The times., 1898-02-27
AS RAILROAD cHApERoSs.
Unique business Carried on Success
fully hy Three Women

Unique business Ca rried on Success
fully by Three Women.
As railroad chaperones Miss Zerelda
Wallace Beatty. Miss Emma c. Bing-
ham ana Miss Anna E. Brady hold
unique positions among women workers.
They are employed by one of the largest
railroad corporations in America TO ac-
company tourist parties sent out by this
road
Ladies by birth. breeding and educa-
ton. they are all exceptionally charming
and may be counted. in point of salary
and congeniai employment among the
successful business women of America
Miss Beatty when asked about her du-
ties as -chsperon. laughed and said:
''oh. they are only nominal; at least that
Is what I have been told by persons who
hear OF my frequent trips over the coun-
try and the number of agreeable people
| meet. But personally 1 would say my
duties are indescribable: first, because
they are innumerable. and second. be-
cause in "A great measure they depend on
what turns up 4 think you will readily
understand that the duties of trip
are seldom if ever duplicated. OF course
We never make two trips with exactly
the same persons under exactly the same
conditions
AT the beginning Of a trip 1 always
go through the formaiity of introducing
myself to every woman in the party. eX-
plain my position, and let her clearly an
derStand that it is my pleasure as well
as my duty to have her call for
any information or assistance during the
"trip. Where there are ladies travelling
tod
by a man, / make myself especially nice,
so they may feel no hesitancy of calling
on me about the most trivial occurrence.
''0f course, l often have the same per-
son go with me on different trips. i say
go with me. because they really make
their arrangements that they may go
on the trip where l am to be the chap
erone. This happens, am sure. as often
if not oftener, TO both of the other chap
erones, 2nd we know each others
friends quite Well
But to go back to my duties chap
erone: on the train I see that the ladies
have every possible comfort. If I notice
persons who give evidence of having
Travelled little before. | find occasion TO
be especially nice giving them ali infor-
nation desired and making them feel, as
far as possible at home with their sur
roundings. When we arrive at our desti-
nations. or AT a stop, ] see that every one
of my charges understand where they are
to he Quariered. for how long and at what
expense. OF course. this includes the
transferring OF their baggage. though
personally that is superintended by the
gentleman who accompanies each tour
the man chaperone' we may call him.
why couldn't a tour-be conducted en-
tirely by this man chaperone?' Well. /
suppose il could. but not with much
comfort, certainly to some ladies. as
when they have a woman TO call on
Then too. the girls. You have no idea
of the numbers of young girls. fresh from
school. often still IA school. whom / have
chaDeroned on my numerous trips, Why,
sometimes one would imagine me the
head of a large female seminary. OF
course. these girls are serious charges
and have 10 he looked after very careful
ly-at least. | might say. continually.
But class they give no more trouble
than the grown-up travellers and make
very charming companions. But I am
depressing again, describing my friends
our girl travellers nearly always become
friends instead Of my duties.
AT the end Of tour-that IS. at the
other end-every member of the party
is Informed where I can be found during
the entire stay. at what hour | VIII con-
duct them around the place we are Wis
iting. pointing out objects of interest. and
room in the hotel. Now don't under
stand. as many people do, that the whole
party Is expected 10 go cut sightseeing
with me whether they so desire or not
for such is not the case. They are per-
fectly free from my prosecutions. unless
they desire to be prosecuted. and need
not see me from the time they leave the
train until they return Even when on
the train. YOU Know, tourists are not
coy s.al l1.al IA coll
use their own pleasure. / am simply a
convenience there 10 be called on when
desired
%. YES. we have some very amusing
experiences. How could it he otherwise
when tell YOU that during the six years
1 have acted as chaperone | have been
TO Florida at least twenty-five times. to
California half as often, and, as for
Washington and othe~ short trips. ii
would be impossible for me to say with
out consideration and much looking back
\ ard have certainly seen and known
OF some very amusing occurrences. but of
course, il would never do for me to tell
you about them. What would my
friends say at seeing themselves writ
ten up.
so the only way to find out would be
TO take trip with me- And / would
advise you to select a Florida trip. There
YOU viii see the greatest number of brid-
al couples. You know we call ourselves
bride and groom protectors and on
some trips we certainly have our hands
full living up to that title, but never do
we forget our duties in that direction
Newly married couples are sacred, and we
see that they are never annoyed by prac-
tical jokes or otherwise.
You ask if 1 had any training for the
position. No. certainly not. Like other
women. when the necessity arose for
me to make my own living. / took the
first thing that offered. In my case the
first thing happened to be librarian in
my native town: then / had this position
offered. / took it. and here ] am | have
a vacation in the summer. travel back
and forth over the country the remaind-
er of the year. making myself useful to
other people OF course / make many |
charming acquaintances. and taken as a |
whole nay occupation is pleasant" |
Woman With a Check
CFrom the New York SUM-
\ n1iddle-aged spinster who wore glass |