Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-20

1 AG HNAuG 0Ao SUIT us 0A aNNOhAAN
OF that selfishness and another from
that one until. in reality, there is an
/ endless chain.
had only been back in Atlanta a
week or two when received a message
that one OF the Travellers Aid ladies
was looking for me. went to see her
and this is what learned: One morn
ing a rather nice-looking girl asked
her IL she could tell her how to find
me. Knowing that I am not always
at The Journal office. she called up to
see. I was not there and, of course,
they did not know where I was. AS
4 it happened 1 was in Decatur She
asked the girl If there was anything
special she wanted TO see me about,
and II she had friends in the city. The
girl said she had just come in from
certain city and had not a friend in
town, that she wanted me to help her
find work.
"oh," said the lady. IF that is all,
may be able to help you. Where is
your check? For the first thing
/ IS 10 get. you a boarding house"
| The girl stammered awhile and then
said that a friend had her checks, that
he met her the night before and put her
checks in his pocket. After other ques-
tons she said that IL she said she had
/ just come in, she meant the night be-
fore. That she didn't know the street
nor name of the house where she had
spent the night. that her friend had at
tended to that. Oh, yes, she had meant
no woman friend. except one; this man
had been very kind to her, etc.
The lady was, of course. troubled over
the aspect of affairs. but she told her
that she could get her a position as
cashier If 1 would vouch for her. Then
she had TO say that 1 had never seen
her; that she simply read The Journal
| Well" said the lady, 1--WE will see
what can be done. You say your friend
will be here in a little while. Be sure
and get your checks from him and let
me get you a boarding place. Real nice
places, the sort you would want to stop
at; won't take girls that young men
take there, unless the man is very well
known"
Just then others came up, and the
l girl took a seat to wait for her checks.
Trains began to come and the waiting
room was a scene of confusion for
awhile, and then when the calm de-
seconded they looked for the girl. She
was nowhere to be seen. After a lot of
| Inquiries among those WHO are employ
ed in the room it was learned that as
soon as her friend Cd came she hur-
ried away with him. That she had been
in the city several days, and that not
half an hour before she had asked for
me she had telegraphed her mother
that she had a nice position and would
write her a long letter in a few days.
Naturally, the Travellers Aid lady was
troubled. and so was the man who helps
keep an eye on such cases. Had there
been the slightest clue the girl would
have been followed, but her whole con-
versation had been such tissue of I'M
truth there was nothing to do but let
her go. The address of the mother was
taken and a letter written her. L must
confess that am rank pessimist when
am dealing with an untruthfUl per-
son. That's a hard word TO use, but
what else can you call a girl who does
not advance one single truth in an
hours conversation? If a fiashlight of
the future could be presented TO girls
on the brink of easy living" as some
think it. many would turn their backs
/ on the broad road, but il takes about
1--WE years OF bitter experience to teach
some. and then, alas, it's too late, in the
majority Of cases.
I was talking TO a man who has
/ charge Of a business that employs ten
/ or more girls. / asked him about va
cancies and this is what he said: Miss
/ Thomas, I am tempted to say that
/ will never again employ a girl who
does not live at home. Competition is
so fierce and expenses so enormous
that we simply cannot pay enough for
/ a decent living, If the girl must pay
regular board"
But" / said. they must live and
some are determined to come and Try
/ for themselves. Five dollars a week
WON'T buy clothes. nor matinee tickets,
nor soda water. but they neeG not
work for that more than one season"
He looked me in the eyes and said:
/ You know that not more than one in
/ six get promoted at the end of the sea-
/ son. There is an army of cheap hep
/ that answer every advertisement ahd
one soon learns their faces. 1 don't
/ mean to cast any insinuations; there
are cheap girls in many home, but l
/ am going 20 try to let them stay there.
/ Then it's up to their parents to keep
| them in the straight path. The self
/ respecting young woman in business IS
/ the one that I take off my hat to, and
\ If one may judge by the painted crea-
/ lures that come out OF the ranks or
the idle. it's the business woman that
will have to redeem the good name OF
\ her sex"
parents. girls, think over the words
/ Of this man. If there is any chance
/ for you to make living at home, 10y
/ all means stay there. Life isn't bso
i Of rose leaves, and one may expect TO
\ sometimes find unpleasantness every
Il where. Telephones, rural deliveries
| and good roads are eliminating some OF
the loneliness and isolation that once
| formed the reasons for many leaving
home.
I know that plenty of you are com
| ing in spite of all 1 say, and l beg
YOU to remember that honesty is the
best policy. That means in the small
things of life as much as in the larger
ones. Watching the clock, slipping Off
and getting ready for the street before
closing time, not getting there on time,
having to do your work over, all CONT
against you and in the long run retard
your promotion. There Is always room
at the top, we are told. I've never con-
versed with any one who considered
herself at the top. so / suppose there ~
and it's as much your opportunity as
any ones II you've the grit and grace
to hold out.
1 Faithfully yours,
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.
lust GIRLS AND THEIR INFLUENCE
Dear Household: One of the writers
for our page asked me il we had any
I L.