The independent., 1907-04-18
EZ ~ a.E

/ want TO tell you my experiences
while seeking a position. l bought a
Sunday edition of a paper noted for
its columns of help wanted and
read these through carefully, cut out
the ones that seemed to fit my taste,
and early on Monday l started to call.
The first advertisement called for
"an attractive. well dressed woman,
over twenty five / was the first, and
as 1 entered a boy chewing gum
looked up long enough to say: "Wish
to see Mr. r., ma ann" l nodded, and
he invited me to "sit down, he's
busy" l did so, and in a few mo-
ments a tall Gibsonesque girl en-
tered, gave me a smile, displaying a
fautless set Of teeth and seated her
self beside me. More followed until
perhaps a dozen young women. all
bright looking and well dressed, had
arrived. After a long time l entered
the private office. The first question
put to me was: What has been your
business experience?" That fioored
me, but / replied: "None whatever,
but l have come here to earn a livli
hood at whatever / seem best adapted
to-" "Oh," he said, you are a
stranger in New York; well (hem),
could only take your name and ad-
dress and will send for you if l need
you" Then he bowed me out, without
explaining anything about what the
work might be.
The next was another attractive ad-
vertisement. concealing just what the
work might be, and as / entered
noticed several faces Of those who
had been to see "Mr. r. The Gibson
girl spoke to me this time and asked
if / were stranger. ] replied in the
affirmative, and she advised me not
to tell that / had no business training
If / could avoid it. 1t finally came my
turn to interview the lady manager
this time. She was very pleasant,
described the work very attractively,
and said it was to interview mothers,
and she knew l would be a grand
success. I had "such a pleasing per-
sonality," and left with radiant
countenance, upon being told to call
next day, when she would describe
the work in detail and engage me.
Out in the hall / found the whole
roomfull Of women leaving in high
dudgeon, among others the one who
had preceded me and carried the
news. so it is book canvassing?"
they said ito me. "Oh, no. | replied,
lit is only interviewing people" A
good natured laugh greeted my inno-
cent information. Miss Gibson"
said MY DEAR would not try book
canvassing upon my initial appear
ance among the breadWinners; it is
very disheartening, and fear you
will become discouraged. Here is my
card; I shall be very glad to hear
from you and be of any assistance.
Wouldn't you like to take luncheon
xr-.fI H. Iii
over?" l accepted her invitation, for
/ was anxious to know what cause
had led her to be seeking a position.
We had nice little luncheon in a
place down town, crowded with a
handsome wholesome looking lot of
girls We had other advertisements
to answer and agreed to go to-
gether, and left to visit firm to
allurement." We were the first to ar
rive, and as in the other places, others
followed, and several who had been
at the former places. Finally the
door opened and a little whipper-
snapper of a man entered with Gig
arctic in his mouth, and he kept it
there and seated himself at desk
where we all were, and looked around
and said: Who's first ?" They all
looked at me, and / "arose and sail
over" and tried to look business ike.
You know, my friends have always
complimented me upon my placid dis
position, but this time my placidity
failed me, and l was possessed Of
hysterical desire to laugh. He asked
me had | called in answer to his ad.
All / could think of was, What else
could havas brought me here?' and so
/ laughed-simply laughed, but man
aged to say Yes" He talked
whole lot, really could not tell what
about. and / don't believe that he
said very much, and handed me
blank } read and fill out Then he
told me to call the next day
As / turned to leave, Miss G. arose
and. with positi ly regal air and
delicious one. said: so this is an
employment agency; you're not IN the
legitimate business and are using the
columns of the newspapers TO deceive
ladies into paying car fare and vast
ing valuable time In answering an ad.
which Is entirely misleading" Then
n gHa