The daily Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1916-1917, 1916-08-04

Many business man appears ell
barrassed when a woman reporter ap-
pears suddenly before him in his Of
flee and asks, Have you any news for
the Missourian today?" Her coming
was unheralded. and she gave no sign
of her approach. and anyway, report
ers are usually men. Even here in Co
lumbia where reporters from the Mis-
sOurian are often women, the average
business man cannot exactly get used
to her. When he gets over the first
start of surprise he glances at her feet
to see how on earth she got so close
to him without him hearing her At
once the puzzle is solved for she wears
rubber heele1 shoes. The next glance
rests on the slip of yellow paper she
has in her hand. and last he looks the
reporter in the face. Then comes the
answer to her question for news. mo,
| believe not today. Business is dull"
Smoke Battles the Reporter.
In the Office next door the smoke is
SO thick that the reporter can hardly
tell whether there is anyone in the
room or not But when she does see
the smoke here is the scene
that lies before her. At least two men
sit with their feet upon the desks, and
smoke furiOusly. In the window is
another man engaged in the same pas
time. Good morning" coughs the
reporter. and a gruff "Mornin" is her
answer. No feet are removed from the
desks. no cigars from the mouths. and
no one turns or rises. Have you
with slight stress on the 'youo any
news for the Missourian today?" she
asks. Not today" is the short answer
The reporter stands few minutes pom
dering whether to pump the men or
away to go the Office across the street.
She climbs a dirty flight of stairs
haired man rises to ,geet her and asks
what he can do. The reporter has
never encountered this man on her
rounds before, so she replies in an or
1inary tone, Have you any news this
To her amazement and
10y he answers. "Yes, Yes" and then
stands and looks at her She feels a
not flush crawling up her neck but
she inquiries in a louder tone is she
IAN have the news for the paper. But
he reporters hopes are doomed to dis
appointment. for the old man says that
he has no news. and had not heard
Ter first question rightly.
At Last, Some News.
At the next office she is greeted with
he explosive question" Well, how |,
many reporters are there on the Mis- |
A new one comes here every |
lay" Such a start is promising, and !
when the reporter leaves, it is with a |
lews item, and the invitation to call |
gain.
The not unusual answer to the re- !
DOrter's inquiry for news is ITS hot"
she hears, I'm sorry. but
don't believe | know anything today.
'ome in again though"
Some business men take pleasure
n looking the woman reporter over
efore answering her questions. Why
hould they lower their feet from the
esk just because the reporter happens
o be woman? She is just report
r. But that is not the attitude of all
usiness men. There are exceptions
0 every rule" There are business
nen here in Columbia who seem to eX-
ect the reporter as they do the day
light, and they are not surprised when
he reporter is a woman. In fact,
hey seem glad to see her, and like to
ak to her. All they tell her may not
e news, but when they have news she
nay be certain that she will be told
bout it. Sush men are the woman re-
Orter's friends indeed. 1
No News. But a Political Joke.
After the woman reporter climbs
hree flights of stairs to find the man
he is to interview chewing tobacco so
igorOusly he can hardly talk, she has
eason to be discouraged. And then.