The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-13

", OCTOBER 13. 1898.
stenogra pher and typewriter who
couldn't take and transcribe an ordinary
six-line business letter in proper fashion.
He just took their addresses.
The next conner was neat, nice-lock-
ing, brown-eyed girl in a navy blue tailor
made dress. The young woman was thor
oughly spick and span from The top al
grette of her shepherdess hat to the mill
tary heels of her weli-polished boots and
she carried herself like young woman
who had her working value appraised
down TO the final nickel.
Just observe this one" said the young
man, in undertone. TN bet you hat
she's a top-notcher."
The neat young woman walked straight
to the chair beside the young mans desk
and sat down. There wasn't a thing mill
tant in her air, but there was a whole
lot of business about her
Good morning." began the young man,
You"
Yes. I am seeking employment" said
the young woman. THE patent attorney
by whom I have been employed for the
psat few years is about TO remove to
Washington. 1 don't want to live my
where except in New York, and that's
why I am not accompanying him to his
Washington Office. I want to establish
myself in another position before his de-
parture. 1 am a first-rate stenographer
and an expert machine operator. l naVe
been getting $25 a week. I can't very well
expect TO get that much in starting over
again with another employer, but I'm
worth $50 a week anyhow, and that's my
figure. l am an all around clerk, and
know how to handle business papers.
can do any kind of shorthand work and
all kinds of typewriting. Have you any
places on your list that fit me, or that
l fit?"
Yes" said the young man at once
II think I have. You don't mind taking
a bit of dictaton, do you? l haven't the
least doubt in the world that you are all
right as 10 speeches and everything else,
but"
Certainly" replied the young woman.
Il want to be tried. That's what I came
to you for
The young man picked Ap copy of a
newspaper and turned over to the edi-
torial page. The young woman took a
notebook and pencil, and was ready.
Here's an editorial about the Philip
pines" said the young man, Suppose I
! just read some of that to you
by all MEANS replied the young wo-
man, confidently. Anything you wish "
1t is a curious objection to our an
nexation of all the islands that processes
to be based upon economy " quoted the
young man. 1t is pointed out that of
| the whole ia 900 square miles comprised
| in the Philippine Archipelago about 1900
| are outside of Luzon, and 1t Is alleged that
the reclamation, civilization and protec-
ton of this extensive area would impose
an annual expenditure which the insular
| government might not, for time, make
! good Got that?" inquired the young
man, looking up from the paper
The young woman was also looking up,
with her pencil poised
yes, and waiting" she replied. The
young man had dictated at the rate of
about 1876 words minute.
"Um-m. There's no use in going on
said the young man. Now, just tran
scribe that for me, please
The young woman walked over to one
| of the typewriting machines Her fingers
flew over the machine at merry clip. In
a bit less than no time she pulled the
page from the machine and handed it TO
the young man. The transcription was
| perfect in every respect. The head of
the employment bureau dictated direct TO
the machine. The young womans fingers
fairly danced over the keys and when she
had finished the page there wasn't even
a comma missing.
The young man wrote out the address
of a coal company, the offices of which
take up a whole floor of a downtown
building.
1.-THE secretary of that company" said
he, wants a correspondence secretary of
your capabilities. He's a very particular
man. I've sent him more than a dozen
young women. but none of them has serv-
ed. However, they were not so compe-
tent as you are, and l don't doubt that
you'll get the place and keep it. It's a
tirst-class billet. The salary, however is
not $40; it's $25."
The young woman smiled, took the slip
of paper, and went out Half an louI
later. she returned smilingly, said thai
she had got the place, and, thanking the
employment man graciously took heI
leave.
Now you've got the whole thing in a
nutshell, from personal observation" said
the young man in charge of the reporter
you've seen one waman out of sever
who's up to the work she undertakes &c
do. The proportion however, as 1 stated
to say, is smaller than that. About one
shorthand writer in ten. among men as
well as women-I am talking OF the peo
pie looking for works. efficient and worth
having around. The rest as 1 said. are
folks who have only half learned the bust
ness When you hear as you often do
from inferior unemployed stenographeri
that the shorthand business is overdont
in this town. and that shorthand writers
especially those in the amanuensis class
are expected TO work for little or nothing
you can just put that kind of talk dow
as pure nonsense. You'll often hear this
class of alleged writers of shorthand say
Six or eight a week is about the limi
for stenographers nowadays. Don't vol
believe a word of it,. I've got a list her,
now of employers who have asked me /,
get competent stenographers, men ant
women for them. They offer from SIS I,
$35 a week. I send these employers jus
the kind of people they want and I d.
not send them the kind of stenographer
who are always harping on the six-and
I eight-a-week proposition. l keep a separ
ate and distinct list of people who ar
willing to work for the inferior salaries
but l want to say, between you and me
that the people who work for the inferio
salaries are worth just what they can yet
An amanuensis stenographer who can
command SIS a week at the very lowest 1
not worth Office room, in my Judgment
There's just as much of a demand 70
competent stenographers there eve
was, and the salaries paid to efficien