The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-29
D. 5. HELLO GIRLS"
POPULAR N FRANCE
American Telephone Operators Ador-
ed BY French And Worshipped
by Soldiers
DIVIDE POPULARITY
At The Two Dances Every Week
Girls Have To Divide Time Be-
tween Officers and Erivates.
BY Arthur Hungerford


state in France. They are adored by
the French and worshipped by the
American soldiers, the men of the
Y. NJ. c. A., knights OF Columbus.
Salvation Army and the other war
workers affiliated with the united war
work campaign for $17o.50o. 900
which viii soon be under way in the
United States. Yet in spite of all this
attention the hello girls" are not
spoiled.
Ninety-nine are in France. Addi-
t3enAl units are on the way. Those
already here are pretty well scatter
-. though there are two or three
large units.
The happiest untt--at least the
GfYfs claim they are the happieet unit
Us stationed In the city Of Discon :
tent so called because IT is far be-
hind the battle lines and practically
every one there rs anxious to get to
the front
The girls arr given two dances a
week, one by the Y M. G. A. and the
other by the Y. W. G. A. In addi-
ton, they are the honored guests Of
an entertainments and many theatre
have an athletic field of their own
provided by the Y. W. c. a.
All the telephone girls in this town
are auartered at the signal girls club,
= French hotel taken over ny the
Y. w. c. A, especially for their use.
Army 20. ks Goodbyes
Their life is not all play. however.
The girls are under military discf-
pine. Each liz allowed four passes a
rf~l.
eAriy passes call for them TO return
10 the club by 1890 o'clock. The
late passes allow them to remain out
until midnight. The military authodi-
ties have recognized the presence OF
the girls and their value 20 the army
by granting enlisted mon who take
them TO dances TO return to quarters
As minutes late In order to take the
girls home. sa minutes being allowed
for the trip and I O minutes for the
'Goodhves'
The girls reign in democratic state.
they accept the invitations OF officers
and enlisted men alike. Both officers
and enlisted men may call on them
al the signal girls club. Their rank is
forgotten though military courtesy is
maintained. tho men ara only too
glad of the opportunity to sec and
talk 10 real American girls.
At recent dance. given To the
American girls 81 the city or ffiscon~
tent ard attended by telephone girls.
Y. NJ ca aa2. &C 4 women.
a colonel lieutenant. four majors.
and captains and lteutenants galore
were dancing on thc floor at one
time and Ten colonies and ma Tors
were dancing with telephone girls
and the colonel had the least attract
i've girl in the lot.
Quarter "Au Dances"
There are so many more men than
girls at theee dances. fhs-t the girls
are called u pom not emily to .'halye'
but to quarter their dances 40 that
every man may have at least one
dance or rather part OF dance. Ev-
cry girl is q belle every night in the
week
Not all girls are Americans by
birth. though all ~ them have lived
IN, the United StNtes They all. hew-
ever. spe ak English ard French,
Practically all of the new girls com
ting over are Americans The chief
requirement for service now is that
4 girl shall be a proficient operator
and measure up In regards 10 age
and character for Only the finest type
of telephone girl ia accepted fer SER
vice over here
Tho army not only adores the girls
but IL looks ont for them and pro-
tects them in every way. Every night
one OF the quickes, hardest hitting
military policeman OF the City OF Dis
content keeps watch and guard over
their club houss He is armed with n
night stick and revolver. In addition
he Is OF Belgian descen, and speaks
French and Flemish perfectly He Is
the most envied man in town
Miss Mary Snow. of Lowell, Mass ,
an experienced operator of the Bell
telephone company, ~ chief opera
tor. She Is also a commanding Off.
Ger Of the girls and issues the passes
and looks after them generally She
II fine type of American woman
hood and works In the closest CO.
operation with Miss Katherine Fox.
who back home is Dean OF the wo-
mans depa rtment NJ Oregon univer-
eity and who in France is in charge
OF the Y. W C. A. club house AM!
work for the telephone girls in this
division.
Telling OF the work OF the club teie-
phone girls In France Miss Snow
said:
'Y'' Means Much
First. | must say n word Of ap~
probation to the Y w c. A. for its
splendid work in looking out for our
comfort and welfare I do not knew
what we would do without II This
club, which Is really remarkable
Institution, Is only ,,srt OF its work
Then the y NJ, G. A. dances mean
SO much to us and the soldiers
The work Of tho tele phone girls
here is like II Is at home The life
is iHerent. We work n seven and
eight hour shifts according to the
time the work is done We have no
late night shifts. however. far the
work is light then and the men take
10 over.
with ninety-nine girls over here
wefof course, have many types repre-
Rented. but the group Is a remarkably
fine one. IT includes college girls
who came over as i offered them the
only ornortunity to get into war
work. They were sent to telephone
school before they came over Then
We have a number OF trained tele~
phone operators who can speak
French Ability to speak French is
not so important as II as at first.
The girls are under military dis
cipline and observe II wonderfully
we'll. IT is hard for girl who has
been used 10 do almost as she pleases
TO have 70 secure permission before
she can go for a walk after dark. but
the girls are meeting the situation in
splendid way.