she removed her gloves and
braced herself up for the ordeal. The date
and the sun we're set down safely, and
then she wrote the recipients name on
the line payable at, which necessl-
tated the tearing up of that paper, and a
fresh ono was produced.
DEEPER COMPLICATIONS.
Profting by this experience she went
on quite nicely until she came to her
"residencc, or place Of business. when
she remarked that she had 10 place Of
business and she lived at home. The
rest of the blanks being successfully
filled, the clerk took it, and after she had
handed in Sll.50 (plus 10 cents for the
money-o order, as the amount exceeded
clW be filled out the blue thing and
handed it to her. Folding 1t neatly, she
asked Do Just drop this IN the box? ~
We'll, hardly, madam, il you wish your
friend TO getit." What must ! do then ~
"You must get an envelope, address 1t
To your friend, enclose the blue
thing. and mail it to him."
"Will he know what to do with it after
he gets il ?"
With an inward conviction that if he
belonged 10 her tribe he might not
know. tse clerk ventured to say, Il hope
so. madam
She prepared to go. when sudden
thought struck her, and she returned TO
ask
"If the post-oGice breaks VIII I lose
my money ,
The clerk assured her that the United
States postal department was safe for
some time to come. so she tripped out,
leaving the clerk gazing after her with
folded arms This brief remark WAS not
intended for publication.
One must not imagine that such incl
dents occur only among uneducated
people, tor sometimes teachers them
selves betray the most profound limo
cenco N such transactions
A