The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-06-07

of the woman smirched by the constant COM
panionship of those whose lives perhaps have
not been so carefully shielded from evil, and
have been forced by circumstances too early
into the weary struggle for existence. No
matter how innocent she may be upon en-
trance, she never leaves the same in point of
knowledge of evil, and the eyes once opened
to the comprehension of wrong doing are
never again the same clear depths OF inno-
cence. | do not speak from personal expert
ence,'' she added, 'for have never yet met
with aught but courtesy from those with
whom have been daily associated in my
work, but simply from knowledge of cases
under observation, and / do not hesitate to
add that in almost every instance the woman
has herself to blame in great measure should
she be approached in any spirit of disrespect,
for man will seldom attempt to insult one
for whom he feels proper respect"
"There is no excuse for woman of expert
ence and self-respect meeting with anything
but respect" said one of the clerks, "and
when hear complaints from ladies employed
in the division | always feel confident that
there is something wrong with the individual
and not with the authorities. The Land Of
flee is but small branch Of the thirteen or
more divisions in the Department of the In
terror, yet am convinced that 1t truthfully
represents each and all of the others so far as
its workings and official management is con-
cerned and just estimate may be made of
every branch through consideration of the
one'
THE CENSUS GIRLS.
One of the most refined and discreet young
women of my acquaintance has for year or
so past been in the charge of section in one
of the most important divisions of the Census
Bureau, some of which are run exclusively by
women, the majority of whom are young and
pretty-in a number of cases the woman
taking precedence of the male clerks and out
rank them in regard to salary and responsible
ity Mr. Porter, am told, being of the opin-
ion that clerk should be salaried according
to merit, without regard to the sex of the in
diVidual, and promotions among the ladies are
rapid and frequent. Mrs. Laura Blunderson
is chief of the Insurance Division, which is one
of the best managed divisions in the office.
Very many section chiefs are women, many of
whom are comparatively young, yet prove
| efficient chief clerks. | asked of my friend in
| the Bureau of Vital Statistics her opinion
in reference to the work of ladies in the De-
partments.
~ think" she replied, "that the women
clerks in the Census Bureau are ranked higher
than in any other Government Office. There
are forty ladies in the Statistical Branch alone,
many of whom are the most refined and
| delicately nurtured in the country. A number
| OF the young girls under my charge are
| fluent linguists, having been educated abroad
and had every Improvement of mind, yet
| forced by circumstances to accept positions
under the Government AS a general
rule the work of these women aver
ages far more than that of the ma
jorty of men employed. AS to the risk
run by young girl in office, have found by
personal experience that woman must
rely largely upon her own dignity and self
respect. If she behaves with propriety she
seldom has just cause for complaint, and may
always expect to be treated with the respect
due her But naturally where SO large mum
Der of women are congregated for the greater
portion Of each day, there must be more or