Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-14

Washington. d. c., Nov. 10.-Not
long ago an elderly couple entered the
Office o. a government employment
agency in the middle west and told the
matrOn in charge that they wanted to
adopt :, suitable orphan" the old lady
explained to the somewhat amazed
matron. and so we thought we would
consult the services of the govern.
ment''
Any preference as to color of eyes
and hair?" inquired the matron. re-
covering her usual business like COM
pOsure.
1t appeared that they had none.
They lived on farm far out in the
country. and what they wanted, the old
lady said. was a pleasant honey"
sort Of girl, who would keep them
from being lonely, and whom they
could rake heiress to about two hun
dred thousand dollars worth of prop
erty. After interviewing four hundred
applicants for this position, the ma
iron finally selected one girl she
thought would do and introduced her
to the old people They Immediately
liked her, drove her proudly home in
their motor car and after trial period
of ten months took out legal papers
OF adoption.
This is only one girl out of thou
sands who have been placed in good
positions of one sort or another during
the past year by the employment
agencies of the United States bureau
of immigration. The demands for
daughters are scarce, but calls for ser
wants. companions. chaperons and
commercial employees are numerous
There Are now eighty-two national en-
ployment agencies in the country
which are placing on the average of
5000 men and women every month,
and in perhaps third of these the
organization is devoted entirely to the
placement Of women and girls. The
government representatives in charge
are women, who understand labor con-
ditions that affect their sex and are
keen judges Of ability and character
For, not only does the government
find jobs for its unemployed. but it
often directs their abilities and
chooses occupations for them
A few weeks ago tired looking
woman can't into the agency at Balti.
more in quest of employment Her
husband had died. leaving her penni
less when she had supposed that they
were wealthy, and she was forced to
seek work. The matron, after tactful
and diligent inquiry found that the
young woman knew both French and
Italian. played the cello. and was well
versed in social etiquette, but know
nothing about business. Hence. the
matron decided, she would not do as a
social secretary. which requires a
head FOR detail but that she would
make an excellent companion for some
rich old lady With the cooperation
Of another agency in the north the
matron soon placed her in such pc
sition.
On the same day that this case was
settled, two young girls appeared a,
the matrOn's desk and filed applica
tons for employment When asked
what they could do. they looked dis
that they had to do something. They
were obviously OF good family. intelli
gent and well bred. and yet apparent
~ IHey udu no particular dcCOHpllSH
ment that would earn them a living
The matron was becoming distressed
herself when the older girl suddenly
leaned forward and picked up small
brass candlestick from the matron's
desk. why. that's Syrian" she ex
| claimed enthusiastically, and very
antique-where did you ever get it?'
How did you know it was Syrian?'
asked the ever alert government voca
tional guide.
Oh. she knew all about antiques. the
young girl explained, and also had
plans of how the various historic peri
DDS could be used in houses with
good effects Very we'll. you're 60
ing to be an interior decorator" de
clared the matron, land now what can
your sister do?" The sister, it ap
peared. had knack for designing cos
tunes for her family and friends. but
she was afraid they would not lave
any commercial value. The matror
paid no attention to the last part OF
the girls, remark, but called up a