The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-11
WOMEN SPELL BADLY.
1t is Said That Some of Them Write
LudicFOus Business Letters.
From the Philadelphia Press.

From the Philadelphia Press.
Women spell badly-the majority of
them. They write ludicrous business let
ters. One hears this sentiment on every
hand among business men, and especially,
too, among the different class of women
who have in hand the examination of
young girls aspiring to a professionally
that of a professional nurse, librarian,
etc.
And in this age when we hear so much
and so often about the rafting pace with
which woman is hurting herself into mans
domain, its truth or its falsty is rather
important. For what will it avail wo-
man if she knows the ms and outs of
esoteric Buddhism and is not familiar
with the gentle art of the pocket diction-
airy?
But to come down to statistics. When a
few months ago l went among the best
known and most successful nurses, con-
cering the question, What qualities are
most necessary to make a good nurse?'
/ was met on all hands by the following
Notifying information, worded more or
less similarly:
Eyes. We have hundreds of girls come
to us each year in order to pass hospi-
tai examinations for the nursehood-
bright country girls as nice as we could
ask. But an examination in common
school rudiments is necessary. This much
knowledge of elementary studies should
be possessed before the girl arrives at the
hospital. But in so many cases 1t Is just
the opposite. You would be surprised to
see the spelling and phrasing of those
intelligent-lool1ing girls. 1t is awful, 10
saw the least. Not ona-half, nor nearly
one-half, of the young women VINO tulh
up here and want to be admitted to our
training school can write Il short l1tei
through without a couple o1 orthographl-
cal errors. "
On inouiring of the women who have in
charge the examination for entrance TO
the library course in some CT the large
philadelphia institutions, the report was
lamentably the same. Hundreds OF girls
fail with us, of course, on account OF lleu
wretched photography. And WfetcAeu II
the name for it. You see, We are hot
here for the purpose of teacnihS youhS
women the rudiments of spelling Ihey
don't come to us for that. They come
n nc for work. 1t is understood that
thew know enough of other things 70 De
gin TO grasp our branch OF LABOR res
wish could show you some of the letters
which our young aspirants lt7 am
think they are really spelling
Tnouiring among business men who
have occasion to employ young Slrls az
for instance, several managers OF large
dry goods houses etc, the question evok-
ed a smile do girls spell badly!
should saw So whether it is worse than
the average boy will not say doh
saw the Young boys and men whom e&-
arotpe are paragons in that direction, but
onlv that the girls certainly are not. They
don't know the most ordinary rules ana
laws. Or they don't put them IN prac-
tice."
In almost every case the examiners
agreed that it is seriously against any
fo
particular. at looks so ignorant doh
Won know" said one of these authorizes.
1T suppose in many cases girl spels
incorrectly because she doesnt thlnk, but
then il is to her own interest 10 tnlnK' 10
think carefully and constantly. we are
business enterprises-not klIueIsa teils.
And even in this end of the nineteenth
century. that episode which many women
call a business letter" is severe penallE
unon the sex Women are not one WHIT
afonder Of gossip than the average man
This fact is true in spite OF what song
and Jest and silly and TRADITION may
contain to the contrary. But why VIII Wo-
men-why will they?-say everything pul
what is important upon the taps? Every
thing but exactly what you really ought
10 hear. Everything but what they SAT
down 10 write! And then call the result
business letter" She rides a wheel 5ns
drives tandem, orders a dinner. She
makes a railroad journey She packs va
Iise. She swims. she shoots She goes
a-fshing She does all these with me
sang froid and knack of an odd hand
But few-few and far between-are me
women who can write a good, short crisp
up-to- the-point business letter.
yes If the new woman wants to be
really progressive she must learn to doh-
bile her final consonant at the proper time
and season. She must be mistress OF the
mysteries of foreign plurals and OF ne
ie and ell And before She can actually
pat herself well upon the back she must
he competent TO write a good business
letter.