Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-07-25
BOTH SIDES OF THE SHIELD.

~~S~O~~~S@~~S~O~-~@~~
Ethelberta Smith had been in the office
two months, and, says a writer in the
New York Press, she was beginning to
feel aggrieved. She thought she ought
to have her salary raised. She waited
a week for this to occur, then suggested
it to her employer. His reply was a
mild but unsympathetic grunt
That evening Ethelberta bought a
newspaper, went over the advertise
ments, and sat down determinedly to
answer two of them. Both advertisers
stated that they wanted stenographer
Of some experience, intelligence and
capability. This is what she wrote to
each of them.
Dear Sir-In reply to your adver-
tisement, | would like to state that I
am a young lady of refined manners
and good appearance. Have been a
stenographer for some time, and am
now employed in the Office Of Mr.. John
Brown.
IL wish to change my position, as [
do not feel that I am fairly treated
where l am. having to work from s
until 6. with no holidays and no posi-
bic chance Of raise in pay. My en-
ployer seems to think that a stenogra-
pher is a mere machine, with no feeling
whatever. He is mean man, and
can no longer stay in such q place.
Besides, he does not regard the pres
ence Of ladies, and sits around In his
shirt sleeves. He is SO engrossed with
himself that he never addresses a smile
or a kind word to anybody.
81 have been working in this place
for two months at a salary of So
week, and even now can't get raise.
So am going to make change, and if
you have anything better than this to
offer me, l would appreciate an an
swer."
Ethelbertha signed the letters, adj
dressed them to the enigmatic box num-
bers mentioned in the advertisement,
and went to sleep feeling that she would
now vindicate herself.
On Monday morning her employer be-
gan opening his mail, arranging the let
ters carefully In seperate piles. Sud-
denly he sat up very straight, holding
sheet Of note paper before him, and
looking at it as If he could not believe
his eyes. Then he broke into a bolster
Gus laugh.
Miss Smith," he called, twill you
take dictation, please? Yes, over here.
Now, take this: Miss Smith, Stenogra-
pher, No. 81 Blank Street, Harlem
Yes, that's right" he assured her, as she
glanced up at him in surprise.
"Bu-but you must be mistaken. That's
my"
"Take dictation, please Now this:
GIVE have your two favors Of Sat.
urday, the 9th, and appreciate your
reasons for wanting to change your
position.
"'We, too, have been thinking of
making change, because our present
stenographer while Of good appear
ance, actually pretty, in fact, is so con-
scious Of her own Importance that she
Is inattentive to business When she
came to us she was perfectly green. She
has been with us two months, and, at
our expense, has learned her business,
gained some speed on the typewriter,
and acquired what facility in her work
she possesses. Now, at the end Of this
time, she wants us to raise her salary,
and Is constantly trying to impress
upon us our good fortune in having
her here.
"'We regret that we, too, work in our
shirt sleeves, but if you decide to ac-
cept the position here we shall certain
" never fail to smile when we look at
you. Very sincerely yours
''That will do, think
Now that Ethelberta and her employ
er understand each other, they are get
ting along very well.