The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-08-02
TOLD OF TYPEWRITERS.
Conditions Influencing the Chance 9
OF Women In Search Of Work.
oems Fscts which May Be Of Service to
Thoss Contsmpisting Learainy the
Trads-Ths Kind OF Women
That L. Wanted.

10 discriminate between pretty, young
girls and women of mature age?" New
York Sun reporter asked man who Is
brought into daily relations with en-
ployers and who has helped hundreds
of women To secure places.
Generally speaking" was the
reply, when the same degree
of fitness is shown business men
make little or no discrimination,
but there are scores of firms in
the city who prefer mature women. My
observation satisfies me that any wom-
an under forty who has ability, vivacity
and neatness of appearance stands on
precisely the same plane as the younger
sisters of her profession. Too many
women who follow this pursuit lose am
bition in their work when they reach
the age of thirty, because they see all
about them host of girls fresh from
school earning perhaps the same pay as
those far more experienced. The rea-
son an inexperienced girl receives this
consideration is that when first enter
ing upon Office duties she takes great
pride in her work and her employer
feels that she can then be relied upon
and has no serious thoughts of marry
ing for at least few years.
The age at which most young wom-
en- commence the practice of stenogra-
ply and typewriting ranges from seven
teen t. twenty-three years, and as COM
paratively few remain in offices longer
than five years, ii is naturally inferred
that those who have reached mature
womanhood have long since passed the
period of their first business zeal, and
therefore cannot be counted on as per-
manent. 1t is found, too, that in mat
tiers of correspondence every business
man has his idiosyncrasies, be they inn
portant or otherwise, which bis en-
ployes must respect, and beginner is
apt To conform more closely to the
specific methods and details required in
her work than one who for years has
known other forms and customs from
which she finds il difficult to free her.
self. Despite this there are doubtless
from three to five hundred women in
this city above thirty years Of age who
pursue shorthand and typewriting for
livelihood, though it is believed that
not one in one thousand commences the
study after she has reached this age.
The few who do are oftentimes women
who have been thrown by domestic cir
cumstances upon their own efforts and
who do not seek the profession either
because of special adaptation or love of
the work.
The reporter was told, also, that some
men favor the employment of young
women because they are less trouble
some than their elders in demanding
short hours and frequent holidays. At
the beginning Of her career girl has
not learned to annoy her employer with
the daily request: May go at three
this afternoon" or: do you mind if L
leave this work till tomorrow" She
is content to do whatever is assigned
TO her, is always alert and neatly at
tired, and is as yet ignorant of the
tricks of the trade. On the other hand
a woman with several years experience
is better able To Judge the mood and
temperament of her employer, and
knows when to interrupt or offer a
suggestion. She is never clustered and
seldom undertakes a task beyond her
power, and her superior capability is
always shown in the finished docu-
ment.
II is a characteristic mistake of be-
ginners to look upon their ability to
take dictation as the only essential con-
dition and to regard typewriting as of
secondary Importance. Their ideas also
of punctuation and the typographical
appearance of letter are often de-
fective; while the mature operator who
has been trained in her work knows
the importance of this part of it and
realizes better that 1t is the typewriter
sheet that proves her competence, not
the pages of shorthand, about which
her employer knows or cares nothing.
Investigation indicates that personal
beauty in women is not essential TO OBJ
tanning the place of stenographer or
typewriter. In many places, particu-
larly in large Offices and banks, where
there are young men clerks, mature
women are desired, and often those of
plain appearance. The books of an en-
ployment bureau show that when a
woman's application Is filed for refer
ence no note whatever is kept of her
personal appearance, but merely a
plain statement Of her speed and ex-
perience and the salary expected. II
is none the less true, however, that
among stenographers and typewriters
good judgment in matters of dress and
bearing goes long way toward giving
an impression of neatness and civility,
and often overweighs shortcomings
which might otherwise be detrimental
to the applicant.
The women in this business who give
promise of being permanent employees
are nearly always preferred, and one
who possesses proper qualifications and
sufficient determination need have nc
difficulty in finding a place where her
services will be well appreciated and
paid for, whether she be twenty OF
forty years of age.
Mail In tho Navy.