davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18

The girl who works for the Bell Tele-
phone Company is having the best care
and attention, be sure OF that. Real
thoughtfulness is shown for all employees,
and everything is done to avoid over
work and to lessen strain.
The surroundings in which girl works
really make or mar her happiness. and
also greatly affect her working capacity.
cheerful atmosphere, plenty of good,
fresh air kindly supervisors and ready
cooperation make all the difference in
the world to the telephone girl. And all
these are to be found up at the pleasant
off1ces of the Bell Telephone Company.
There Is a foolish idea prevalent among
many people that the telephone girl has
very slack time of It; that she lolls back
In her chair and chats idly with her
neighbor on either side, and that she de-
liberately informs subscribers that the
Lime Is busy" when in reality the ad-
Jeotlve only applies to the clatter OF her
own tongue. A visit to the offices OF the
Bell Telephone Company will soon refute
this idea. utterly, and to those who are
ignorant of the telephone girls life and
work 1 would strongly recommend visit
to the aforementioned offices.
The greatest care Is taken that none of
tho employees is overworked, and II
girl is dealing with numbers in a district
crowded with business offices she has
fewer numbers on her board than the girl
who Is dealing with residential locality.
RELIEF time Is religiously adhered to,
and a girl has two sets OF reliefs each
day The restroom is q. delightful place,
filed with inviting couches and deep
easy-chairs, while the newest books and
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18

The homo nurse is often hampered by
her lack of experience, Often things hap
pen unexpectedly. a patient is brought
home and the amateur nurse is called
upon to handle a case she never dealt
with before. The great point is to be
enicient. and efficiency includes a great
deal A few OF the following hints may
be OF help to the home nurse:
THE SICK BED.
II the bed is very low. and the patient
is in a more or less helpless condition,
the nurse will ind 1t most bach-breal1ing
work TO have TO bend over the patient
constantly. when washing. lifting or turn
ing.
Now simple device that win cost mere
ly a trine can remedy matters in case
like this -Four blocks OF wood should be
obtained Cor even four thick books of
equal size with rough eovers). and these
should be placed under the legs OF the
bed.
They should be followed a little in the
middle. then castors on the legs need not
be removed, as the hollows viii hold them
firmly.
1t must be remembered that raising the
bed in this way will prevent its being
able to be moved about. so It must be
conveniently placed before the blocks are
hxed under the legs.
THE BEST KIND OF Bid.
For illness the best kind OF bed is a
slngle-sizsd iron bedstead. about 40 inches
in width. and when the mattress Is on
about 81 inches in height.
A feather bed should never be used in
illness It Is heating. and II not shaken
up every day win gather into most un-
comfortable Jumps and hollows
II possible, don't nurse IN big doubls
bed.
"A big double bed has only one ad-
vantage-ths sick person can lie on one
side Of i at night, and On the other in
the day
But this is not enough 81 an advan-
tags 10 oounterbalanee lts great inoon-
vsnlsnee during the nursing Of serious ii-
ness.
Il the patient Is in very high. vide
bed. the nurse cannot with comfort to her
patient or herself do such things as give
a blanket bath. pouitice, bRndage. raise.
turn. chanEa nightgoWn and sheets with
out recurring the sick person to ST up,
etc
10 do al these things the nurse should
Be- at the aide Of the bed. ana not On ~
- she may have = b 4 Il IS a very
hieh ard vide one. Therefore. Fl is much
balfar . set the Big bed ont Of the
room foa the time being. seen e sou have
20 take eonaiderabie trouble g SET rie
of =
a. azosiiepl ana eomfoftlbIs-ba can
~ made 1F aliiue staaas eneleaehod
CAIRO case aIe10 f.aaH UaE or
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
The Phone on Xmas Day

The telephone girls were talking about
Christmas.
What are you going to set for Christ
mas, Anna?" asked a dark-haired girl of
her neighbor
~ don't know, I'm so discouraged. I
have to go on in the very first shift, and
work most of the time. That's a fine
way to spend misunderstanding to a
lot of complaints and kicks from every
woman who owns telephone. I wish
they'd leave their phones alone on
Christmas day. then we telephone girls
wouldn't be so busy"
But they couldn't do 1t If they tried"
You bet they couldn't Why, last
Christmas we had blizzard. and most
of the wires were down in one section.
Well, would you believe It, every woman
who called that section refused to be-
lieve me when I said the wires were
down. They're no such thing they
say. Deliver me from women. Give me
the grouchiest crouch among men In
preference to one sweet LADY,
Goodness" said an outsider, surely
they're not so bad as all that"
You Just work at this end OF the wire
for while and you'll say they're worse"
remarked the telephone girl, as she showed
the plug In with jerk.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18

