The morning call., 1890-09-02
GIRLS AS CLERKS.

Mr.. Robert p. Porter, Commissioner of
the Census, has made the men so mad by
his figures that he not unnaturally pro-
poses TO make friends among the women.
lie publishes statement that women are
better adapted for such clerical work as the
enumeration of the people than the male
sex. lie says kat the average number of
persons counted by his female clerks was
$500 families, or 1850 individuals, While
the average number counted by his male
clerks was only 65S7 families, or 32,935 indi-
yiduals In other words, the women did
so per cent more work than the men for
the same money. This is point worth
considering.
There are in the Z nited States thousands
OF men employed in clerical work as
cashiers, book keepers, and clerks of yaEi-
Gus classes. How many there were when
the census OF 1880 was taken it is difficult to
ascertain from the ponderous volumes which
contain the results of that enumeration, but
the aggregate must foot up in the hundreds
of thousands, if it does not reach seven
figures. There are mighty establishments in
this city which employ clerical force eX-
ceedlng one hundred persons, to say moth
ing of the railroad and of the Government
offices; and every merchant must have from
half dozen TO a dozen persons performing
services which require nothing but atten-
ton, accuracy, fidelity and good hand
writing. What is true of san Francisco IS
tue of all The other large cities. An army
of men cam their daily bread by doing
clerical work for others.
Now. if it Is a fact that women are the su-
periors of men in diligence when employed
in a clerical capacity, it follows that sooner
or later they will supersede men as clerks.
The change is going on before our eyes.
Many Of the cashiers in retail stores in this
city are females. They are chosen for such
posts because as a rule, they are at least as
accurate and as faithful as young men, and
also, we fear, in too many instances, be-
cause they command smaller salaries.
Women made their way into merchants
offices first as type-wrters. 1t was soon
discovered that bright girl could keep a
set of books as correctly and as neatly as
her brother, and from the date of that dis
covery women began to fill clerical positions
in merchants CONTINGENCIES. They are
now to be found in some of our largest
wholesale houses, in banks, insurance COM
panies, and even in lawyers Offices, where
they fill responsible positions apparently
to the satisfaction of their employers.
L
ground they have conquered, while the
prospect of their extending their conquests
in the field of clerical work is very bright
indeed. The example of France, where
almost all The book-keepers and cashiers are
women, points the way.
That the revolution which appears to be in
progress will have the effect OF reducing the
demand for young men for clerical positions
i lr,,bahlp Every reform works iuiurV to
some one. But if the young mems field is
narrowed by the extension of their sisters
opportunities. the ultimate effect will be that
a smaller number Of youths viii look to claT-
zeal work as a calling. aud a larger number
Will acquire some special mechanical or pro-
fessiOnai knowledge for the purpose of earn
ing their bread. And this viii be gain all
round The hoy who tries to gain his living
with 20 knowledge except that which he ac-
quirrs at school is NOT really fitted for the
battle of life. He is too ignorant TO get on
He can do nothing which gives him valid
claim on society for living He is worse off
than The shoemaker or the carpenter. 1t Is
only when he possesses some special knowl-
edge Of his own that he can feel sure Of his
power to earn his bread. knowledge, be 1t
of law, or of medicine, or OF mechanics, or OF
agriculture, or Of any one OF dozen arts
and sciences, commands money everywhere;
the youth who possesses it can snap his
fingers at the world.
If the gradual substitution of girls for boys
in clerical positions, while 1t swells the num-
ber OF young women who are not compelled
to marry for home, leads TO an extension
Of {, clinical education among young men,
the change will be benefit in every way.