The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-07
Quarters de Luxe
For the Hello Girls
Living in Great Hotel Was Only Temporary
but Company Is Making Splendid
Provisions for Employees

nor two months there has been a good
story at the Hotel Pennsylvania, but
= 1t escaped the hunt of the special
writer's. and now it is too late For all that
time-sixty whole days-the New York Tele-
phone Company boarded, or at least roomed
there, 263 operators called to this city by
shortage in it's hello girls. The company
took the whole of two floors for this purpose
at a heavy expense, and this was for the
better service to its subscribers.
The news that this bevy of supposed
beauty and telephone talent was being housed
in the big hosiery was well kept secret by
the company and the proprietors Of the
Pennsylvania The latter did not want
hangers-on, followers" is another name often
used for men attracted to a place by the
presence there of maidens and the company
had good and obvious reasons for being Sc
cret. 1t came out in a statement by T. p.
Sylvan, vice president in charge of person
mel, to the Public Service Commission re-
Gently made.
New Dormitory for the Girls
Mr.. Sylvan said that the need of operators
had been so urgent in the city that 263 ex-
perienced girls had been brought into the
metropolitan area from up State and other
localities. The cost of the rooms that had to
month
Now, he stated, a dormitory was almost
completed, whittier the hello girls will be
transferred
When the girls were first brought here to
help out in the service they were to have
been housed In a dormitory in one of the
big "centrals," but before they arrived this
space had to be used for additional service
boards, and so the hotel accommodation was
provided. 1t was only temporary arrange
ment.
In several OF the centrals both for Man.
haitian and long distance there are sleeping
accommodations provided for the EMPLOYEES
and in new central now being erected con-
siderable space is allowed for this purpose
IL Is not however, at all like college dor
mitory, and the rooms are intended to be
used in the case of emergency.
AS there are $4,000 operators in this city
alone the absurdity of the idea which some
persons received from reading the proceeding
before the commission that all these female
employees were provided with sleeping ac-
commodations will readily be SEEN Many
comforts are provided by the company for
them, but this Is not one
Yes, they are highly thought OF and very
carefully trained. During the training
process, which occupies about two years
everything in reason is done to make condi-
tons pleasant and healthful This sort of
paternal care extends. of course, beyond the
apprentice period, to call II thus, and all the
time the young women are in the company's
employ they enjoy this care.
What II Costs to Train Operators.
Rest rooms, dining rooms and a benefit
FUND insurance are some of the advantages
the operators receive. While they are learn
ing 1t has been testified that each embryo
operator costs the company $1,000 In Chi
cago the chief counsel OF the telephone COM
pany for that city explained item of
SSOO0,000 as being the estimated cost of
training 5000 telephone operators of the
Chicago district.
Not only do we look out for our operators
in health in order to keep them so, but in
case of sickness of one of them her Job 10
kept for her for limited time and she re-
ceives full pay. In some cases the time IS
not so limited, but is capable of being ex-
tended"
So spoke an assistant of Mr. Sylvan. and
he added a description of the rest rooms
which sounded very attractive
The rooms are really prepared and fur
nished so that the girls when off duty can
really relax. The furniture was selected by
experts for that purpose and the divans.
sofas and chairs, &C., are of kind that in
wife to rest In these rooms also are pianos
writing desks and in each big centre table
loaded with the kind Of literature the oper-
ators prefer. This matter Is studied. and
we soon learn what to discard because the
journals and magazines &C. show whether
they are read not.
Expert Dieticians Plan the Menu.
Our dining rooms" he continued. ARE
amply spaced high ceied and furnished to
be as homelike as possible. We don't compel
the girls to eat there. but most of them do
because Of the low prices we are able to fix.
This is done for the advantage of efficiency
and no pretence is made of its being a
philanthropy.
We noticed that good many girls would
not take sufficient luncheon for their needs