Is the Girl Typist Doomed?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 79, 7 April 1904, Page 4

Is the Girl Typist Doomed?

ULTCKN OF THE MAN CLERt TO FAVOI K.

I« the woman typist doomed ? If the outlook is not i|uite so teiious UK that, present indications point lo a deetino of her popularity. 'Ww Erie Railroad Company of the United Htatos, which employs thousands of clerks, male and female, lias decided that in future only men shall bo engaged. And the Erie, the New York corrtwponxWnt of the Daily .Mail cabled last mouth, is not the only railway compuuy which has recently dismissed its women stenographers. Other companies have taken a similar course, all giving the same reasons, namely, that women camiot do the many kinds of miscellaneous work which men stenographers aic required to do ; that they cannot work such long hours, suffer more frequently from illness, and, above all, arc constantly leaving their employment to get married just when their services become most valuable. In London, also, there is a pronounced falling oH in Ui„ demand, whereas the rrfcuirvments of employee for young men camiot be met. At one school, which annuallv trains 3500 youths and girls-most-ly girls—for a business career, each youth seeking a position had the choice of twenty employers. Of capable girl stenographers and typists there is an abundant supply," and they are frequently engaged "because youths are unobtainable. Clerks of the gentler sex are practically unknown in the ollices of English railways. One great company recently gave them a trial, and abandoned the ex I>e riment at the end of a month. Members of tho legal profession and other employers whose existence depends upon the maintenance of strict business secrets are becoming ungallant, and politely, but firmly, decline to include ladios in their office staffs.