Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-22
The New
Business Girl

working girls IN this country to-
day as there were three or four
years ago. l~nstigated by their patriot
ism, their very laudable desire to put
their own youthful shoulders to the
wheel alongside their brothers, fathers
and ~sweethearts, they have left their
easygoing, carefrec lives al home with
mother and entered that, to them, un-
explored country, the business world.
But these same big-souled girls, so
eager to help, are just the girls who are
needing advice these days. The new
world is so different from their old one,
that, they are apt to get a bit dazcd, to
lose Their sense of direction and to make
little mistakes, that if not caught up in
time may some time develop into big
,cpes.
One thing that this new business girl
often fails to realize is that business and
society will not mix any more than oil
and water, There must be no social
recognition during Office hours. Your
employer may be your dads best friend
or you may have met him at a party the
night before and had two dances with
'l+ir1, but during business hours this
should be forgotten. OF course, you
should be perfectly natural, don't over
do it. 1t is easy enough to get so in
terestcd in your work that he is only
q part of it.
Girls often wonder whether they
should, accept invitations from their en,-
ploycrs to lunch. You can hardly blame
a man for wanting to take a nice jolly
girl Of his own social standing out for
lunch and spend a pleasant hour across
the table discussing work and other con-
genial topics. But it will not do. The
other girls and men will talk; You can
not affordit il. Discuss your business at
his desk, and reserve the other things
till later.
1t is very hard to put aside the lovely
clothes and jewclry that you are so fond
of. wearing, but you will never be taken
seriously if you appear at the Office at
9 o'clocA dressed as if for an afternoon
tea. Get yourself a simple, well-made
dark business frock, and leave your Jew
elry. at home.
Another error that this new bushes.
girl must avoid is. talking to the other
girls about her family and her possess
sions. The fact that you really do not
have: to work should not be mentioned.
Thcgirls who do have to, and who have
beenIat their jobs since they left school,
may resent it, may feel that it is a pity
that you had to leave your home and.
!takeathc bread out of their mouths And
'yourinay miss making some of the dear
est and most loyal friends you have ever
had,
And of course, it is only to be expect
ed that much of the social life that was
yours before must be given up for the
time, being. That sacrifice is nothing
compared to what the boys have given
up for you. 1t was a different PROPOSE
ton altogether, dancing till 2 o'clock n
night and going to the theater, with a
supper later, the next, when you could
lie in bed till 10 or II the following
morning and have mother bring your
coffee up to you. You have no right to
bring an aching head and a tired body
to work. If you arc worn out, cross
and unable to think clearly, you arc TAX
,ipg something that doesn't belong to
YOU, the. clear brain and zest that your
employer is paying for. OF course, you
must have some fun. "All work and no
play*s you know. Often you can attack
your5job much more efficiently after an
evening of pleasure, but it must be the
sort of fun that will not leave you with
that morning after" feeling.
And just because you do not have to
work, don't get into the habit of arriv-
Ing a few minutes late and leaving a few
minutes early. Again you are taking
something that doesn't belong to you
every time you do this.
These little things are all so easy to
avoid and the new life will be so much
more interesting and worth while, when
you have learned to steer your little
boat along the right channel.
-b--