The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-01

This uplifting business is not new to
the Weir family, neither is the SHAT
tering of precedents anything out of
the ordinary for the Weirs. Prior to
taking up, or down, the elevator bust
ness by Miss Weir, her father, the late
John Daddy Weir acted as elevator
boy at the city hall. Daddy Weir
was 20 years old, or more, and en-
joyed the distinction of being the old
est elevator boy in the world.
The elevator line isn't Miss Weir's
only activity during the day. She
studies shorthand while the elevator
is running, providing her passengers
keep quiet. If not she studies the pas
sengers and she studies their remarks
and jots down mental notes as to their
disposition. Let her tell her own story
in her own way. 1t follows:
Her Story Interesting.
It's a. m. and the first trip begins.
The usual clerks and officers come, in
ones, two and threes-some happy,
some sad, some tired and some a little
bit late. Each has a stock greeting.
1t is:
Good morning, or Nice morning.
or Fine rain or If it don't stop rain
ing the crops will be ruined, or My,
this heat is terrible, the worst I've
ever experienced
Perhaps we'd had the same brand
of weather for the last fifteen days.
Each passenger leaves either pleas
ant atmosphere or air that needs to
be fumigated, badly.
Here come my two good old
friends, the ones with Grand Army
buttons on, such as my father always
wore so proudly. Always they are
pleasan- with a top O. the mornin' to
yez' They always start the day off
right.
There's no soldiers like the old
soldiers for the elevator girl. There's
something beside a swagger stick that
makes one like the old soldier"
With the advent of the old soldiers,
the first routine of the morning is
usually over. Topeka is fully awake,
every one is hurrying about on some
Grand The elevator girl sees them
all, and hears them all. Here's the
way Miss Weir describes the ups
as she call her optimistic passengers:
Pull Old Jokes.
Some have sickness or troubles
and many complain to the elevator
girl. There are others who come in
for a social chat and they're always
welcome. Next comes the ever preva-
lent Joker. oh, he is some joker.
Lots of ups and downs in your
life, eh?' That's new stuff, you know,
and it tickles me to death.
=" Let me off on the sixth floor
They know there are only three floors
in the city hall. Yet it helps to pass
away the time.
Then, there's the fellows who in
fun help themselves to the cigars and
gum, supposed to be the source of
pin money for the elevator girl There
are the sweet kind, old ladies and gem
tlemen who are just a little wee bit
afraid to ride and hang onto your
chair and wonder if the work isn't too
confirming You know they mean il
and don't laugh at them. You can
just tell those people really feel you're
doing something that isn't good for
you"
Thus ends the string of Miss Weir's
ups" The others she calls her
downs, They're the pessimists and
the authors of foolish questions. Her
description ofthem follows:
The Down" Customers.
" is Mr.. in. No.? Seems
to me he never is in. Think he would
run his office better
" He doesn't come down until or
10 o'clock
" Good land. nice time of day for
a professional man to get to work
" Why don't they get a new office
girl in that office. She sure is a
did you get your job on account
of WARP
=" No, but there's lots of war in it,
Who's going to be chief of police ?
Don't know
" What's going on in the auditor
lump
Couldn't say
e DO you require a gentleman to re-
move his hat?'
a "A gentleman doesn't need to be
required
After all. tho. Miss Weir likes the
job.
IT'S pleasant" she says, and one
that can and will be filled by women.
Why not?"