The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-02-10

j Uniforms, untitled cost around
thirty dollars and few of the wo-
men had bought them. Toni dis
closed. They were waiting to see
if they remained in the OCD.
"a couple resign every day or so.
after a row. But more come in.
I tell them that not everyone can
be an executive type and that if
they're really interested in serv-
ing for defense they'll put petty
jealousy behind them.''
you're an executive?"
She had been in the movement
from the start, Toni retorted
proudly. "Pd like to see any
woman who relies on her social
connections to land her a key
position, shove me around. Some
of the girls coming into the work
now don't want to do anything
but drive officers around. I tell
them to leave that to us older
women who have more poise -
! There's plenty of clerical work
| the kids can do"
about the parade?" said Sar-
ah.
"Oh-why, we got started,
finally, but my thirty couldn't
keep in line, let alone in STEP"
She had lined them up in five
rows, six abreast, Toni related,
with the banner held by the first
row. Il led them, marching
alone. The first time I looked
around at them they were so far
apart that the outside women
were walking in the cutters. So
motioned to them to close in
and all they did was to nod and
smile-they thought I was prais-
ing them"
After that the afternoon had
been a succession of disasters.
Toni groaned, she could sympa-
thize with the generals who had
rockies to command. Several of
her women marchers had worn
high heels and they soon limped.
When she finally succeeded in
persuading the ranks to close up,
they shut up like accordion
pleats and couldn't be pried apart
again." But the worse moment
had been before the reviewing
stand.
'The Mayor and his staff were
on the City Hall steps as we came
around the corner. I looked back
to make sure the banner wasn't
being held upside down-it had
started off that way. Well, hea-
venly days, every woman in my
unit was a block behind-not one
of them anywhere near me. I
didn't know what to do-drop
out, wait for them, or march
ahead. I kept marching and I
must have looked like fool.
Picture me passing the reviewing
stand all by myself! went home
after that and no one knows what
became of the banner. We paid
plenty for it, too"
This is not the time for un-
seemly mirth, Sarah admonished
herself, but she could not forbear
asking, do you think it neces-
sary for women to parade?"
well, I certainly do" Toni
bristled. "Lots of women would
never know about our work if
we stayed in a chimney corner
and dropped. Besides, there's
such thing as inspiration, you
know-a good band and snappy
marchers are attractive. They
draw recruits"
Don't forget the uniforms"
Sarah murmured.
Uniforms improved morale,
Toni insisted, they conferred a
feeling of Importance on the
wearer. "Our main trouble is that
everyone applying now is deter
mined to be an executive-from
the beginning we've been swamp
ed with natural-born leaders and
no one will admit she's willing to
take orders. The younger crowd
thinks that a long bob and a
twenty-four inch waist entitle
them to a place right out in
front"
She thought so herself, Sarah
said, duty might be more attrac-
tive if pleasant to contemplate.
''The OCD doesn't happen to
be a musical comedy" Toni re-
proved sharply. IF you were a
little more interested in defense
work you wouldn't be so ready
to make wise cracks"
With Either to help, Candace
Thane declared, the Thanksgiv-
ing dinner would be easy to get.
They were short of chairs, An