Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-22
By CONSTANCE DRExEL.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Ths Presi-
dents statement at a Republican ban
quet last Saturday that he hoped there
would doom be more women in public
life brings forward the question: In
what posts7"
The diplomatic service offers pos
sibility for the appointment OF women
Miss Lucille Atcherson Of Columbus
Ohio, is likely to be the first woman ap-
pointed as a diplomatic officer OF the
United States. She is in Washington
studying for the necessary examination,
having been designated by President
Harding as eligible TO take the next one.
Inquiry at the State Department
elected information which would seem
to make the career of diplomatic Of
fcer" very attractive to woman,
though it is doubtful Il American women
will care to push themselves any further
ahead than the minor secretaryships.
By secretaryship is not meant
stenographer or clerk, but the rank Of
first, second, third or fourth secretary,
the first secretary sometimes being called
upon as charge d'affalres.
MUST ENTER
FOURTH GRADE.
However, the only way man or woman
can get to be a secretary 10 a foreign en-
bassy or legation is by entering in the
grade Of fourth secretary.
But the way is by no means simple, and
Miss Atcherson is to be congratulated on
having been designated to take the ex-
animation, which is conducted by the
State Department and civil service COM
mission.
At the State Department 1t was said
that examinations are held in Washington
at such times as the needs Of the service
requires. There has not been one for
several months and the date of the next
one has not been set
Most of the applicants are college men
who have followed special courses at
Harvard and other leading universities to
al them for the diplomatic service.
EXAMINATION NOT
SIMPLE AFFAIR.
Let no woman jump to the conclusion
that the examination is a simple affair.
Lucille Atcherson told the writer that she
came back from France last summer in
time to take it, but, though she is a
Smith College graduate and has had a
lot Of experience valuable in the diplo-
matte service, she gave one look at a
sample exam" and decided she had bet
ter not try it, but spent some time in
preparation.
Therefore she has been taking courses
at the George Washington University
here under Prof. Charles E. Hill, head
of the political science department.
This much was learned at the State
Department about the examination which
women applicants for fourth class secre-
taries must take provided their appli-
cations have been accepted and they have
been designated as eligible to take the ex-
amination).
EXAMINATIONS
EXTENSIVE IN SCOPE.
The examinations shall be both oral
and in writing and shall include the fol-
lowing subjects:
International law, diplomatic usage,
and knowledge of at least one mod
ern language other than English; also
the natural, industrial and commercial
resources and the commerce of the United
States American history, Government and
institutions modern history since 1850 of
Europe, Latin America and the Far East.
The object of the oral examination shall
also be to determine the candidates ma
tural fitness for the service, character,
manners, etc a physical examination is
necessary. The examinations cover two
or three days.
After that, not all those that are
called are chosen, so to speak, because
there are always more successful candi-
dates than posts. But there is little
doubt Of Miss Atchersons appointment
There is even some discussion here Of
not awaiting the examinations but having
her appointed by executive order" To-
day Congressman Fess informed her
that the entire Ohio delegation in Con