Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-03
WOMEN ENJOY JOB
. AS CENSUS-TAKERS
0uestioners for the Most Part
Receive Courteous Treatment
and Consideration
HuM0RS OF ENUMERATION

is the dog in the house? Put him
out. I'm briugin' a stranger in"
That was the first salutation one OF
the women census takers in the north
eastern part of the city received when
she started her work BY the time she
had spent two hours getting data con-
cerning fifty five persons within half
block on North Fifth street she was
convinced that If variety were the spice
of life Philadelphia had some mighty
spicy communities.
There was the adorable old deaf
woman whose answer to most questions
was Hey? What you want to know
that for?" and there were cunning
Youngsters who wanted to show the
visitor all the things Santa brought and
how the monkey climbed stick and
why the train wouldn't run. There was
n motherly body who took in board
ers but wanted mighty bad to get rid
of her place, and there was the fifty
two year-old maiden lady who grew
purple in the face when asked her age
and flew into a rage when asked how
she earned her living.
All Are Considerate
For the most part every one has
been very considerate and has given in
formation readily said Mrs. Rose
Nicholson, one of the census takers.
4 have covered only one block so far.
Every one have met knew what census
meant and was ready to answer ques-
tons. Now and then there was a snob-
bish person, but when the head of
the house seemed cranky or queer I
Just made myself that much more agree
able and pleasant.
IL is great study in human ma
ture,' she continued. 1T is surprising
how little people do know about them
selves. though even those with more
than the average intelligence. They
have to stop to figure up their ages.
10 think of the names Of all the children,
and half of them don't seem to have
the remotest idea what their husbands
or brothers or sons are doing. They
know where the man works aud his
trade. but often they don't know what
department or just the nature of the
work. -
Many Varieties
II have found most of the people
owning their own homes, or paying
for their homes on the instaUment
plan. 1t is interesting to see what n
variety of professions are represented
in one block. There will be a baker liv
ing over the shop on the corner, real
estate dealers, physicians iabOrers and
women employed at factories. and in
professions all within small radius. y
Christmas trees, their tinsels in vari-
Gus stages of dilapidation, holly wreaths
and the general holiday aftermath were
found everywhere. While mother talked
to the census lady" small sou shot his
popguu, blew all the horns and made
as much din as he possibly could to dis
tract attention from the business of the
call. 1t was plain to be seen that the
parlor door was opened only on special
occasions, so son wouldn't have all the
tree ornaments and most precious toys
torn to pieces before the holiday season
was ended.
Some Want TO Gossip
There were folks who wanted to gos-
sip and others who wauted to get the
business over so they could get back to
ironing or sewing or cooking. The cen
sus takers are happy to end large
number of persons under one roof, be
cause they are paid by the number of
Dames they get. and it is much easier
to get them in big groups.
sit takes a. least ten minutes for each
person" said Mrs. Nicholson, ''for
there are twenty nine questions to ask
written with pen aud lux in the official
form.
"T just have to so inside so 7 can
sit down to write. The official blank
book is as big as most women's muga
zines.
Many OF the women census takers
began their work yesterday. Many
others will begin today. They are sup
posed 70 take only two weeks to cover
one district. and some of them are
hoping to be given second district when
they complete the first. With most of
them it is just an easy way to earn a
little spending money, and they have
already figured out just how the earn
ings of the few weeks are to be spent.
One woman is going to pay doctor's S
bills; another is planning t buy a fur
neckpiece, and another is going TO use
the money TO help buy a piano.