The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-29
made out by clerks

ERrrTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC
It was not exactly upon the day that GER
hin comments made by q St. Louis clergy
nan's wife found their wey into print, but
{ vaa shortly thereafter that determined
b try earning . livelihood In . business
Use
h/hat finally weighed with me, and turned
but half-fosmed resolution into a positive
determination was the chance meeting with
] girl whose usually calm eyes had look
h indignation and resentment IN them
Tho sirl-shS may stu be thought Of n
Erlish-has an once In the top floor Of
Hg ONCE building
It ID . sweet, clean Enthusiastically
here Ii a bunch Of violets on the desk, and
hero are pictures hung on the walls and
)ome notices Of an encouraging and philo-
optical sort-maybe q Line from Emerson,
r bit from Shakespeare, tackled up right
beer the telephone
To my certain knowledge, this girl Is a
tery capable stenographer and typewriter.
70 my certain knowledge, also, she has
helped her younger sisters through school
a fact has supported her widowed mother
md this rest: not always banishing tho wolf
hat prowied about the door to unreturnable
realms. but. nevertheless, staving OF his
attacks from year to year through much
personal Inconvenience and sacrifice.
This girls work began for those she loved
; good many years ago, when she put up
her blond braids to make herself look
Slder. set q ruffe down on one Of her skirts
Ind applied for the position of teacher In a
district school in Arkansas.
Since I have known of her and watched
her affairs in this big busy city. have put
her in the little list Of unsung heroines that
am compiling from everyday material
So. say. when this girls usually calm
tyes blazed with Indignation, listened
while she said:
THE girl who works-the business girl, It
emit fair and It isn't just to intimate that
fhe is unwomanly. 1t isn't fair to charge
her with being at the bottom OF the de-
line Of gallantry on the part Of men.
ITO say that men do not give her places
n the street cars because they are indiffer-
mt to her is not true. A real man, a gentle
man, will give his place to any woman
even to his laundress.
1.-THE men who remain seated while wom-
10 stand would remain seated Just the same
whether the women who entered the car
rter they were aboard were society women
r women who worked early and late for
bod, clothes. and the comforts of home.
There is nothing. about a business office
b make a woman lose her refinement, I'M
ess she wishes to have 1t So
Men are not ogres, and it is seldom that
girl in an Office meets anything but cour-
eous treatment"
ENCOURAGED TO
SEEK A POSITION.
The last statement of this busy girl en-
-ha-r nj Of 1od o1r 1afar
mined me.
/ asked her advice then. and, q moment
hter, her assistance.
1T have but three dollars" said, "left
rom my earnings In the factory. had de-
sided to devote this to car fare while looking
Tor a place in which a woman might earn a
living.
81 think that would like to try office
work. There is something so neat and or
serly about business office.
do you know of an opening, and could
gou recommend me?" I asked, expectantly
syeing my heroine Of the business world.
She glanced me over, her gray eyes once
more calm and steady, and to my surprise
said:
Yes, do know Of a place. and I believe
could recommend you. You do not under
stand stenography"'
no" confessed, but can run type
writer almost as well and fast as I can q
sewing machine. have a good head fol
figures. and wouldn't shirk work"
My heroine turned to her desk, and sal
still while her deft fingers played over the
typewriter keys. and wrote:
Dear Mr.. Blank: VIII you please at least
try Miss Margaret Jones In the place ir
your office that you told me was vacant:
Though she is inexperienced in Office work
I am quite certain that she will prove 9
capable assistant"
took this to Mr.. Blank, who SCENE;
pleased and glad TO see rue. and felt SURF
that my heroines Endorsement of me as G
capable clerk was sufficient recommends
ton.
found that my duties were to be making
circular letters, directing envelopes. goini
to the bank to deposit checks Cthis las
frightened ME BIT. for always did have I
fear of banks, feeling that they were bu
institutions established for the sole purpos
of making my most honest dealings II
money matters turn upon and accuse M
ef trvinr tn cheat and stean.