Evening star., 1923-09-02
Held Embassy Post.

"EvEEYTHING comes to him who
IL waits" is a fine rule for not
overly ambitious person. but for the
girl who wants to be there In time to
enjoy the first course as well as the
after-dtnner mints. she will find II u
good policy to decide what she wants
and then ''go get it,
That's what Miss Kathleen Bitter.
a graduate of Western High School In
this city. did, and her success as a
girl of affairs has been as rapid as it
has been full of interesting expert
ences.
Miss Bitter was born in Mississippi
but has lived in Alexandria since her
early childhood. attending private
schools until the time she entered
Western. After graduating from high
school she attended business coll
lege' and upon completion of the
course took position with the school
as teacher of stcnography. This
was only stepping stone, however,
for this young girl had ambitions to
rise higher. Taking the civil-service
examination just about the time Of
the great war rush, Miss Bitter
passed. but before regular appoint-
ment was made she was blanketed
into the service and assigned to the
ono" of Cndcrsecretary Frank l..
Polk as n clerk. Later She became
secretary TO Mr.. Polk. and when
Norman ii. Davis succeeded as under
secretary. he retained the services Of
Miss Bitter as secretary to himself
when the change in administration
came in 1921 and Henry T.. Fletcher
was named Cndersecretary Of State,
MISS Bitter was chosen as his secre-
tary. so she has the distinction Of
serving in a secretarial capacity to
three Cndersecretaries of State within
period Of five years
In June. 1921, when there was "A
vacancy in the force of the American
embassy At Paris, Miss Bitter applied
for appointment and was assigned
She served at the French capital for
nearly a year. and was then ordered
TO the passport bureau of the State
Department in New York city. where
she has been at work for year For
the past few months she has been on
furlough. but during the present week
returned to duty with the State De-
partment in this city. While in New
York Miss Bitter attended the summer
courses at Columbia University
French girls are turning to bust
ness careers much along the same
lines as American girls. Miss Bitter
says: many of them going into the
medical and law professions. The
regular business courses for office
rapidly becoming represented in all
the professions
one notable impression made upon
TINS little chip Of an American girl
she really is SO little and Young one
has difficulty believing she has gone
SO far in so short a time-was the
close chaperonage of the French girl.
Going to the far-famed capital of
gaietT and high life. she expected TO
ma the girls much more independent
than those at home. and she was
frankly amazed to learn that the
farlslan young miss does not appear
AT the opera. theater or restaurant
without a chaperonc. Most of the
eIis. as well as nearly all the officials
ana business people. speak English.
ana the American feels quite at home
When, as she seeks information or
direction. it is rendered III good
American fashion.
Miss Bitter visited Italy also. and
was regarded there. as well as on
shipboard and in France, as a verita
BILE curiosity when il was learned
that the youthful little traveller was
alone, and on her way to fill an i'm
portant position at the American
embassy in Paris.