The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

elderly gentlement of like complex ion. q suppose I should have re- marked somewhere previous that l am dark-but not sinister.) Or 1T not that, why don't they cultivate an automatic department during office hours instead of being understand ing, appreciative, sympathetic and melting. In other words, give a man a fighting chance.
 When finally succeeded in bundling Marguerite onto a home ward bound train. I turned to my father, and for no apparent reason at all, we shook hands.
 Since Marguerite went away, we have had secretaries come and sec- retaries go. But am not going to tell you about these. My fur ther remarks are going to be about my present private secretary-my father having retired from the busis ness some years ago.
 It is my belief, after all these years of experience, that secretaries ma. be made, but mostly they are born It is just like playing the piano painting a picture or cooking good palatable meal. If woman is no born with some of the qualities of { secretary, I do not believe she cal acquire them-not all of them. M, present secretary was born with som' of the necessary requisites; had som' of them thrust upon her; and ac ouired some of the others. For in stance, nature formed her alont neutral lines. She is neither fair no dark; stout or lean; grumpy or bril- liant. She has high forehead. whicf denotes intelligence; a plain face. ant a genteel appearance, which com mands respect from both high ant low. Her father had the good for tune to be named Christian, and he mother had the good sense to nam her Mary, both of which names sound clean and upright. and are eas, to remember, even when one II flustered.
 Know Each Other.
 Miss Mary and I have been work ing together for some years nov and I believe I know moro about he than her mother does, and am sur, ehe knows more about me than min does. But be it said, to her lastint credit and my everlasting gratitude she never takes advantage by reasol of this knowledge. That is the on vulnerable spot in the relationship of men and women in business. Tn man forgets himself, or circum stances combine to show up hi foibles, and shrewd women takes ad vantage of the situation. Miss Mar, knows lot of my weakness. but sh never lets me know she knows. Tha is one of the biggest assets of secretary.
 But Miss Mary Is not perfect her self For instance. she uses cologn and in quantities. I have known he to insist on her dressmaker rippin up and remaking one dress as man as three times. l have known her t forget to give me very. importan messages. I have long been aware 0 the fact that she takes an hour an half for lunch when she is sup posed to have only one hour. hay gone out of town for the afternoo | and instructed her to remain in tn l office throughout office hours to re ceive an important telephone ca which was expected, and then mee her down on the street shopping, an ! in such cases l have never let o i that saw her. But for all of thes things I forgive her, because when
 want an important paper, Miss Mar | always knows where it is. If 1 war | a pressing letter written, Miss Mar i cheerfully stays over time and write | it; and last, but not least, whe
 everything has gone dead wrong, m
 nerves are a tangled skein, and I al
 ramping up and down the offic
 seeking what. or whom I may devou | Miss Mary has the strength of char
 acter and good sense to keep Quie And this l consider woman's grea
 est asset in the business of being , SC cretary.