Evening star., 1938-04-03

When away from her home base
she receives her hotel room and an
allowance for meaLs-50 cents tor
breakfast. IS cents for lunch and 81
for dinner. Taxi fare to and from
airports Is allowed If it does not ex-
ceed $l25.
IT ISN'T the safest job in the world
either. Since the first hostess
started working on United Airlines in
1880. about eight or ten have been
killed in airplane crashes on various
lines, it is estimated.
Nevertheless, thousands of young
women want to be stewardesses and
they rarely quit, except for marriage,
according to Miss Brooks.
Daphne Lane, observed on a trans
continental ship by motion-p picture
executive, was given a movie contract
for special part in The Lady Mis-
behaves" After the picture was COM
pleted, she returned to her stewardess
job.
Phyllis Alldridge did leave for a job
of consequence in a Hawaiian hospi-
tai, but even the lure of the tropics
couldn't estrange her from hostessing.
She's back with the American.
Cupid. however. thins the ranks of
airline steWardesses annually.
The average term of service is only
one-and-a-half years. Miss Brooks,
with three years of service, is regarded
as an old-timer, while May Bobeck of
United, with more than five years, has
seen more service than any other host
ess in the country. Agnes Nohava of
American has been with them five
years.
The largest percentage, according to
Miss Brooks. marry airline personnel,
pilots predominating. The next larg-
est per cent marry doctors and internes
met while taking nursing training. A
few have made extremely imposing
matches with wealthy passengers met
on scheduled flights.
Married applicants are never con-
sidered for employment. although it is
permissible for stewardess to con-
tinue as an employe after marriage,
provided her marriage will not inter-
fere with her work If a transfer
should arise, she must either accept it,
or be automa tically released.
In the event of reduction of per-
sonnel-which sometimes occurs in the
winter season-she is released prior to
single hostesses, regardless of compara-
tive ability.
CONTRARY to popular opinion. the
airlines have no fixed age limit
for stewardesses. They may work un-
til they reach the age of 80, or 50
long as they present a youthful ap-
pearance." They must be between 2l
and rs to apply and the airlines are
leaning toward those "a and Is these
days, according to Mr.. Wilson. They're
more reliable.
Applicants must not be more than
feet inches tail and preferably not
less than S feet 3 inches. However.
the fact that exceptions are made is
proved by Americans Elva Water
meyer, who is only feet 6 inches tall.
The airline hostess inclined to take
on weight must watch her calories as
closely as any movie star, because
she mustn't tip the scales at more
than 120 pounds.
Rigid discipline of all sorts is re-
quired of her. She can't smoke in
uniform in public. She must avoid
of1-duty appearance with personnel in
uniform. She must be an abstemious
drinker. Noses may not be powdered
in the main cabin. Or mascara used,
Or gum. Rouge. lipstick and perfume
may not be applied to excess and nail
polish must be natural or subdued.
The stewardess must wear her hat at
all times and her jacket may be re-
moved only during extremely warm
weather or when making down berths
on the sleeper ships.
Besides the obvious duties, the lob
OF being stewardess ties up with
nearly every department of the air.
line. To the sales, commissary and
publicity departments she is invalua-
BILE.
Because 1t is the aim of airlines to
personalize service, she is asked to
try to remember the names of all
passengers, checked off as they enter
the plane, and refer to them thereafter
on the journey by their names. She