The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-11
HOTEL LOBBY GLEANINGS
A sTENOGRAPHER TELLS HER
TROUBLES TO A REPORTER.
Young women who Write Letters
from Dictntion in Hotels Have Many
Experiences-HoteI Visitors.

The young woman who writes letters from
dictation In the hotel lobby and who is al
ways ready to listen 20 the troubles OF
others was in a reminiscent mood. 1.-The
hotel stenOgrapher." she remarked. biting
the end Of her pencil. 'is a sort of a mark
for those men who are strangers in town
and who want 20 while away some time in
feminine society. The hotel stenographer.
If she's good looking. is something like
woman on the stage and must expect to
come m contact with all sorts of people.
just while sso l refused polite invita-
ton 10 dinner tonight. and, by the way.
that's the most annoying thing the girl who
does public work In the hotel has TO deal
with. When a man dictates a letter TO the
hotel stenograDher he feels that he has
been introduced to her. and IL he has his
nerve with him he is liable TO say foolish
things TO her
Many men who are looking for sympa-
thetic ear come 10 the hotel stenographer
with their troubles. l had a case of it on
my hands during the conference of miners
and operators in this city. A very wealthy
mining operator came TO ne one day slight
~ in his cups. lie cOnfided to me that he
had been having trouble with his wifes-He
said she objected TO his drinking which he
did not do often. but sometimes he liked to
take nip. The night before he left for
the convention they had a quarrel, he said.
he told me that he came away declaring
he did not care IL ne never returned home.
Now. said he, 4 think that's bit hard
on the old lady, so l want you 10 just write
her a letter and i II put my name TO it,. He
told me TO make UP any sort of letter so
that IL would make his wife feel better,
and did so. j threw in q lot Of stuff tell
ing how sorry he was and how he lOnged
for the time when he should return. When
4 finished he said 10 all right and sent
the letter off I suppose. I've often wondered
whether the letter did the work all right.
Men frequently want me TO write letters
home for them. There colOred man IN
this town who must be a regular 'masher
In his way. Every now and then he comes
and emplOysNTne TO write letter TO one or
his numerous lady admirers | think 1t was
the last time he was in he instructed me TO
get up a letter for him and remarked. You
KANT make IL too hot laid myself out on
that letter, and it's wonder IL didn't burn
the hands of the postman when he deliv-
cred il.
You see. a stenOgrapher in a hotel has
10 be not only a tactful person, but she
must be able read human nature a lit
tie. For instance, there are a lot of men
who dictate letters who are not very par
ticular about their grammar. It's been
Eood while since thew were in school and
they haven't kept UP IN the usage OF per-
sonal pronOuns. etc. The stenographer must
read her man. and In some instances il
would be fatal mistake 10 correct the En-
glish dictated by some men. They are
sensitive and wouldn't stand for il. In that
case the stenOgrapheT must write as the
man dictates. and sometimes IL goes terribly
against the grain 10 allow a letter TO go out
81. however, to save some ones feelings and
our jobs"