Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-01-31

planned:
M usefulness would be impaired,
my chance to grow, because l would
be constantly conscious of Dodge's
dislike and that he was working
against me Then too, it Will be good
for me to change. l have learned
my lesson there. [ am fairly fan1l-
lar with business mthods as used in
that particular office; that branch of
business. 1t is imperative that
know many angles, not one. While
Mr.. Stevens had said he was sorry
to have me go.
"I am sorry, too, Mr.. Stevens, but
it is best for me to 60"
Perhaps. You ere the best judge
of that. But I, of course, do not I'M
derstard"
1 was sorry for Mr.. Stevens, queer
as it must sound to say so. But L
shall always regret my carelessness
ways it is best that 60"
| know mother thought that my
seeing Lloyd often where [ was had
something to do with my decision
but it had not consciously. L felt
1 could not see his side of the case.
his viewpoint, as he was because
he could not see mine.
knew ne must lnisS me, that 1t would
take another. even Mr.. Dodge If he
succeeded to the position, a long
my employer to the extent l had
done. But, of course, [ could not tell
him SO, and we parted with, ! think.
fairly pleasant feelings on both sides,
although even at the last l knew the
lost letter was in his mind.
I have no hard luck story to tell
Nothing of fruitless searching for a
position. of h2rd-hearted employers,
and IF all the other things which the
unqualified inexperienced girl has
to endure. l rested week, then
took a. position with a large invest.
house. 1t seemed to me the idea!
place to get the training l desired.
Here also ] was made private sec
rotary with the same powers to hire
and discharge that ! had had with
Mr.. Stevens. Also with a larger sal
aav I was to have $4,000 year if
[ did my work satisfactorily.
T knew, of course, that this was an
unusual salary-for a woman. But
the requirements We're unusual. The
war had increased the number OF
women investors to an almost incred-
marily the cause. but there were
many women who had become more
self-reliant, more capable of manag-
ing than before. Yet even these, some
Of them women of large wealth, were
often put to it to know how to in
vest LnelF surplus lllCOHleS, anu uldHy
Of them knew as little of finance as
did the laundress or the shop girl
with their $50 Liberty bond.
The women investors were now
numbered in the hundreds of thou
sands. Surely it was up to women
| investments. Many of them, as the
president Of the company explained
to me, never heard of a coupon, or
knew what one looked like. 1t was
part of my job to teach the girls and
women employed by me-. to show such
women the proper way to handle
their savings, large or small; to show
them every courtesy. and to be at all
times unfailingly polite.
1t sounds simple in the telling. In
reality it was far from being so.
Many of the women / hired were
competent in some one direction,
woefully ignorant in others. There
employed also. They had to be fairly
expert. I often think that [ earned
every penny. of my salary in this
place. I worked carly and late. All
the time not given to my secretarial
work with the president was given
train employees. Yet [ knew many
Of the men employed in the institu-
ton did not receive as much, and
that they were envious of me-rather
OF my pay envelope.
Not that now it was unusual for a
| woman to receive such a salary. But
it was too new an innovation to be
popular. But [ was very careful not
to assume any authority. that did not
belong to me, very careful also to do
nothing to offend. I dressed stylishly
in STRICTLY tailored fashion.
After I had been with Barlow &
Co. for q while I asked Mr.. Barlow
| if he had any objections to my using
one of the rooms occa sionally to talk
to the girls, especially the young
stenographers.
He looked surprised, but readily
gave me permission.
ST can talk to them collectively
during the noon hour once or twice a
week, and so conserve time" / told