Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-09

cities OF the Kind. MISS Lauren was not
She born in Erie, Pa, Of honest but
not too rich parents.
They named her Ruth.
In her early teens Miss Ruth began to
visualize. IL must be great success" she
said. " must go TO New York to be recog-
nized. But what have that deserves rec
ognition?" She could not answer because
she did not know. Never mind" she said
10 herself. happily; some time I'll find
out"
So she busted herself watching the tele-
phone girls working at the switchboard.
At night she would go over the motions
she had seen during the day and even
rugged up little dummy board to prac
tise on. AT last she went 10 the head Of
the exchange and asked for a position.
Have you had any experienced" asked
the manager.
OH yes" said Miss LAUREL. then just
getting out of her sixteenth year. So they
put her on the switch. and as she seemed
TO know just what TO do, they left her
there.
All said Miss LAUREL to herself that
night "In six years ] will have saved
enough to go TO New York and by that
time ] will surely have discovered my
talent
But, alas! what was splendid in theory
didn't work out in practise. Miss Laurell's
spirit was all right, but her fingers weren't
tough enough. She had wanted to do
things too much in hurry and hadn't
given them time TO callous. The plug
cords which she shot into place began 10
cut them. The hands began TO swell. She
went pluckily on until one day the tele
phone people had to carry her ont 10 a
hospital. She had gotten blood poisoning
from the little cords and she had 10 give
up the telephone.
Can YOU work on the typewriter?"
asked one of the doctors Miss Laurell had
never worked on one in her life, hut that
didn't matter
"Of course" she said.
"All right; when your hand is we'll III
employ YOU as my stenographer, said he.
Miss Laurell noted the make of type
writer he used and made a note of the
saary--a much nearer New York one than
the telephone people had given her.
After that. every night, Miss LAUREL
went secretly to a business college and
learned TO typewrite on just that kind OF
machine with her left hand. She figured
that if she could learn with the left she'd
have no trouble in picking up the thing
with the right in quick time. That is Just
what happened. So she got that job
I'm sure It's not typewritnf that I'm
TO be genius at though she sighed.
mo, it's something else. Now, what is il?"
The conduct Of one of the doctors
friends ought to have given her the clue.
lie WOulu Slt ana look at ner Tor hours.
Then he proposed marriage to her. AL last
he proposed so violently that Miss LAUREL
left the office by the window. She wouldn't
come back. But she did get another posi-
tion-she had learned stenography, too,
by that time.
And still she was dissatisfied. 81 know
there is something that / can do better
than all this" she said. Lets see--have
carfare to New York and enough to live
on for timer" She counted Yes, she had
perhaps" she unused. 81 can discover my
self there" She went to New York.
Almost at once she met Mr. Charles
Falls, the famous illustrator. The Illustra.
tors Society. OF which the Distinguished
Charles Dana Gibson is the president, was
about to have one of It's charming but
unconventional affairs. Mr.. Falls had writ
ten an exquisite little pantomime. He
called 1t Perfectly Happy It's theme
and treatment were strongly Oriental.
"Alas!" sighed Mr.. Falls. 81 am not
happy"
why not?' asked Miss Kay-yes, she
had dropped the Ruth en- route to New
York.
81 want some one to pose as my heroine,
the Philandering Queen and l cannot get
her" mourned Mr.. Falls.
VIII | do?" asked Miss Kay Mr. Falls
looked at her with an awakening eye.
mot that way" he said. Wait I'll show
Copyricht 19lb nv tho star Comm