The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-23
Women as
Private Secretaries

HNic 10 Acduy tOT CdpdUies EeSOuECS-A4
full and conscientious women a pro-
fession in which opportunities are be-
coming constantly wider. salaries are
increasing almost while one waits and
the standard Is getting higher year by
year. 1t is the profession of secretary
Watching, one can almost see its &C.
tlvities and it's responsibilities grow. Il
More women are needed as private sec
rctaries now than ever before, and
next year there will be more places
to fill than there are now. Here Ia
one of the most interesting OF pro-
fessions, and we'll paid to boot There
are few careers" that make moro va
ried and insiStent demands. Time was
when good stenographer could call
herself private secretary and he nat
far from the truth. Time was. too.
even more recently when the en-
ployment of a secretary was rather un-3
usual with the average man or WON
an of affairs. That has changed now.
We no longer leave the employment
of private secretary to a few So
cicty leaders and multimilllonaires.
l'ns!ness mon must have secretaries. z
col ultins engineers must have secre-
| taries. college professors mus. have
| secretaries, research scientists must
have secretaries, busy women must
/
| increase in tho number Of positions
open to young men and women who
| are interested in secretarial work has
| come the growth of stricter stand
ard. a wider demand for work and for
| capability The woman who is a-good
stenogra pher does not thereby quality
| Tor secretaryship nowadays; she
/ must be something else beside.
She must be able to stand in every
daily duty and every sudden emer-
gency between her employer and the
world. She must be brilliant. we'll
educated. tactful quick OF resource,
| undisturbed in poise, possessed OF the
| social grace to meet many kinds of
men and women-all this in addition
TO being good stenographer and good
accountant. Furthermore, she must
be able to write the English language
and to compose difficult letters and
| speeches.. She must combne-and this
| is not any easy blending-eNecutiye
ability with grace.
II she can do these things, if she
possesses these qualities. her future
| granted always that sho is a serioua
and enrnest workers. assured. she
I need have no doubt of her success. Shc
may begin work with minimum SAL
AIRY or $50 u week, and when the fir
ure has gradually been raised to s100
ne may Know that. although this is
ne highest average salary. shn has
IL
ne salary OF Miss Katherine Harri
III. private secretary OF the late III
rogers. Is quoted at $4,000 Il year.
"ehty-hve dollars week is con.
.iaered low wage for private sec
rotary, and is usually paid onlv 10
/ beginners Tn this sort of worn of
course, 1t is impossible to fix n defnite
hgure. The amount of a woman's sal
airy varies with her practical eouin-
ment and the breadth of her talents.
Nhny private secretary begins work
! win weekly payment of sac and
| some have worked up" to $50 u;thin
| the first year. -
III oruer 10 obtain position as pri-
N",o secretary n woman does not need
lons course OF special training. Her
4! pIeparat'on is not like that OF the
! teacher or nurse. good hipb .cbooI
| education she must have to start wifi +
ana AFTER that special course that
can III she Is a quick student, be com
pieteu In three months. Although
lsu Oh the necessary Qualifications
oa. n, executive anrlity. self-pos-
session. tact, resource, earnestnasa
sounds bit forbidding at first n rons.
De remembered that these are bv no
means extraordinary characteristics
| mo girl who has been brought nm In
soou nome with a social background
', oetnahus grace and tact and poise.
uoes not need TO worry over these
things. '"ese
me well-brought- young woman
or today is trained from her child
MOOD by the mere exigencies of ordi
nary IRE, to meet the demands OF n
private secretarys position; her spe4
c'al training. while it adds n knowl-
ease or stenosraphy. composition and
| rhetoric, and more or less expert fipur-
ing, but decpcns and directs the natu
RAJ tendencies of her carly home life
IN the capable daughter of the house"
.he tactful student at school or col
iege' there Is the making of good.
secretary. The tuition charged by a.
from $125 to sl75 for tho entire courseS'
irrespective OF the amount of time the
individual student may require to com
plete 1t.