The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-03-16
PHONE GIRLS GAIN BY.
TRADES UNION REPORTS
Rena Stern Of Chicago Guides g..
500 Women in Central Of
fees to Betterment.
She Tells What Has Been Done
for Hello Girls, With Result
of Better Things.

Minneapolis, March 15-Social bet
torment work among employed women
results so quickly in increased effici-
ency and higher wages that it would
be profitable to them, even though
they betrayed its entire expense them
selves. This is the statement made
yesterday by Miss Rena B. Stern, un-
til recently library superintendent for
the $500 girl operators of the Chicago
Telephone company. Miss Stern has
been spending few days in Minneap-
oils with friends and has spent much
time looking over the Associated Char
tiles and similar organizations. Fri
day afternoon she spoke at the state
university.
When the movement to increase en-
ployees' comforts began among the
Chicago Telephone Exchange put in
rest rooms and magazines and made
arrangements with the public library
for a daily supply Of books, the girls
made their own selections from the
catalog.
Men," said Mrs. Stern, latter a.
days work still have strength to study.
They want to read some technical work
which will advance them in their work.
But girls are so exhausted, so weary,
that they seek only recreation. They
did not know how to select from the
catalog and the result was they choose
simply peculiar titles to see what they
would draw"
This was the field into which Miss
o~i1 IN Of
girls in the selection of books, but also
to give them help in any way possible.
Miss Stern is a librarian and has done
much work in organizing libraries and
this, with her long interest and person.
al work in social settlements, qualified
her for the position.
What the Girls Read.
IT found disposition among the
girls" she said, Ito distrust my opin-
ion and advice, while they were glad
to use the printed lists which wrote.
They would often come to me asking
for a historical novel and sometimes
I would say, rs it historical novel
you really want, or good love story?'
They really require something intense
ly stimulating after their days work.
Their recreation, whatever it is, must
make them forget their work" :,
Owing to the fact that there are six
teen exchanges in Chicago, it is i'm
possible to arrange any classes. This
has led them, Miss Stern said, to max
ing list of the industrial and gymnas-
tic classes in the settlements and SIM
liar plans Of each neighborhood, thus
urging the girls to patronize estab-
lished institutions.
For the pleasure of the girls, gardens
are made in the, summer where they
may plant their own seeds and raise
their own flowers. In the stations
away from the heart of the city, per-
manent libraries are being established.
Whatever sum the employees raise to-
ward it the company duplicates.
when girls read books" said Miss
Stern tersely, they'll STUFF but when
they buy only the best will do" Miss
Stern is now trying to have tables like
billiard tables put in so that the girls
may get some exercise at recess or
lunch hours.
Love for the Beautiful.
To inculcate a love for the beautiful,
LILO 81l16 "C1C III ecu " 81 ~ IuC al +
Institute. Interest tagged, but as soon
as printed tickets were put into their
hands matters were changed.
To teach the girls neatness only DOLL
les are used on the luncheon tables so
that after each set Of girls the tables
may be entirely cleaned. when the
girls began to wear the clothes they
learned to make" Miss Stern went on,
"long mirrors were bought for each
station and the Improvement in THUR
appearance was almost immediate.
They're talking about getting them for
the men, too," she added. The hello
girl, Miss Stern says Is a most attrac-
tive type and she rarely averages more
than three years at the business; 18
and % are the extreme ages.
Miss Stern believes that the effect
Of these improvements tends to in
crease rather than diminish wages. In
her experience she has seen wages
raised three times in two years. Even
If the price were to come from the wage
earner's money, there would not be a
2 per cent difference, she asserts. The
laborer Is made more competent, thu
labor market is more closely watched
and the employees have AN opportun-
ity to get the highest pay.