ON a piece OF bread without finishing Il.
or cut more than is wanted2 Why above
an. leave bread at dinnertime when still
hungry enough to eat pudding?
AS to butter, this comes to table tbra.
times day, and 1t should be, therefora
served as attraetively as possible. Whv
therefore, bang 1t down into the dlsh Ia
an untidy slab2 Why not, as soon as
II comes. take the pound or half pound
and cut II first into halves, then into
quarters and eighths-smaller II neees.
sary-before cutting It crosswise 10 form
neat little squares? These indiyldusl
squares not only look nicer but suppIy
ically 'oiii-
For butter is both eaten 10 waste ans
wasted uneaten. An ounce OF butter :
day Is very suitable allowance -
person who has not much fat of ofbsr
Kinds but there Is no need for buttee
with Jam, or marmalade. bacon or frt-s
esgs. or with cheese ana biscuits sftsr
a good meal Ni'er
a little attention to bread and butter
cutting Is amply repaid; We All kno,s
btie drops Of water make the mlghts,
ocean but do We suheiently applv ~
principle 70 the little savings that msts
the family supply? mass
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
Bits About Bread

Bread is the stan of life; butter figures
prominently at every meal Considering
their vast Importance In our staple diet.
Il Is astounding to realize how much of
both Is wasted through carelessness.
This waste is largely question OF cut
ting. Every one knows that a fowl or a
Joint will go twice as far" II an efficient
carver is at the head OF the table in
stead OF an inexperienced helper who
slashes at whatever is before him with
mingled helplessness and fury. And this
holds true OF other things. The old say
ing might wen be adapted to house wives:
by their carving ye shall know them"
Perhaps there is more waste in bread
than in any other foodstufl. We COM
monty waste the crust on dry toast, the
last, II not the irst. crust Off most or
our loaves large proportion OF the
bread that Is placed by each person at
dinner, all odd pieces cut at table.
All these, except the broken and
crumpled pieces of the dinner table, can
be made up again as bread crumbs.
Drowned or white, as fried bread with
soup or bacon, as sweet puddings. a.
stuiing, Ia thick soups. and many other
uses.
But Why have bits7 After all nre-
VentlOn Is better than cure Every hi
was part Of fresh loaf a day or 30 ago
Why was It not eaten in its fresh state
10 save both the bakers blli and the from
HE ana expense OF making Il over again 2
Why cut the crust of the toast o. piaee
slices OF bread round the table befors
nnding out who eats II, or why start
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
The Gift for Mother

Two girls were sitting in the window
seat OF their bedroom. They both had
pads upon their knees. and they were
fr0wning at each other
I'm stuck. Dora; what in the world
will we give mother?" asked one.
''And I don't know what to give the
cook, either" said the other.
"Oh, you can give the cook any old
thing. She has so little. poor soul. Gloves
or warm, woolly bedroom slippers. money,
underwear. a sweater-any seryiceaole
article will do for her. But mother has
everything she needs. She has clothes
enough. thought Of getting her a nice
shlrtwaist"
well. L don't think she really needs
that She has so many of them. Why
not give her pair of full-length white
That's a good suggestion. But what
else? Eiverybodys been asking me what
20 give her.
.I'n tell you. Those Martha washing
zon sewing tables are awfully smart And
the tea-wagons and muffin stands in ma
hogany are lovely. We could buy one OF
them between US. / know mother would
just love It In her room"
Yes, and the new bonbon dishes are
lovely. You can get them in colored
china I saw one the other day. and It
was the prettiest thing. 1t was about six
inches high. and had two lovely children
holding up the bowl OF the dish. They
had the sweetest fowered dresses on.
and their faces and hair were perfectly
beautiful. We could fiil 1t with bonbons
and It would look charming"
''Well. I'LL tell you what well do. We
can so down town and look at all these
things, and decide which one We like
best. Incidentally. wen see how our
money lasts. / thought OF a houdolr lamp
with the Dresden figures upholdlng IL. too.
The shades como In rose silk to match
ana ~ Id
sets are stunning. and awfully reasonable.
We1l SO down together this afternoon
and sattle this question I'm just tired
out rackinE my brains about it."
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
At THE BELL TELEPHONE
COMPANY EXCHANGE

