The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-06
Buslne ss Girl Has Problems
 To Solve
By BETH M'ILvAINE

LE A ND he married his stenogra- "A sa Rssri. !. n., have. You hear that often enough, spoken in hushed whispers to wonder if employers are running matrimonial agencies for their own sole benefit.
 What you aren't so likely to hear of is the time when he doesn't marry her because he's already married, or doesn't want to, or gets turned down. The usual thing Is generally ignored.
 Muriel had the echo of marriage consistently ringing in her ears. She came from a small Ohio town where her family was somebody. Men were scarce though and time was fleet ing, so she packed her trunk and came to New York, the city of opportunity.
 For several months she was office assistant in teachers agency, where she came in contact only with women. Evenings she sat lonesomely in her one room and wondered if she was doing right in waiting for opportunity to knock on her door. Finally, desperate, she started in pursuit of other employ ment.
 The first days search landed her a confidential job with a large publish ing house. Among other things it in volved daily personal reports to the owner. Her first conference came as a pleasant surprise. The man was tall, handsome and forty-opportunlty Tn lts most attractive form,
 As A sort of climax to their third week of such meetings he asked her to join him at lunch. Now luncheon invitations aren't dangerous in them selves. In fact, they generally provide better food for the poor working girl than she's used to, and rather stimu- Iatinr entertainment. So Muriel, be- comingly hesitant, accepted.
 One day while she was making her report the owner rose from ms desk and shut the door. What foiioweo IS Murieps own secret. But out or came glowing protestations ok ioNe'' promises of apartments Tn faris Q. London, or anywhere she desired, ana money by the barreitui. what was missing was a proposal of marriage.
 The reason soon became evident sufficient reason-a wife and four chli- dren, Muriel, in her own worlds was floored. She had never made frlends in the office because all of her WorK had been on the outside. If there nao been any gossip she never nearo It, and he had carefully kept any men ton of personal affairs out or tenir relationship. The upshot was' the pup, fisher lost a good employee anu Muriei gave up good job
 I repeat, a luncheon invitation IS not a dangerous thing in itself: Again, in MuriePs own words, it's ike tne urimrose path to perdition-its what it leads to.
 A girl in business must lead two lives. a business ands an outside or so- cial. Like oil and water, they don't mix. especially when employer and em- ployee are concerned. Without any re- dection on the working girl, her em; ployer has generally different social ambitions from her own. They meet comfortably only on the common ground of the office, and it's up to the girl to maintain that common ground wltn- out allowing either to overstep 1t.
 whether or not the employer is married makes all the difference in tba world from a moral standpoint. Un- der any circumstances it is unwise to accept invitations from a married man. If d girl does, she is hurting three peo- pie, the wife, the man and most or all herself. The slogan of the age, T don't care what people say" is both foolish and dangerous. Unfortunately, you don't make your own reputation, the opinions of other people make it for you, based, of course, on what you say and do. Gossip is pernicious, but 1t does reflect those opinions. The wisest girl realizes this and doesn't give any one a ghost of a chance to talk"
 Impersonal friendliness is the most comfortable business relationship be- tween employer and employee. Always friendliness, because eoldness and in- difference are deadly to good work. Loyalty is one of the prime virtues in an office, but it withers in an atmos- phere of frigidtty.
 My boss always tells me about the shows he goes to-" said one girl, sec retary to a magazine editor. He's interested, too, in what I'm doing. In this way, we make a little common background for ourselves and you'd be surprised how much better we work together. We're friends, first, of all. Funny how things always start at meals. I've had a couple of unfortu- nate experiences, so when he asked me