Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-09
|DLANAof the GREAT GAME
WN THE STORY OF WOMAh5 HUNT FoRANAN. m
l%WB ETHEL LLOYD PATTERSON 60
By Ethel lloyd PATTERSON

away from the diversions l knew were
all too allurinG for me. l did actually
manage to spend several evenings in my
room alone, reading. During the day
spent hours in search of a position.
1t was a god sign, too, that I went
upon this quest dressed in my palmer
clothes. At last it was being forced
upon me that 1 had no great talents
which entitled me to a large income
with comparatively little labor. l began
to realize, too, that the elaborate clothes
I sometimes wore were actually a draw
back TO persons of common sense who
would consider me as an applicant for
the sort of work for which / were really
fitted. You will remember that l had
worked several months at Silbersteins
as a saleswoman in the hat department,
and I had even acquired a fair knowl-
edge of what was required in one who
could successfully sell high grade mill
linery. But even this little knowledge
I had gained I overrated. Certainly.
told myself. if the worst came to the
worst I could walk into any hat store
in the city and get a position on mo-
ment's notice.
Well, the worst did come to the worst
After two or three days spent in apply
ing here and there for higher grades Of
work 1 became discouraged. l decided
I would go back, for the present at least,
to my former mode of earning a living.
And with my decision came a real blow
TO my pride. 1t was not the season for
engaging girls for this kind of work.
To my unutterable surprise 1 found no
exceptions were made in my case.
saw innumCrable heads of departments
and managers who scarcely heard
oh
Their refusals of my services were per-
functory The blow to my pride was so
great l was almost dazed. 1 was having
my eyes opened fast. 1t was being
forced home to me that / was not the
important young person in the scheme
of things that I had imagined l was.
And now, too, came a real problem to
face. When 1 had left my mothers
home, packed my bag and fled rather
than face the temptations I felt June
White was offering me, without a sec
ond thought | had directed the taxi
driver to take me to one of the city's
high-grade hotels. Nor had I, in my
lack of knowledge of business meth
DDS, when L registered and asked for
room and bath, thought to ask the
price Of my accommodations. 1 had told
myself then 1 would only be there a
day or two at most before l would Sc
cure some lucrative position which
would enable me to meet my expenses. As
a matter of fact, l had been unable to
get anything to do of any kind. Ny
bill was running on at what rate l did
not know. Only on the evening of the
third day of the fruitless effort l real
lied this as though it were a sudden
blow.
l telephoned downstairs to the hotel
office and told them to send me my bill
With white lips and beating heart L
awaited it. 1 scarcely could say Thank
you to the boy who brought it to my
door. Then with trembling fingers
opened the envelope. 1 found 7 was be-
ing charged at the rate of 81 a day for
my accommodations without the rather
elaborate breakfasts, luncheons, and din
ners | had been ordering. l did a hasty
and nervous sum on the back of an en-
velope. l found that when / would pay
my hotel bill some thirty-odd dollars
would be left me-this when / had writ
ten to my mother so blithely mot to
worry; that L had plenty of money!"
So now at last 1 had to face life
Squarely. l would have to get some
thing which would bring me in some
sort of income or | would have to go
home; give up all my dne resolutions to
lead new life of self-respecting labors
What would I do? l sat and stared at
the bill in my hand.