Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-13
SHE IS A SHIP CHAPERON
Work for a Woman Who Likes to Be
on the Ocean.
WHAT SHE is EXPECTED TO DO
A Feminine Bureau of Information
for Parties of TOurists-Qual-
titles Needed In n New Call
Ing for Women.

1
NEW YORK, Feb 1s.-"If were not
fond OF travelling suppose 1 would
not enjoy being a chaperon on board
ship. AS it is l enjoy every trip and
am always planning for and looking
forward to the next with pleasure"
said the official chaperon of a transatlantic
steamer that takes parties on cruises. 81
don't know who gave me the name Of ship
chaperon. but It has stuck, so it must fit
~ am not responsible for anybody's con-
duct nor for anybodys money. / do make
people acquainted and exert myself to
make them have good time, so in those
two particulars at least 1 perform the du
ties OF real chaperon. L couldn't be
called an entertainer, because there are
others who lecture give talks and sing
while of course the band is on hand to
play.
Il have my office hours just the con-
ductor OF the tourist parties have, and In
these hours everybody who wishes to con-
suit me about anything will find me in.
SO far as answering questions is concerned
l don't know that being in my office makes
the slightest difference, for am answering
questions and giving advice from the time
we receive the tourists aboard ship until
their return landing. Oh, yes l am pres
ent when they come aboard ship. u is one
Of my duties to help the conductor receive
and place the tourists.
when ] first began this was partic
ulary trying ordeal for me, because 1 did
not have a good memory for faces.
1T was a question. of cultvating my
memory for faces and or getting
other employment. 1 preferred the first
course and proceeded to. remedy my de-
fective memory. Now 1 can almost say
/ never forget a face and seldom am at
/, loss for the name that goes with it, This
adds not only to my value to the snip, but
to my own comfort and pleasure.
IF | was asked to enumerate the other
, qualities necessary TO fill my place with
success 1 believe L would begin by saying
you must be a good sailor. That is abso-
, lutely essential. 1 had a friend who was
very anxious for a place similar to mine
, and after much working got one. She was
! not q good sailor and after she made two
trips she had to give up
Besides this you must be able to ar
range and often think up various enter
! tainments. You must have a large supply
. of general information about every quarter
I of the globe. and especially about the
countries the tourists are about to visit.
You must be able to give the most exact
information about the weather and the
e clothing that will be suitable for them to
! wear.
r You must also know all about money
Q in every port and other bits of information
/ about which a stranger may wish to in
\ quire. You must visit the sick If they care
! to see you, talk to the timid and listen to
: the bores. You must be patient, good
| Nf,,I a..
when you can do all this you may hope
4 to make a first-class chaperon on ship
a board. OF course, / am far from what
: describe. but being as near perfection as
. any one the ship people can get for the
y salary have the position and find it very
, pleasant.
i ION my first trip 1 rather overdid the
x pleasant act. started out on the principle
z OF treating everybody alike. Then thought
! everybody would like me and things would
, be pleasant all around.
y Now IL there is any place where 9
n persons peculiaritles come out it is or
!. board ship. Some people wish to be lei
= alone to rest or think or to study an6
l. enjoy things by themselves, while Others
d are off for change and want all the
recreation and amusement that can be had
e 1t is a question of temperament not Of
It class
a ION my first trip 1 tried to hand nut
n shells of information around to all tn,
passengers Just as I tried to chat will
~ them all. got a precious lot of snubbingi
e for my pains and as a result began /,
u make a deeper and broader study Of hu
,ee manity.
If NOW when 1 see men and women Sc
II quester themselves in some nook on decl
"a or turn their backs on their neighbors
d leave them alone, at least until they shoy
ze signs of wanting to break the ice. Whei
a. that sign appears take the first oppor
IA tunity to speak to them casually neve
is making the approach too evident, and a
- a rule am pleasantly received. Once in
be great while there are both men and womei
T. who for the entire trip keep themselve
le secluded, but not often.
5: "Of course 1 have to make the enter
ID tainments 1 get up suit the people WHOM
er they are intended to entertain. 1t is cas-
ty enough to find out about card players, bu
st more difficult to spot the amateur musician
ns or the man or woman who can tell a goo
story in an entertaining manner. Yer
or often have formed musical clubs on boar
"a that have proved a source of pleasure {
se everybody.
e. Besides planning for the regular enter
tainments of the cruise 1 try always I
have lighter entertainments that can b
e. carried through without too much prepare
Id tion. Games of various sorts take well wit
k. some parties and then again guessing con
tests are very popular and are called 70
We several times during the cruise. On on
he occasion 1 had an old-fashioned spellin
/" bee that afforded much amusement
nv "of course in such position the char
al eron has an opportunity to meet man
so charming people and sometimes real friend
ships begin. 1 can now recall more tina
dozen women who have taken the trI
AZ with us on several occasions and becaus
they liked me. In these days when so man
women travel alone they appreciate havin
woman TO consult instead Of a man.
From a financial point of view the pos
nc tion pays me well, a good living wage an
~ ! the duties are pleasant because they an
n congenial. 1t is comparatively new pr,
uo fession for women"
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