Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-07

I'VE discovered something today about busi-
i ness. This is it: It's easier to lose n Job
than to get one.
when resigned from Marsh & Fclton's
last Saturday--no, I'll bo honest with myself
at any rate, when ! was fired yes, FIRED
i thought II would be easy to land a loh'
The various employment agencies advertise
every day lists Of jobs waiting 70 be- iiilCd.
All had to do. 50 | foonshly thought In
my ignorance was to go and take my pick
Now l know different. All the picking that's
happened today has been at ne instead OF
I'd better recount what hapr,ncd. as a
warning to myself and to any others who may
About 10 a. m. ! went 10 the Itetropole
Employment Agency to hook on TO one of
those Jobs saw advertised. To my delight,
there was only one other fellow thcrc--and
he was there by appointment.
smart young man asked me what
wanted. and told him wanted the posi-
tion Of local travelling salesman for dry
goods houses that they advertised,
d, lie Erinned and said, "You are only about
200 applicants too late"
WHAT" ! gasped. "lIow can that be when
the ad only appeared THIS morning."
Exactly" he responded. "but this morn
ing has already gone, so far as getting that
You want to get here by 1880 If You really
mean business.
However" he continued. Tets take your
name and address and some particulars Of
your work and abilities and we'll see what
we can do"
gave him my name and the address or
my boarding house. lie thcn asked where
/ worked last and why I left.
Marsh x Fclton'S," I said. and 7 left
bccausc-becausc" Itu save my life I could
not think of any good reason to give for
leaving).
Not exactly" lied "Thcy were slack In
my department. SO had to let some one go,
and as was the last conner, Of course it had
| to lac me-"
How easy It Is to lie when once You get
| started For an instant almost believed it
| myself, The employment agency man quick
| ~ brought me to earth when he said muSing-
| ly, "Too bad, too bad; only this morning
| they phoned us for two men for the kitchen
| goods department"
| Two" | exclaimed with surprise 81
wonder If Billy'---then ! stopped abruptly.
Yes" said the fellow, zone permanently
| and one special just for week or two.
| Well" he continued briskly, Il suppose
| we can refer To- them FOR one place. How
| long were you there"
| Five weeks seemed such a little while that
! l said: "Only n few months
How long eXactly?" sharply said the fell
"Nearly two MONTHS" I grudgiugly said
| Much better give Inc exact details if YOU
want us to help you" he said quckly--thcn
| where you before them"
ut was my first job"
training? DO YOU understand double entry
bookkeeping?"
"Do YOU know shorthand and typcwritIng?'
"No."
"Do you understand Office routiuc?"
! "No."
Have you any knowledge of transporta.
tion?
"No."
l was getting desperate. 50 was lie, foI
he eXcalmed:
What do you know"
81 can sell goods" | snapped.
| Fine !" lie frightened up Perhaps ",
can help you in that line. What experlenc,
have you had other than at Marsh & Eel
ton's?"
None at ALL" I finally admitted, but
know l can sell IL given Il chance"
| mo experience, no training and fired from
the only job you had. Well. there's II plac,
for you somewhere just the same. Com,
around in the mornlng-bcfore s o'clock
| though--and Ill see what can do"
| And he dismissed me. The rest of tn,
day | wandered amleSsly around wonderlnl
what the morrow would develop.