Middletown transcript., 1893-11-11

i \ OhtOoo OPAoolCa
us;-I written in the
past generation and then contrasting
them with the little scrappy notes
scrawled in the very illegible hand
writing Of to-day.
Within the last few years the utter
impossibility of any society woman at
tempting to keep up her own cores
pondence has been thoroughly proved,
and of all the fields of employment
open to women that of private secre-
tary is most desirable and one of the
most remunerative. 1t is post which
requires business ability, great tact, a
clear handwriting and a thorough
n owledge of composition. The
schools and colleges are beginning to
realize how important it is to train wo-
men to fill these very positions, for
every year sees the demand increasing.
Some women require that their sec
retaries shall write hand precisely
like their own, so that notes of a most
intimate character can be answered by
the secretary without giving offence, as
would probably be the case should the
receiver for an instant fancy that any
one than the person to whom the let
ter had been sent had answered it.
OF course this position requires the
most absolute trust, for the secretary
is. of necessity intrusted with the most
intimate affairs of her employer. The
world has certainly changed since the
time when it was generally believed
and universally stated that no woman
could keep secret, for many are the
cases in New Y York where another person
has charge of my lady's private affairs,
and never has there been known time
as yet when such confidence has been
abused.
In Washington this sort of work is
more generally done by women than
New York. There the social duties
are SO onerous that it is sine qua non
that all society women should have
secretaries. It is said in many cases it
is absolutely necessary that there should
be lady well versed in social codes to
direct the working of the necessary
notes.
There is story which is often quoted
of noyeau richie who engaged as pri-
vate secretary quite swell woman who
was suddenly forced to earn her own
living. The first order given was that
a letter of coincidence should be writ
ten. The secretary, somewhat abashed
asked if there was anything particular
to be said.
'Well, no; just tell EN- Pm awful
sorry the corpse couldn't have waited
until after my reception before she
to die."
The bewildaTed secretary decided it
was best to follow out her own ideas
IS to the proper style of coincidence,
and the result was highly satisfactory.
Emma Calve, the opera singer who is
SOON to make her first appearance in
America, has somewhat varied career.
The was born in the South of France
md passed her early years in Spain.
She was the child of poor parents and |
'ather delights to call herself peasant |
till. She resembles one in her strong
and vigorous powers. She
probably owes this to the hardship of her
,arly life,
The only time she went regularly to |
chool was from twelve to fourteen |
ears of age. After that her mother
ook her from the convent and they
ived together in Paris. All dty the |
,reat singer served in lingerie shop
nd in the evening she took singing
essons. Her mother never allowed
er to depart from this daily routine
nd she was forced to live under iron
ound rules. Emma rebelled every now
nd then, but the maternal discipline
revailed.
At eighteen she began her musical
areer as Marguerite in 'Faust. . She
7as successful, but at the same time
erceived her limitation. So, after a
our, she returned to Paris to study.
he sang in uninteresting parts, made
little money, worked hard and be-
anne discouraged. Meantime her voice
1as really improving. and little later
be made an italian tour which was
complete success. Now she has