magazines are provided for the entertain-
ment of the girls.
There Is a cheerful restaurant, too,
where tea, coffee and milk are served to
the girls free of charge. other articles
OF food being sold at cost price.
we take good care OF our employees"
said the manager land are constantly
thinking up ways to promote their conn
fort. Twice a day. we have drill in
each office. All the windows are opened
and the girls stand yat their work for
10 minutes. This relieves the strain OF
sitting long In one position, and the
girls seem to enjoy the change We have
one drill at Ii o'clock and another at
g."
DO many girls apply for positions az
telephone operators here7"
'oh, yes," was the quick response. 1--WE
have a great number Of applicants, SO
many that we have to do a good deal OF
weeding-out. Having selected the most
promising of the applicants, we send
them to our training school for four
weeks. During that time they go through
a pretty comprehensive routine, and then
at the end OF that time the competent
ones are graduated, while the others
drop out"
do many drop out?"
Well" said the manager sdowly, I'VE
really only want efficient people. so We
have to make a judicious selection. The
girl who really is anxious to become a
telephone operator will generally man
age to get taken on. The ldlers and the
ones who approach their work in a
'don't-care' spirit are the ones who gem
orally fail to be graduated. Where
there's will there's a way. you know.
and the girl who wishes to succeed will
make her way to the front sooner or
later"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
WOMAN in HER WORK AND LEISURE ARTICLES FASEIIO
The Spinster and Bachelor
Discuss Matrimony

THE great advantage Of being in love
is that you can be supremely selfish and
get away with IT," said the bachelor. as
no lighted his pipe and lounged in hls
easy chair.
ITS nothing Of the kind" retorted the
spinster, because you don't know any
thing about It."
How do you know whether do or
not7 When Betty was engaged last year
made great many observations" re-
turned the Bachelor.
well. got my experience at FIRST
hand and know what I'm talking
about, even II I am a spInster."
"Well, what is your candid opinion7
Tell the truth! Don't you think engaged
couples are the most selfish people on
earth7" snorted the Bachelor.
mot at all. they're Just blissfully un-
conscious" said the splnster. ITS only
because you are too selfish yourself to
believe that Ida. for instance, is the
sweetest prettlest, most perfect woman
in the world
'why Ida?'' asked the Bachelor, dryly.
"I never indulge in superlatlves."
>"well you go around to see her often
enough. Besides, we were talking about
your colossal selhshness. You are so
selfish you won't let woman have any
real claim on your time, or your af-
fectlons, or your pocketbook"
'I should say not grunted the
bachelor" 1 must admit my colossal
selhshness refuses that test. think my
pocketbook is my own affair. and
woman ought to keep out"
And sit by and meekly accept the
weekly dole from your your selfish high
ness. No. thank your
at hadn't noticed that you were In
vited, my dear" returned the brute
Then, seeing her furious expression, he
added, But you can have anything Of
mine you want, Ellen. You've had my
heart so long, I'd never miss the wallet.
You highway-robbed me long ago. You're
the dalntiest. cutest, most in"
'I thought you never INDUCED in SUI
perlatives?" said the spinster, but the
look on her face was a very happy one.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18

