Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-15

A very interesting law suit Is being
tr;ed an New York city. It is between
a motion picture producer and a we'll
known woman star whom he is SUING
for breach of contract. With reference
TO the charge of general obstreperous :
ness made against the defendant, the
Judge took occasion to make this re.
mark: 1.-THE court takes cognizance OF
the fact that from time immemorial
such have been the troubles OF the i'm
presario with the prima DONNA
And that Is why we hear men. say
that they do not want to DO business
with women. For there IL no doubt that
ali Of us are poorer in the respect OF
the business world on account Of the
antics of such prima donnas and some
women in business who act as though
thcy think they we're such prima donnas.
Now n prima donna may be unbusi-
nesslike, may bring coquettry into her
business dealings and get away with it.
But she does not benefit by these
tactics. On the contrary she gets by in
spite of them. and only because there
are so few real prima donnas. And
even inlpresarios will eventually throw
up their hands and tear up their con-
tracts.
II has not been of any lasting bere-
fit to any girl to bring her sex into her
lob or her business. But II has re.
suited in lost positions as we'll as lost
respect and other humiliating expert
enccs.
On the other hand the girl who is
"strictly business" who puts herself
on an equal footing with her male as
sociatcg, who does not expect or seek
to get anything on any other basis, who
Is ready to give and take equally and
equitably with them Is sure to get the
added respect that comes OF being con-
sidered rarity.
This docs not mean, Of course, that
we must resort to such extremes as a
pretty little girl knew. In her desire
10 be "strictly business she thought she
must look old and plain, and she did
this very effcctually with goggles and
q ridiculous coiffure!
It does not mean that girls should
withhold the unaffected smiles and the
youthful cheer that bring sunshine to
an Office as to every other place, nor
that they should seek to inhibit the
charm that comes Of youth and beauty.
We hear much about men in business
being moro willing to do things for
young girl with a pretty face. or
course. they are-and SO Is everybody
else. SO smile on. girls-BUT:
Don't try to substitute smile for |
the goods you are supposed to deliver. |
Remember that no matter how sus-
ceptibe IL man may be to feminine
charms he does not want them and
very rarely will permit them to inter-
fere with his business; that IL he had
a dinner engagement with you and you
kept him waiting to get that perfect
wave in your hair he might feel COM
peusated-but never IL you kept him
waiting at the office. Remember that
when there is work to be done he wants
you to go shoulder to shoulder. and that
no matter how beautiful your eyes may
be he does not want them raised to him
when they should be on your work. Re-
member, too, that while a pretty pout
may do wonders with a sweetheart or
with husband. 1t is out Of place with
boss" That would be bringing sex
into your job instead of the dignity that
makes a businesslike mien.
Remember, too, girls, that even the
wrong kind Of man may not act like
the right kind of man with the girl
who works for him or with him. But IL
she by ever 80 little injects her sex into
her. business she is laying herself open
to humiliation.