Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-10-25
WOMEN Who CAN
KEEP A SECRET
MANY IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
AT WASHINGTON.
HOLD HIGH POSITIONS
other Nations Somewhat Astonlshed
At the Confidence Placed in the
Fair Sex by Authorities at the Ma
tionaI Capital-America Blue
Stockings-Quick and Accurate.

ONNN'N''SS SS'SN anu fN(SuI dIGs
Most people are aware that women
Iare a great power in the United States.
particularly from social standpoint.
But it is by no means so generally
known that at the headquarters Of
the American government in Washing
ton there are a number of highly paid
women who are standing contradic-
ton of the old gibe that women can
never keep a secret
AT any rate, the services of these
women are so highly appreciated that
lit is unlikely their brethren will ever
Ioust them from these highly paid Of
Ifices. To US youthful and pretty
woman diplomat, recognized as such
by the government, is unthinkable
Yet such a person is Miss Margaret
Hanna, who is permanent assistant to
the permanent secretary of state.
This latter official carries on all the
delicate negotiations between the
United States and foreign powers and
$50 conducts an immense correspond
'ence.
All this most secret and sacred cor
.respondence is under the charge of
Miss Hanna, who is so well versed in
Uncle Sans relations with the out.
side world that she could undoubtedly
act as assistant secretary of state her.
self If the occasion arose.
A still more remarkable position is
that held by Miss Clara Graecen, legal
adviser to the treasury department.
Here again we find young blonde
not yet %, who a few years ago came
to Washington as an ordinary type.
writer in the comptrollers office. At
that time her work was taking down
dictation relating to legal opinions"
about claims against the treasury.
Miss Graecen gradually developed a
taste for law so that on one occasion
the comptroller asked her to prepare
an opinion" OF her own on minor
case.
iASi NulbNl tlC NlCNSl anu dlHblNiOuo
girl studied law with feverish energy
at night school in the diplomatic
capital, and so brilliant were her tai
ents that when the position of law
clerk Of the treasury fell vacant she
applied for it and got it, even against
a number of capable lawyers.
You might think that these Amerl-
can blue stockings were frumpish and
dowdy in appearance. Vastly other
wise would be your opinion in the
presence of Miss Estelle Reel super
intendent of all the Indian schools
throughout America. Miss Reel is a
strikingly handsome woman of distin-
guished mien and not much over 30.
Her headquarters is at the Indian bu-
reau in Washington, but for the most
part she spends her time in travelling
throughout the states inspecting the
educational methods adopted in day
and boarding schools, kindergartens
and other institutions kept UP by the
federal government for the little alb
origines. In her own department Miss
Reels power is absolute and her pay
is 5000 year besides her travelling
expenses.
Thousands OF women are employed
in the treasury department, for it Is
found that they are quicker and more
accurate than men in counting money.
Nor must one omit to say they are
found far more honest Out from
among the ruck of these women
stands Mrs. Villa Leonard, probably
the fastest teller of money alive as
well as the most astonshingly accu-
rate. Mrs. Leonard is besides a Won
drous expert in detecting counterfeit
notes. One must bear in mind that
practically the whole currency vt
America except small change is pa
per money.
Another woman expert of the treas
ury at Washington is Mrs. S. F. Fitz-
gerald, who for nearly a quarter of a
century has been mending mutilatad
bank bills and also identifying money
that has been partially destroyed. So
expert is she that often when nothing
remains of the money but scrap OF
paper smaller than a siXpence and
that containing no name of bank, de-
nomination or number, Mrs. FTtzger-
aid will fasten upon a scrap of en-
graved design anG then pour forth
volume of information about the de-
stroyed note which would surely give
points to Sherlock Holmes.