The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-25
Diplomacy HI S
Its Place In
BUSINESS
Ry BETH M'ILVAINE

A LII the diplomats in the world
~ aren't in Geneva or Paris or
Washington. That dinky little
leather office around the corner con-
tains at least one, and the larger the
company, the more numerous the
diplomats. 1t all depends on the num-
Der of women employees.
Women are born diplomats, all his
tory and argument to the contrary:
Sometimes 1t takes more guile ana
smiling cleverness to make home
run on creased wheels than to settle
the fate of nations. just matter
of proportion, that's all.
Diplomacy is the oil that greases
the wheels of any situation where hu-
man beings are brought together INTO
close contact. Without it relations
bump and scrape along until endurance
is worn thin and some times snaps with
unforeseen results.
In dealing with his own sex, man
can explode, Get the h out OF
here" and be slapping the object OF
his wrath on the back the next day.
That's not diplomacy, whichever way
YOU look at it. But it's all according
to an ancient code that operates be-
tween men and no harm comes of 1t.
But let a woman spout the lady
like equivalent, no matter what the
provocation, and she has lost all man
ner of standing and respect. woman
must remain a lady even in business
and although chivalry, several hum
bred years old, may actually wear
through in spots, she must counter at
attack with all the diplomacy OF a
Clemenceau.
1t is her one sure weapon in this
uncertain world of business. Behind
it she can deal her own blows and
watch her victims suffer with smile
on her face. Or she can do her own
suffering behind the same kind of smile.
Many a heaving breast has been screen
ed by carefully careless word.
A woman in business has two things
to safeguard-her dignity and reputa-
ton and the the permanently amlable
relations with her employer and asso-
ciates. Sometimes, unfortunately, the
balance can be shifted by a hairs
weight-a hasty word or thoughtless
act. One girl l know, who smokes
whenever she like at home, steadfastly
resists the temptation to smoke in the
company restaurant, although 1t is per-
MISSILE. 1t is only matter of doing
the diplomatic thing. Her employer
and the other men in the office cling
to old-fashioned views and seeing her
smoking might affect their attitude to-
ward her. In such a way diplomacy
may be used to avoid unpleasantness as
we'll as check it.
One case I have in mind will illus
trate the whole point. An elderly de-
partment head of a publishing house
had a great nation about his attrac-
tiveness for the young women under
him. One recent addition in particu-
lar he was anxious to impress with his
Importance and his reputation as a
Beau Brummel Finding she didn't
fall" for his manouvres, he became
chagrined and actually malicious.
Breenzy tales about her private affairs
began to circulate about the office, from
what source no one knew. She alone
suspected the spaniel-eyed old codger.
Realizing that if they continued her
reputation and her position would be
puffed away on the wings of false rum
ors. and sensibly wishing to keep both
she planned a sly campaign.
Thereafter, on every possible occa-
-sion. she spoke eff him ir@uwssds and
tones of utmost respect and admira-
ton. She smiled on him winningly
when they CHANGED to meet, and ac-
tually penetrated to his private office
to ask his advice. She looked on him
as a father and a guide, flattering his
foolish old head with rapt. childish
gazing, and bewildering him with lit .
attentions such us a daughter might
give a beloved parent.
This took time, of course. and stead
fast patience, but it bore fruit. The
stories dried up at the source: new
ones of her virtue ! nd charm took their
place. She had put their relations so
Enthusiastically on a Observation-Disclosures
basis tina the actually came to look on
her as a favorite child. Diplomacy
accomplished what frank digust had al
most destroyed.
UNUSUAL TABLE DECORATION
Remarkably beautiful is a table dec.
Grafton that comes from Italy. 1t is
made of lovely cream colored pottery
and consists of a compete formed by
two little figures holding a graceful
howl and candleStioke orroD0ad to hold