The national leader., 1889-04-20
Girls as Typewriters.

We judge from present indications
that the time is not far distant when
the typewriter will come into general
use in all offices and business houses;
and girls who have acquired skill in
shorthand and in the use of the type
writer, and possess the requisite literary
qualifications, will never find it diff
cult to obtain employment. To per-
sons who are preparing themselves for
this pursuit, as well as to those who are
already engaged in it, it may be mat.
ter of interest to know what about the
average speed of Stenographers and
Typewriters is in actual business en-
ployment. And here at the outset we
wish to say that we can not depend
upon the statements of the the social
ed experts, who delight to parade in
newspapers their wonderful feats at
prize contests. There is always so
much humbuggery connected with such
contests that we can learn nothing
from them that is of any practical
value in business, unless, indeed, it be
the Importance of being constantly on
the guard against having the wool
pulled over our eyes. Business letters
do not on an average contain more
than 125 words, and persons who can
write such letters correctly on the type
writer at an average speed of 20 to 30
words per minute, may justly be class
ed among the best typewriters known
to the business circles of Philadelphia
and New York. We have made pretty
extensive inquiry into this matter, and
we know whereof we affirm.
At even much less speed than this,
the typewriter is by far preferable to
the pen in all work which can be done
on it, on account of the compactness
and legibility of the work. The time
usually gained IN writing rapidly with
the pen, is lost in reading it, on ac-
count of its illegibility. In this con-
nection we cannot do better than give
an extract from an address of General
Wingate, delivered to class of girl
stenographers, and published in the
Penman's Art Journal of New York:
/ can honestly say that the introduc-
tion of women into offices has done
much to improve their character. The
general tone, the gentlemanly conduct
of the employers and employed, has
greatly improved, owing, as l believe,
to the presence OF ladies.
Those in the offices where they are,
have ceased to use Objectionable Ian
guage, as men are apt to do when left
to themselves, and even the heads of
the establishment are compelled to
keep a control over their tongues and
temper, which is wholesome disci-
pline, and in all ways the moral and in
tellectual tone of the Office has been i'm.
proved.
But with all this, must say that the
lady stenographers are not as careful
and as thorough as they might be in
their work, so that as class they rank
lower than men.
Their greatest drawback is their
carelessness, or, may say, lack of at
tention.
They do not put down exactly what
is told them. and when they come to
transcribe their notes, they are too apt
to write anything that comes In their
heads, without using the commonsense
that male stenographer is expected to
use. The man seems to have a clearer
apprehension of what is required. and
what the writer desires to convey, and
transcribes his notes accordingly.
The average girl is too apt to write