Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-10-20
BEAUTY IN BUSINESS GIRLS.
How Good Looks May Be . HsndIoap.--one
Case In Which It Wasn't

How Good Looks Nay Be . Hsndicap.--one
Case In Which It Wasn't
New Orleans Times-Democrat.
"You ask whether good looks are a
disadvantage to a girl in business" "
said comely young woman who now
occupies an important position in a
New Orleans mercantile establishment.
"That is a question that has been pro-
pounded before, and in a general way
would answer yes, decidedly. A few
years ago, however, when women be-
gan to enter business life in considera-
BILE numbers, the exact reverse was the
case. am still under 80; but remem-
Der distinctly when 1t was next to i'm
possible for homely girl to get a sit
uation. Good looks were insisted upon
in typewriters and stenographers, and
merchants were then under the impress
sion that pretty clerks brought trade.
It took some time to explode that idea.
"That pretty girls certainly attract
crowds to their counters. but they were
crowds Of dudes and loafers, who would
buy a scent paper Of pins and then
fiirt away 50 or 81 worth Of time, while
the women, who constitute four-flfths
Of the patrons of all retail stores, had
strong aversion to being waited upon
by professed beauty. Moreover, no
dependence was to be placed in the
clerks themselves. The handsomest
girls were pretty sure to be vain and
'touchy,' and when one proved really
valuable she was morally certain to
get married at the very time her SER
vices were most valued. So practical
men began to see that pretty girls did
not pay as cold business proposition,
and the same discovery was made at
the offices. Typewriting bellies made
more trouble than they were worth.
They demoralized their fellow employ
ess and created no end Of jealousy and
bitterness and friction. In many cases,
perhaps in most cases, the poor girl
wasn't in the least to blame. She could
not help being good to look at, and was
probably trying her best to attend to
her own affairs; but the idiotic men
wouldn't let her. However. results are
the only things that count in business
nowadays, and few years ago a big
reaction against beauty set in.
"Since then," the young woman went
on, smiling, L am sure that the feeling
has been growing steadily stronger and
stronger against the pretty girl in bus
mess. But please don't misunderstand.
I am referring altogether to the girl
who travels altogether on her pretti-
ness as the saying goes. A pretty
girl who doesn't make her good looks
obtrusive and who shows by her bear
ing that she expects to hold her posi-
tion by simple hard work, has just as
good a chance as anybody; but, un-
fortunately such girls are rare. A very
attractive young woman gets so much
attention and flattery that she has to
be exceptionally sensible and strong
minded not to have her head turned.
At present most stores prefer clerks
who are plain and ladylike in their ap-
pearance and who make no pretentions
to beauty. In the offices the feeling Is
still more pronounced, and many pro-
fessional men will not engage an aman-
the older the better. Let me give you a
little illustration: have younger SIS
ter, who-if I do say it who shouldn't
Is a real beauty. Sometime ago she
learned that the president Of big Ala
bama corporation wanted a private Sec
retary, and, being hignly competent,
she wrote, applying for the place. He
answered, requesting her photograph,
and we both got angry at once. My
sister happened to have an old tintype
that, somehow or other, made her look
like a perfect freak, and, as reproof
to the gentlemans frivolity she sent
that to him by return mail.
you may imagine our surprise when
he engaged her by telegraph. AS 1t
turned out, he didn't want a pretty
girl; but an ugly one, and when she
put in an appearance he came near
backing out Of his agreement. At last
he told her very gruff1y, that she might
try for a month, and, as she happens
to have a lot Of common sense, she has
given great satisfaction. But that case
will show you how men Of affairs feel
on the subject.
There is big store in Chicago that
employs about $50 girl clerks and used
to boast openly that there wasn't one
in the lot mat wasn't an admitted
beauty. T was in Chicago during my
vacation and visited that establish
ment to make some purchases. Upon
nv word, I thought I was in an old
ladies' home. The woman who waited
on me was so If she was day, and she
had a face like pair Of nut-crackers.
OF course that was going to the other
extreme; but I noticed that business
was something tremendous. Here In
New Orleans I think they struck the
happy mean. Our large stores contain
lots of pretty girls; but the fact isn't
featured as they say at the theatres.
You can see at once that no Importance
Is attached to it, and that brings me
back. by the way, to the starting point.
If a girl Is thoroughly capable and has
plenty Of tact and discretion, her good
looks will be no especial handicap in
earning living. Otherwise she is now
adays at a decided disadvantage, COM
pared to the girl who is homely and
industrious"