shouldn't have mindsd-but then, you
see, couldn't locate him. at nrst
in the darkness OF the place, and he
kept wandering around, muttering and
talking. Till 1 got hold Of him and
persuaded him to go back TO bed. He
was in no state to get out Of bed. poor
soul, as he was terribly smashed up.
I'VE have an orderly to each ward. Of
course. but working in the dark is q
difficult business. OF course we cannot
show light, so one makes the best OF IT,
SIX nurses to 200 wounded men means
busy work all the time.
my boat has been to st. Nazar, Havre
and Boulogne for the wounded, and has
taken them to Queenstown. ireland, to
Dublin, but mostly to Southampton.
Next time we will probably go as far as
Scotland calling at Glasgow. We never
know where we are going till the last
moment, and often don't get orders till
actually out at sea.
I'VE carry wounded Germans, too, and
they get on excellently with the English
and the French. 1t is most amusing to
SEQ the great friendships struck up be-
tween the English and tho French
soldiers, for they cannot understand each
Others talki The sesticulating that goes
on iB ludicrousl
''The colonel In charge OF US nurses
10 exceedingly kind and nice. I am hAv-
ing a splendid time and my only fear is
that I may bo transferred to shore dutyi
Hard work and exciting work are the two
things 1 enjoy best and. indeed, am
getting them now to tho fulli'
a letter such as this brings home to
ono tho horrors and the hardships of
war. Certainly there Is an excitement in
the\ nurses work. but the strain must be
tremendous. The night work In par
ticular must be very hard for any woman.
The anxiety and the responsibility are Inn
these nurses glory in the
work. Imagine working among hundreds
OF wounded and delirious men in tho
darkness. Carrying her small lantern and
cropping from cot TO cot, the nurse hurries
from one poor soul TO another. feeling
a pulse hero. applying the morphia
syringe there. giving quick restorative
to the dying. and watching for that
curious gray look which betokens fall
Ing heart.
water, water. nurse" comes echoing
from every dark corner, and many time
she wishes that she had 20 pairs of hands
and feet to answer ell the calls and cries.
Truly the nurse on board the hospital
ship is heroic and utterly self-forgetful
In her bravery.
ELLEN ADAIR.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
WHERE SHALL WE SEND OUR
CHRISTMAS GIFTS THIS YEAR!
By ANNE Ho1L1NaswoRTH WHARTON

morning, and am to lunch with her at
l to talk over Red Cross business"
Are not many OF us cudgeling our
brains like Mrs. Balch to know what to
give the Mrs. LorrimGr-Jones Of our cir
Gle. and in our efforts to find gifts appro-
pirate to the means and stations in life
of the respective recipients. are we not
quite losing sight OF the true spirit of
Christmas? II seems as IL we were
smothering. under a burden of worldly
cares and petty distractions, the gracious
fellowship and the helpful outreach of
sympathy that belong to our common
heritage in this great festival OF the
Christian year
How generously our people are giving
OF their money and their precious time.
we all know. The Red Cross is daily
sending on boxes filled with comforts for
the wounded and sick, the cOnsulates in
our cities are speeding on garments by
hundreds to meet the needs of the home
less and pennIless refugees. The Christ
mas ships that sailed last month were
richly frelghted with useful gifts for the
orphans OF the war. American children
delight In adding their contributions to
the cargo that shall bring comfort and
Christmas cheer to many a devastated
home. Much has been done. more Will be
required. as the needs of the widows and
orphans OF the war are increasing rather
than growing less. Refugees from Bel
GUM have crowded into England. and
some have come TO our own shores, In
both OF these countries they may be the
wards of the nation for months, probably
until their restoration to their own land
in the final adjustment. The SORROWS of
this thrifty, Woodworking people. sudden
ly deprived OF their homes, their farms
and the occupations upon which they de-
pended for a living, strongly appeal TO
the more fortunate nations, and they need
all the help that We can give them.
With a large part OF the civilized world
engaged In the most destructive war OF
history. those who think seriously cannot
look forward to the festival OF Christmas
with the joyous spirit that belongs to
days Of peace and plenty. Like the ex-
Hes OF Israel. who cried out In that most
impassioned song OF Hebrew patriotism,
How shall We sing the Lords song In a
strange land7'' We shall be asking our
selves How shall We sing the angels
Christmas gong OF peace and goodwill 10
men with the burden of warning nations
upon our hearts7' Surely our only an
swer to this question, our only solace
shall be found IN pouring oil and balm
into the wounds OF those who suffer for
the sins and the sorroWs OF their people.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
Pretty AIMS

