The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-21
------s--al-s--
GIRLS As OFFICE BOYS.
They Are CrOwding Out the Dime
Novel Reading Youngster.

They Are CrOwding Out the Dime
Novel Reading YOunGster.
From the Chicago Times Herald.
The rising generation of femininity has
been invading fields hitherto regarded MS
peculiarly those of the boy, just as her
older sister. the new woman, has been ac-
ceptably filling positions, situations ana
professions which were formerly regarded
as suitable only for the male sex. The
office girl has appeared in Chicago the last
few months to take her place beside the
army of women stenographers and type
writer's.
No one knows exactly who began the in
novation. Perhaps the idea was borrowed
from the big department stores, which
employ cash girls almost exclusively. A
few years ago these stores used to en-
ploy boys, and cash girls were seldom seen.
But in course of time the cash girls be-
came more and more popular, until the
cash boy is now the exception, while the
cash girl is the rule
Much the same transition is predicted in
the ranks of office boys. The old-fashioned
Office boy, who swears, smokes cigarettes
and is impertinent usually, and reads dime
novels in corner or loafs when he Is sent
on some important errand, is fast disap-
pearing, and IL is predicted that in course
of time the office girl will have entirely
taken his place.
Office girls are now employed in a num-
Der of the offices in the big buildings down
town. The success of their sisters has sug-
gested the idea to other girls of invading
the field hitherto monopolized by their
brothers and earning more wages than are
paid to the cash girl Every now and then
a man who has put an advertisement for
an office boy in the paper finds among the
applicants a letter from a girl, or If he
asks that the boy apply in person one or
more girls are apt to be among the score
Of youngsters who answer the advertise
ment. At first the man does not take
kindly to the idea, and the would-be office
girl finds It difficult work to secure place.
The men are prejudiced against the idea,
just as at first the men were prejudiced
against the idea of employing women as
photographers or typewriters.
Those who have had office girls in their
employ are, however, very well pleased
with them, and most of them who have
tried office girls declare that never again
will they have an office boy around the
premises.
Most Of the office girls are ambitious.
They are like the Office boy of generation
or two ago, who entered the employ of his
master with a firm determination to rise
to the topmost notch. They realize that
in this day every occupation Is open TO
them, and that they themselves may be
lawyers, bankers, brokers. insurance
agents. or anything else, II they are able
to master the details of the business. They
therefore keep their eyes open and learn
all that they can about the business, that
they may put the ideas so gained into prac-
tice when there shall be an opportunity.
some years IN the future, for them to 20
into business OF some sort for themselves.
Most OF the Office girls Immediately be-
gin to qualify themselves for promotion.
They practice on the typewriter when they
have few moments 70 spare, and 50 quail
ify themselves for situations as stenogra-
pliers. Some of them have already learn
ed enough typewriting to gain an increase
Of salary and a position which calls for
more typewrtIng and less of the office
boys duties.