enunciate clearly and to speak courteously and agreeably. She learns to
know the board and its numbering. The board is divided into sections and
each section comprises a complete multiple. Each multiple consists of eight
panels, the panels being divided into "banks." Each bank contains a hundred
"jacks," every one of which represents a customer. When a connection is
made, the telephone operator connects one jack with another by means of a
cord and two plugs. By the time the girl is an experienced operator, she
has become accustomed to the little flashing lights constantly appearing
in front of her, which mean that a connection is asked for.

The operator in a city begins with ten or eleven dollars a week. In two
or three years if she is a satisfactory operator she should be earning
fifteen. A supervisor receives from sixteen to eighteen or twenty.
The duties of the supervisor are to walk up and down behind the girls at
the board so that she may be certain they are giving satisfactory service,
to check delays, and to help in difficulties. For instance, if a call comes
through from a fire or accident, the operator will often give it in charge
of the supervisor immediately so that there may be no delay. The chief
operator who is responsible for the whole service and who has the
management of the working force is paid from twenty-four to thirty
dollars a week, according to the size of the exchange and the amount
of work involved.

Skilled operators are often employed in private exchanges and when they
are competent they earn from twelve to fifteen dollars a week or more.
The most important switchboards are in hotels, apartment houses, public
and governmental offices, stores and private offices. The work is often
exacting and in many cases requires executive ability and resourcefulness.
The operator is expected to answer calls, make connections, answer
questions and keep account of the number of calls made. Sometimes important
business depends on the good-will, executive energy, judgment and quick
thought of the girl at the switchboard. A young woman of strong vitality
and good mind--where she has responsibility and can use initiative--finds
this work fascinating. Such a worker sometimes wins important promotion
because she is able to show that she can manage both people and critical
situations and has business and financial judgment.

* * * * *

Telegraphy also offers employment for girls, but not to the s