Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-01-25
GIRLS AS OFFICERS ON SHIPS.
Norweeians Who Make Good Salaries
by Their Peculiar Work.

| NOFWCQIdH6 NfIlO W1NC SOO0 S6i0' ~
by Their Peculiar Work.
The land of Ibsen, Bjornsen and
other high priests-and priestesses,
too-of advanced womanhood, has in
/ spite of its marked tendency to kick
the beam" on the 'brainy'' side
pure and simple-yet managed to
solve the problem of a rational en-
ployment for the open air girl
whose tasks and accomplishments are
all of the practical nature. For such
a career lies open on board the many
steamers, both regular and excursion
that pillow the Norwegian fjords and
scandinavian rivers, and their special
department is to see to the commits
sariat and to arrange for the personal
comfort of the travellers on board,
their official rank, indeed being that
of auxiliary ships officer"
That the life is pleasant one is
conclusiyely proved by the numerous
applications at the steamboat Offices
from young Danish, Swedish and Nor
wegian ladies anxious to secure, ii
not a berth on the briny, yet on what
is practically next door" to it, this
life upon inland lake and river being
immensely popular with strong and en-
ergetic girls, most of whom are daugh.
tiers either of naval men or of others
of good professional position, such as
lawyers and doctors, and are, there.
fore, both by habits and instinct, we'll
qualified to minister to the require
ments of persons of their own class.
That such duties necessitate a girl
having a head on her shoulders goes
without saying. 1t is her duty, first,
to ascertain from the purser how
many passengers are booked for the
forthcoming voyage, and to lay in her
provisions accordingly, with an eye to
ample supplies while at the same time
avoiding any risk in the matter of
waste, which would spell dead loss.
She is further responsible for the
tastefully laid table, for its appoint
ments in the way of spotless napery,
and also for such house linen as may
be required in the cabins during the
voyage. Plate, crockery, and even
the batterie de cuisine are generally
her own property, so she naturally
takes something of hostess pride in
the ordering of her special depart
ment
The payments are arranged at so
much head, and the day caterer nets
the profits over and above the actual
expenses plus many handsome dou-
ceur, which, being the customary
thing, may be proffered without fear
of offense, since it will be accepted
Such a life, with its self-respecting
independence and it's breezy, open air
surroundings, is certainly healthful
and eXhiarating, while the constant
stream of passengers, both new and
old, tends to pleasant acquaintance
being formed and continued even dur
ing the comparatively dull season.
Another post filed by women on
board the Norwegian mail steamers
is that of postal official" Two of
lnGSe young laulGS always IldNel To-
gether, their sole duty consisting in
carrying the mail bags to and from
the points of embarkation and arriv,
al. During the voyage these girls
time is practically their own. and
they generally may be seen employing
it in producing those much admired
"Hosfils-forenings," the beautiful Nor
wegian embroideries to be met with
in such rich profusion throughout the
Scandinavian lands These post la
dies" However, never allow their
elaborate needlework to jeopardize
their official position as government
employees. for long before the landing
stage is reached, both may be seen
cloalled and hated, AMI standing, MS
it were, at attention, they being, on
account of the precious burdens they
bear, the first TO leave the boat.
These, therefore, are some of the
busy bees to be found in the land
where the "Norahs" and "Hedda Cab
lers' come from; AMI if more normal
yet surely for that reason not wholly
devoid of interest.