Christian names, but by their surnames, with the prefix "Miss," and she insists upon their addressing one another in the same considerate fashion, except, of course, when one of them is speaking to an intimate friend. She does not scold them, and as for cases of insubordination on their part, these are of the rarest occurrence say only two or three in half a dozen years. Still further, the work is not continuous; during working hours there are many resting times. When a message has been dispatched or received, the operator may, and often does, take up her knitting, crocheting, or sewing, passing pleasantly the interval until the arrival of the next message. Reading is forbidden, because it is supposed to absorb the attention to a greater extent than either of the other diversions; but conversation in a low tone is encouraged. Among the one hundred and twenty faces the sunny and healthful ones have an immense majority.

To offset this credit column several entries are to be made on the debit side of the account. In the first place, there is the disease known as telegraph cramp, the diagnosis of which has not yet been thoroughly ascertained by the physicians. An operator stretches out her hand to press her finger upon the button of the instrument, and suddenly her arm refuses to obey her will, and lies numb on the desk beside her. If the tendons of her wrist had been cut through, her manual helplessness would not be greater. The strongest voluntary force is too feeble to make itself felt at the ends of the fingers. The operator simply can not do her work. Seven or eight of the one hundred and twenty young

women are subject to periodic attacks of this disease, and not one of the others knows how soon she herself may be seized with it. There is no remedy but rest from telegraphing, and exercise in the open air. In the next place, in order to become a first-class operator, four or five years of resolute practice are necessary, even when one has what is known as "a good ear." The course of seven or eight months' training in the Cooper Institute, or any other school, is only preliminary; every graduate, no matter how fervidly expressed in her diploma is the story of her accomplishments, must pursue the practice of her profession for at least four years before attaining the rank and emoluments of a first-class operator. Here is a young woman, say eighteen years old, in the second. year of her course. Her pay, we will say, is as yet only thirty-five dollars a month, and if she depends entirely upon her earnings for support, she is likely neither to save a cent nor to waste a cent. Her board and room will cost her probably at least six dollars a week, or, if she has a room-mate, possibly five dollars; her luncheons, her car fares, her washing, half as much more, without any extravagance on her part; her office dress, even if she make it herself, will take eight dollars out of her pocket-book; her bills for other clothes, for shoes, for hats—well, it is 'easy enough for her to expend ten dollars every week in the year, and her salary is not nine dollars. Next year, perhaps, her salary will be raised to ten; but no matter how proficient she may become, it is not likely to be more than fifteen dollars a week. Several years ago the earnings of both men and women operators of the first class were greater than they are now, the former receiving fif

teen hundred dollars a year instead of the present thirteen hundred and twenty dollars, and the latter nine hundred dollars instead of the present seven hundred and eighty, although at that time the cost of living was higher, and the number of working-hours (for the men) greater.

Another drawback to the practice of telegraphy as a profession is the constant liability of the operator at the other end of the line to quarrel with you when you can not understand his or her message; and when he or she is surly of disposition, and captious of soul, the patience of the operator at this end of the line is sorely tried, and often wrought into an inexplicable tangle. Furthermore, unless one keeps in continuous practice, her facility in sending or receiving messages becomes less very rapidly. It is practice that not only makes perfect, but keeps perfect. The most enthusiastic learner tries to procure a small telegraphic instrument with a short circuit of wire-no matter how short if only continuousand set it up in her room at home. The entire apparatus need cost only three dollars and seventy cents; and if, while waiting for a situation, or while temporarily engaged in other pursuits, she sets apart some time daily for exercising her fingers upon it, the best telegraph operators in the world would be the last to dispute the wisdom of her course.

In the brokers' offices on Wall street, and thereabouts, the hours of service are shorter, and the remuneration often greater, than in the Western Union offices. Most of the work is done from ten to half-past three o'clock, and very often free luncheon is provided, which the

ous

the

young women operators estimate as equivalent to a bonus of ten dollars a month. The requirements of the situation are, to be sure, more exacting than those of general business, and mistakes are usually of more seriimport. In branch offices in New York City and country the average pay is thirty-five dollars a month, and the services of the women who receive it are much more highly valued by the Western Union Telegraph Company than are the services of the men whose salary is the same. One young woman who acts as manager and operator in one of the city offices receives sixty dollars a month, and is considered to exhibit business qualities which few men possess.

T is doubtful if there is any work more especially suited to the taste and capacity of a bright, energetic woman, with a good fund of common sense about her, than the sale of subscription books throughout the country. There is just enough variety about the business to prevent it from becoming monotonous, and it pays well if the book for which the agent is canvassing has sufficient merit to recommend it to the public, and I would advise ladies to be sure they are right in this particular before they go ahead. The best books published now-that is, the most valuable to have in the family - are sold entirely by subscription, and much pains is taken in selecting good canvassers who will confer honor on the business, as well as solicit numerous orders. It is by no means necessary that the lady book agent should go out on a canvassing tour-as suggested in a recent work on the subject-armed with a revolver, and bearing a fictitious name. There is nothing in the work to be ashamed of. On the contrary, the lady agent will find in the same