Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09

music and other accomplishments that she
no longer possessed Imagination enough to
inspire an independent thought. She
couldn't suggest an idea strong enough to
stand alone. When she got stuck on her
notes she was absolutely hopeless, for the
context couldn't supply the vacant mind
with the missing word. Her fingers were
educated beyond the reach of the longest
step-ladder of her thoughts. She could run
that machine in the dsrk-while asleep, I
believe. But when 1 saw the difficulty 1
was compelled, and somewhat sadly, to let
her go.
A YOUNG MAN A NUISANCE.
81 had now become somewhat cynical as
to lady stenographers and tried Young
man; but he turned out worse than my girl
average. He was impudent. He left me
one morning without risking the time to
take the elevator. then wrote to one of
the schools-there are several big schools
here that turn out annual grists OF stenog-
raphers and typewriters. The principal of
the school sent me young lady whom she
designated as an expert. She was a lovely
girl, who instantly betrayed her satisfaction
at the large plate glass mirror In my office,
and sized up my clerk as possibly unmar-
ried and worthy of an impression. Yes. she
had some experience, she said, showing off
a set of exquisitely tapered fingers.
''She had left her last place because OF the
long hours. She loved stenographic work,
but hated typewriting-it hurt her fingers
so. The fingers showed long pink manicure
cultured nails. She thought she would like
this Job if-if il wasn't too hard work. On
trial she wrote. rapidly, but couldn't read
her notes readily. l sent her back and got
another-by special request this time not
pretty girl.
UGLY AND SMART.
"She was raw-boned and red-headed and
smart; but she was so nervous in her anxiety
to please that she spoiled 20 sheets of paper
to every 10 used. Indeed, paper seemed to
be no object to her. Whenever she made
cine and start in on fresh one, slappity
bang. You've seen the slappity-bang girl,
haven't you? She was one of that sort.
After two more girls from that school, tried
two more schools, tried five more girls-two
or three other girls friends were good
enough to send. Two were fairly good
stenographers and poor typewriters-thre
were good typewriters and poor stenog-
raphers.
FINALLY, after having been nearly crazed,
I got my present girl-excellent girl and
good all round. She's bright. intelligent
woman with an ordinary common school
education, perfect little lady, and will be
worth her weight in gold to the sensible man
who gets her for his wife. She's been with
me now over year."
WHAT THE TROUBLE IS.
"You see," remarked another gentleman
OF similar experience, "most of these young
girls who start in to learn typewriting and
nh
never read anything and consequently do
not understand the most ordinary language
used by mature people of varied informa-
ton. AS they do not know the meaning of
words they can't write the words out after
they take them down. These schools do
such girls more harm than good, for they
lead them to believe they can become ste
nographers by teaching them shorthand
writing.
Most OF these girls can't even spell with
ordinary correctness, anecessary and primary
accomplishment for stenographer. Then,
too, the common use of the typewriting
machine makes it quite as necessary for the
stenographer OF to-day to be a good type
writer. To employ these girls is usually to
teach them and pay tor the privilege OF
doing so. There are several thousand women
stenographers and tvpewriters in this city
working at from Sc to $15 a week-the aver
age $40. 1 doubt whether there are 12
women to the !, 900 of them who are really
competent, who can take testimony in court
or report proceedings and speeches of a
public meeting with reasonable accuracy"
AND NOW SHE'S GONE.
About three months subsequent to the
conversation which forms the body of this
article the writer met the lawyer who, after
so much trouble and tribulation, expense
and vexation of spirit, had secured the per-
feet girl-the girl who was to be worth her
weight in gold'' to some sensible man.
'I'm all broke up" said lie. "I've lost
that girl! Yes, sir, lost her-and through
my own Stupidity Lost her last weekl
Confound it! She's married! Yes, sir,
marriedp'
''Mnrried? Do welI?"
"Why, yes. She married that very fel-
low, you know, that 1 offered to introduce
to her-did introduce to her-the very day
1 was talking to you about my luckl What
do you think of me for fool? Oh, he's
nice fellow and he's got splendid wife, but
confound IL, look where 1 amp
CHARLES 7. MURRAY.