The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-22
Dorothy Dix Talks
How To Get There.
ny DOROTHY DIX
Worlds Highest Paid Woman Writer.


Another point 1 would call to the
attention of the girls" said the man.
lis the necessity of working while
they work. and giving their whole at
tention to stheir job. instead of half
working, snd using only half of their
minds. As I pass thru my big outer
office a dozen times day l notice
certain girls who never look up, who
are never chattering. who are en-
crossed with the thing they have in
hand. They are giving me honest
service. Other girls are looking
around, and chattering, and whisper
ing to each other about what he
said and she said.' and the dates
they have got. Everyone of the
earnest workers is slated for a move
up as soon as the opportunity pre-
sents itself, and the slackers will be
the ones / will dispense with il busi-
ness gets a bit bad.
"A third point that would implore
girls to consider is the necessity of
accuracy, and of establishing a record
of relia bility. 1 have two stenograph-
ers who in speed and industry are
about equal, but 1 pay one ten dollars
a week more than do the other, be
cause I can depend upon her letters
being absolutely correct. don't
have to read them. 1 can sign them
with the assurance that they are just
as dictated them.
may not, be just right. 1 don't dare
risk sending them without reading
them because she may have quoted
a price wrong. or made some. vital
mistake, and it's worth ten dollars a.
week in time to me to have a secre-
tary who is accurate. That's why one
girl gets better salary than the
other
Another point that I would call the
girls attention to is the fact that the
average business man is an-rsover-.
worked. Cver-strained man whose
nerves are on edge, and that any little
peculiarity of a secretary can irritate
him to madness. For instance, l have
just gotten rid Of really efficient
stenographer becau of the stime 1t
took for her to get ready to take die
tatlon. When / summoned her she
would stop to get a glass of water.
then she would sharpen her pencil
then she would have to hunt UP her
note book, then she would fuss with
her hair. and her waist, and by the
time she got herself settled l was
swearing mad. and in no condition to
give my mind to the work in hand.
or course | know sane. sensible man
should not let such little personal
peculiarities in his stenographer upset
him, but 1t does, and so I can give
no more earnest piece of advice to
girl than this-to dress herself be-
fore she leaves home. and comb her
hair and let it go at that until work.
ing hours are over So shall her en-
ployer arise and call her blessed
Still another point for girls to con-
slider Is the desira bility of cultivating
pleasant manner. and looking alive
and alert, and interested. This doesn't
mean mingling. or kidding, or making
goo-goo eyes. or flirting. Far from it.
IT means for girl just to look like
she's amiable. and good natured, and
enjoys her work, and is glad she's
got good job.
Nothing on earth is so distasteful to
man as to have girl around him
who looks as IL she regarded herself
in the light of an early Christian n
martyr because she has to earn her
own living. or who is lackadaisical and
untnterested, while as for the one who
Is temperamental and who weeps=
good night The blue envelope for
her everX time.
These are only few tips on how
to succeed, but If you will follow them
you can't fail"