New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
AS PRIVATE SECRETARIES.
WOMEN HAVE A PECULIAR TACT MOST
SERVICEABLE IN SUCH STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL POSITIONS

when you ask me about the duties and qua'n'
cations necessary for private secretary SAID
woman who has filed such place for hfteen years
II suppose you mean the secretary OF business
man. Some wealthy women have private sesre-
taries. but | think the ladys companion usually
writes notes, sends invitations and attends 10 .
good deal of correspondence. so that secretary
proper is not required In these days the secfe-
tary must be stenographer and Vpe"n'e''
though she writes by hand many letters that W
not come under the head OF business correspond
ence She must be we'll educated In ordinary Ehs
fish branches and should have some knowledge Oh
French and German. at least. Added TO this TWO
qualities that are desirable for any woman In
clerical position. in any position. are absolutely
indispensable for the secretary. They are dlscre-
ton and a talent for classification; or. In othe1
words a methodical mind
"As TO discretion taking II for granted that the
secretary is honorable that she regards the conf
dences reposed in her professional secrets tha'
she Is aware she has no more right to repeat 10,
formation which she has received on account u
her position than she has 10 give away her eh''
ployers personal possessions. yet. II she Is hol u
Greet she may unwittngly reveal what she shou.N
have concealed. and thus do as much wrohs ~
effect as X she had deliberately betrayed uu'
She is so diplomatic complained an old frend %
the return Of n young woman who had gone aofoA u
as amanuensis TO a high official, she won w.
ANYTHING But It is better TO appear unduy 'e"'
cent than TO be indscreetly communicative
THE secretary OF well-known literary man
when asked about her employers plans laus""e.
quoted, II one knows II. It's J; II TWO h''o"
It's 2; but II three know II. It's 3 AS the'e a
persons who descend TO the kitchen or the lau"u,'
IN search OF information. who are not above GU
tioning the neighbors cook, washwoman or o'"..
domestic regarding family affairs. SO there as
persons who do not hesitate to seek know'eose "
a mans private or business concerns throus" o
who is in his confidence. and discretion Il IN, roi ihs
few days after took my place
my employer said. want you TO open my rsady
Letters q" m sye desk mOrn Mn private will
leave unopened How shall ! be sure W.T. Wiz SIDE
private Letters liter snd have found the advice
useful in many perplexing situations
THE REAL DUTIES.
AS 70 the duties OF private secretary 60.
tell YOU only OF my own. / write letters 'epO
etc from dictation. and, when desired S"s"
some letters without dictation When my e'"pV me
Is I'm Europe | attend to the correspondent rv
heat Of nv ability, send him a synopsis o. ec,nct
nor,ant letter and OF my answer and snsei no.
report OF everything OF special me core
spouScnce my principal duty is the care OF re-.
documents. the filing and indexing OF Lesn,ns 40
ports O of exp sSsaRsS o When transfer The con
tents OF a letter-fe In Its binding case , and
ypewrtten IN index ,on o. Of the e make
similar indexes for all documents that inSm,ntS
aies when anything is required at ill., IT., n is
notice a glance the index shows wns' sssvsral
and no time is lost by searching throusn, s s sane
Tias index the letter copying books ~ ~, care-
NV nv and Of course label all pigeon-hoies aIsry
fully also keep an address, boSk v an" to the
rca and an account OF important Intervene, 10
Not long ago a man who was required v 70 came
court the date OF his last visit 70 VA failed on
hat point. BY turning to the diary ! was "'
give him the d'te OF his call al our women are
o..o> far my experience teaCHeS' .hsent
more attentive TO details and are l less is N
minded than men. The housekeepi,ns 3, an Office, a.
4, ia in the methodica arrangement or n closets
affairs in the care OF the pan,Ty a su IN business
once 50 FAR as method and classification '''
cerned."