The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-05-06
WOMEN AS GUIDES.
why They Are Employed at the bureau
Of Engraving and Printing.


Of Engraving and Printing.
The bureau Of engraving and printing
is the only place in Washington or any
other we'll known place Of interest where
young women are employed az guides.
The guide is an important person &c
all visitors and sightseers His effective
ness hangs on his ability to spin the
lost extraordinary yarns, TO always |
70 an answer ready, whether correct
not, and the man who can pour the
most information into a tourist in the
least time is the one who flourishes.
That is the regulation government
guide But the bureau of engraving and |
printing prides itself on superior brand
of guide in the shape Of six southern
young women, Miss Fannie Gilman,
Baltimore; Wilhelmina Ballman of
Washington Mrs. Diana Danforth, For
est Glen, Md. : Mrs Myrtle Duffy,
Wheeling; Miss Mccarthy, Washington,
and Mrs. Lottie Adams Of Tennessee,
who act MS ushers to all visitors to the
bureau. OF course the place where the
government makes its money has an
overpowering attraction to people from
all over the country, and ON account
of the work done in the building more
than the usual care has to be taken as to
the admission of visitors Indeed it is
almost as hard for person to get out as
to get in if he or she has been allowed
to walk through the main halls alone to
call on an office clerk.
Visitors who are taken into the work
ing sections are subjected to closer scru-
tiny than they would relish if it was
suspected. These six young women are
model guides. They are not appointed
just to positions as guides. They have
passed civil service examinations and
been appointed to actual labor in the
mechanical divisions.
The best guides are those who have
worked in the greatest number OF diff
ferent divisions, SO that they are able to
/ impart information because they under
stand precisely what operations are be-
I ing carried ON and can answer questions
intelligently.
Once years ago men were employed
| for guides, but mans work costs more
than woman's labor, and so some bril-
liant chief determined to try girls. 1t is
utterly impossible to allow ordinary
guides such as are admitted in other de-
partments to be about among the work
going ON. 1t must necessarily be some
responsible employee, and not only does
the bureau pride itself ON its detailed
corps Of young ladies, but visitors in
variably exclaim: ooh, she's girl
guide. I'm so glad. I'm tired of men. y
"It's not hard work physically, only
we do wish sometimes that people would
ask new questions, said one Every
body asks Just the same questions. We
always know beforehand what to ex'
pect. "
do you ever give visitors souvenirsY
The six looked at each other merrily.
"There that's one Of the usual ques
, tons Give them souvenirs 1t would b'
more than our heads are worth to try it
D Why, every scrap of paper here has to b'
accounted for, even those that are spoil
) ed Everybody wants souvenir, som'
U little thing like 500 bill with onl.
o one side engraved, or some other trifie
+ And sometimes they do get awfully maC
with us because we can't yield If the.
want souvenirs, they have to buy then
} on the steps outside. "
"Do you think you are smarter THAI
men guides?"
"Of course we aren t conceited. You,
better ask the chief. l can tell you
though, that five of us have handled so,
visitors in a day. The captain of tn
watch divides them up into squads a
large as we can conduct around. Yol
see we are expected not only to give tn
information, but also to keep our eye
ON every motion, because visitors are de
termined to have souvenir somehow o
other and don't stop to think it is al
absolutely necessary rule Of the burea'
not to allow them to take anything
away.
"The hardest thing, though, said
pretty blond haired widow, sis to refus
the gifts visitors want to make u.s. c
course we are paid for our services an
are not allowed to accept presents {
money or anything else. Some peopI
really become quite indignant at thai
and droll things result. One wester
woman to whom had given more tim
than customary because she had aske
NJ sensible questions wanted to give N
some money and then offered me oth'
things. OF course tried to explain thu
it was against the rules of the bureau
. when she took out package of chewir
IS gum, We'll, I guess they won't min
IS you re taking some gum.
% Mrs. McQURK.