The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-08-24


recall it, that unless the secre-
tary, under those conditions, quit
her job, either her love affair
or her boss business must suffer.
Today we have a case where
the business suffered because
goSsiping friends caused the
Home Wife to take seriously an
attraction between her husband
and his office Wife that the
two concerned did not take seri-
ously at all. Read the mans
letter, and see what harm can
be done by groundless gossip.
Dear Miss Fairfax:
"Once on a time there was a
man who made the fatal mistake
of imagining that mere mortal
could drive a high spirited, met
tIesOme, attractive tandem over
a bumpy road where there were
NO SignpOStS.
REASON FOR INTEREST
II am that man, which will ex-
plain my interest in the discus
sion now running in your column,
concerning the perfect secretary
and her job, and whether she will
quit, as stated by Professor Har-
old Smith Of Boston University,
If she finds herself interested in
her boss.
please let me say to Professor
Smith that when he said that, he
wasn't looking for perfect Secre.
tarieS but for angels. 1t takes a
high-grade angel to quit her job
because she finds her boss attrac
tive, and may develop a hOmeO
pathic dose of love for him. I'm
not talking of great passions that
lead to battle, murder and sudden
death
"The trouble in my case was
not with the Office Wife. We
liked each other lot. She knew
more about my business than ]
did. She saved me the time and
trouble required to read dull re
ports, and seemed to enjoy them
because they helped the business
"She could put her hands on
any letter, report, card index
etc. at a moments notice.
"Her .alary was no more thar
her services would have com
manded in any other first class
office. Sometimes, quite often
in fact, I took her to lunch.
WIFE UNINJURED
"NOw this little mutual admira'
ton society of my secretary and
myself didn't in any way injure
the lady who bore my name. My
wife and / had a dozen inter
eSts in cOmmOn-the children
our home, the cottage at the sea
shore where we kept open house
over week-endS, our friends, OuI
card club, our garden, our dogs
and dozens of other things.
"My secretary and l had Onl!
two things in cOmmOn-a strong
devotion to my business interests
and a mutual attraction for each
other. The attraction was not
overwhelming, but it was real.
"One of our friendS-yOu know
the kind from whom nothing
escapes-saw my Office Wife and
me at lunch one day, and went
Immediately to my Home Wife
with a very pretty story.
"My wife took to tears AND
consulted her brother, who is q
lawyer. 1t got back to my IS
year-OId daughter and my 13-year
old son, and these children would
hardly speak to me. My daugh
ter would come to my office anG
turn up her nose at my Secre
tary, and once repeated a very
nasty name in passing by hel
desk.
FAMILY COUNCILS
"My wife'S family began calling
family councils and demanding my
presence. After two or three OF
these I declined to attend. There
was nothing to discuss.
ITO sum up the situation, my
secretary left on her vacation, AND
at the end of her holiday asked
for an extra two weeks without
pay. This was granted. Then
received a letter from her, friendly
but buSineSSlike, saying she haC
taken a position with a firm ir
another city.
"YOu see from that, she was al
angel, according to Prof. Smith
But my wife still raises Cain, anC
my business has suffered"
Additional letters discussing thu
statement made by Prof. Smith
will be welcomed, and as long a!
interesting letters reach me, ont
will be nnhliShed every Monday.