The arrival OF the sleeveless dance froek
has brought Milady's arms into proni-
nenee again. And what a sight one sees
al the dances where the young and old
are ali together! There are arms too stout
10 be artistic; there is the scrawny, un,
developed arm; there Is the shapely, but
iil-kept arm, which Is, perhaps, the most
unattraetiVe OF all, Exercise is the only
reliable beautiaer foH the arm. II Is hard
enough to try 20 keep the arm IN shape
once a pretty contour has been acquired.
10 say nothing OF acquiring one
Tennis, boating, rowing. golf and bowl
ing are excellent for the development
Of the shapely arm. They not only de-
veloD the thin arm, they mould into firm
ness the habby flesh. Thlnness can be
overcome by maasaEing with cocoa but
ter, but the process Is q very slow one
II It Is not possible Tor you 70 Indulge
Ia any OF these sports. the exercises given
below viii prove an excellent substitute
Stretching. for instance Is very good FOR
shaping and reducing fat aFrns. and the
twisting movements are equally Kood to
add flesh 10 the too thin arm. Tho sur
gson has discovered q way to an out the
scraUny arm. The operation Is almost
painless, but rather s4penslve. Ahgdreear-
bon mixture Is Introduced subeutaneous-
~, raising the depression TO the normal
sizo.
This q not enough 70 assure Milaag 4
pretty arm. Besides heiuE shaselr. her
arms must ba sofa and white. Butter
milk 3 au excellent whltener for tie arms
a. vel ~ lemon iuies. banzoiu. followed
hy 8 5000 rub with eold cream Or 8 4kln
food
a Eood zlruhlluE HIth & med1ra6aly
taI 1rlah ana Wafn water rlused asItn
tItaf water afer esaE an1 taau Hah
SEQ $50 aItFe - Ha raz ziui1z
a ae.
Enis
. $500
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
=. What She Puts Up With
Trials Of the airl at Central

Trials of the Girl at Central
The telephone girl is not chosen from
every applicant who comes to offer her
services She must have good health,
good sight, good hearing, and, most i'm
portant of all, a good temper.
These girls show extraordinary courage
at times. When emergencies arise, they
are quick to do their share In saving
life and property. People fail to appre-
ciate either the difficulty of the telephone
girls position, or the tact and patience
with which she fills It, She is the butt
of everyone's Ill humor. If things don't
go right In the office or the cook burns
your best luncheon cloth. or something
else happens, the telephone girl gets the
full benefit OF the anger incurred. The
first call certain type of person happens
to make, and does not get, or has to wait
for, sometimes brings down torrent of
sarcasm on the SoOr girls defenseless
head
II the truth were told, Rer1anS wfT tose
their tempers over the telephone are
really addressing their superiors when
they talk TO patient, unrufrled. number
please girls.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
By
EHenAdair

THE herolsm Of women during the pres.
ent war frequently passes unnoticed, but
IS gallant actions are being performed
daily by them as any on the actual feic
Of battle.
The life OF the nurse on board the hos
piiai ship running between the Continent
and Great Britain is thrilling in It's adj
venture AT any moment during the
passage across, a mine may be struck,
and the ship, nurses and wounded men
blown iuto a million pieces.
have just received an interesting let
ter from an English nurse who is acting
as sister on board the English boat. the
oxfordshire. OF the Blbby Line. The
Oxfordshlre has been turned into hos
pital ship and runs between the Contl-
mont and Great Britain. carrying hum
dreds Of wounded men home to hospital
and friends.
MY present life is thrilling in the ex-
sreme." writes the nurse, II Just feel
that up to the present time have never
truly llvedl But, indeed. am living
now. and am enjoying It all immensely,
although we are running very great risks
OF being blown to atoms. At any time
we may strike mine or be torpedoed by
tho Germans or be fred upon by their
ships.
Il am doing night duty. and you can
not picture what II is like. Imagine six OF
Us nurses attending in darkness TO 700
wounded men. a great part Of whom are
quito deIirious and are mutterins and
moaning somewhere In the depthsl At
nrst It was the most creepy sensation to
80 around the ward with my little Lam
tern. Not that felt nervous one feels
80 ireadfully sorry for the poor fellows
that one has no nerves at all, but
yet
Lights have to be out at 10 o'clock
avery night, and SO we Just work among
the wounded in the dark. I make my
with tiny lantern, bending over
sach cot and throwing the light on the
patients face to watch for sudden coll
lapse or any change. Most OF them are
pretty bad cases.. and there they lie.
and calling.
ggN
AT FIRST it was terribly eerie. You
zee. lots OF them are dellrious and get
put OF bed. It is a queer sensation to
near pattering OF feet behind you in
he darkness and to hear the breathing
md painting of some poor wounded fel-
ow. knowing. as you do. that he Is not
'esponsible for his actions. The first
.ime that happened I did feel little
BIT nervous. confess it. If could
pave seen where my patient was,