The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-07-14

presence the employee needs to get
away home or to his pleasure as soon
as work can be dropped without fear
of reproof.
One of the non Disqualified
lions of the clerk is his inability to
write a good hand. Training counts
here again, for the reason that q per-
son knowing himself TO be lacking in
handwriting can take it up at home.
If necessary, and equip himself with
the best p~enmanship. A life insurance
company calling on an employment
agency for two men the other day
caused the agency to search through
more than 100 qualifications in order
to find one man whose penmanship was
up to the standard.
Handicapped BY Poor Penmanship.
In one of the big auditing Offices OF
the country the complaint Is that a
lack of a good business hand is the
chief obstacle in the way of the Of
fees getting help. This inefficiency
with the pen is laid to the public
school system, almost without excep-
ton. 1t is the one shortcoming of
nearly all beginners in clerical posi-
lions, and, aside from personality. 1t is
the thing of first consequence to the
average employer. In the order Of ne
cessity on the part of the applicant he
should rank in Denmanship, be accu-
rate AT igureS, M should have q per-
sonality that would stand the test.
whether impresslonistic or lasting.
AS to the personality of the man or
woman there Is nothing calling for
handsome face and figure, considering
the average call for help. Work ac-
complishcd is Of first consideration,
and neatness and dignity are all that
will be required of the most exacting.
1t is possible that an even shabby suit
of clothes. well brushed and showing
care. might produce a better effect up
on a would-be employer than the new
est and tiashiest clothes could do. But
at the least the young mar can be
well brushed and his shoes can be
shined.
Loyalty Covers a Multitude of Sins.
The applicant for the average clerk
ship regards his position too. lightly.
Maybe he feels that no contract binds
him to his place and that there are
thousands of others in the streets out
side who would be glad to wrest his
place away from him. Yet l know a
wholesale firm here which employs
nine bookkeepers. and five of these nine
nave been with the firm more than ten
years. This Is a credit to the book
keepers no less than to the discrim-
nation OF the persons who may have
employed them. Considering that now
after ten years one of the positions
should become vacant the person who
would be chosen to the place might ex-
pect to be pretty well suited to the
employer In order to be allowed to step
into one Of their pairs of SHOES.
Perhaps If the average clerk appre-
ciated his position more his sense Of
loyalty and his attention to details of
his work would be naturally greater.
There are no needed things in a mans
work SO slight in importance as 10 ad-
nit of their being inconsidered, and
when an employer a discovered an
employe to be regardless of the wishes
of his employer in disposing of the
merest routine work that employers
confidence in that employee has been
overturned past all reinstating.
II an emrlove once have loyalty to-
ward his employer, all else may be add
ed unto him.