THE STEWARDESS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 16, 14 October 1907, Page 3

THE STEWARDESS.

Quite a number of youngwomon aro taking up jtbo; calling- of;■ stewardess, which',until recent years .was almost .-entirely tho privilege offth'b' middle-aged: '~: -,'•.-.' ,■ : •.--. -.:,,.,.

To;a landswoHian who has seldom ventured further,,than the /Heads; and who knows she will:be .seasick; directly she loaves the smooth waters of the. harbour, .the-calling sooms anything but a v plcasant',one.,i:'\ Nevertheless, applications for vacant positions are ■• alwayson.tho books]of:,the shipping companies,'and the -.-office ■neverivgoosia-bogging.iiM -■ ■■■.■■ / It is ono of thoso professions which Jmvo raised.-;theniselvos : :in popularity: with ..tho ndventi of vessels and .up-to-dato methods-of travelling. :A first-rate.steamer is like; a..first-class hotel. . Its furnishings are.of the ;best, its catering'on a like scale, and 4ho-comfort.'.-of the. passengers its first consideration. 'To enhance the Tatter as'far as thel women and children aro concerned is the>ork of tho. stewardess. She must be up and dressed as early as 6 o'clock, so that they may not miss their; early morning cup of tea, so essential,a thing to the modern woman. In her, neat bhle uniform, with white cap and apron; she: visits ■. every cabin, inquires after tne.sick; and takes any orders they may give. All;through the day. shoi attends to their per-

sonal comfor.t. Tho sufForors from mal-de-mor aro her special caro. Sho holps thorn to dress, and to get up on deck if at all possible. She carries tho menu round to those unableto riso, ticks off-their wants, and serves their meals in their cabins'. With.a full complc? Mont of passengers and a rolling .sea, which bowls most ;■ women ovor, tho duties of tho. stewardess are many: and varied. She. must accustom herself first of all to gusty- weathor.i stuffy cabins, heaving^floors, and,to tho whim and.caprico of seasick travellers.' , Tho work of tho cabins, save that of making the blinks and changing'the linen, is done by the bodroom steward. -. Ho keep* tho floors clean,■ polishes: the:brasswork, : and fixes trunks and travelling requisites,'and doos; many odd jobs for the stowardoss. After the have' recovered and . have accustomed themselves, to the motion of the waters the duties of the stewardess aro considerably lessoned. Though her hours are long, and the tinkle of tho little bell may call hor at.any momont-of the day. or night, it is seldom sho complains of overwork, anil the-'life on board ship', the variety afforded by a fresh complement of passengers on every trip, relioves the monotony of a long sea voyago... M,- .. <: ,: -' ■!■"•.•. ■ '■ On interstate or. coasting boats the duties of -a stewardess.may be.moro onerous, and tho less-pleasant work of the-cabin fall tocher , 10t.,', But for tho most "part her work confines itself to personal-attendanco on women and children., '-The meals of tho>latter aro usually her particular caro; and aro separate from tho saloon tables. • : .; • . If- a stewardess is pleasant and :agreeabloshe soon becomes a favourite with both passengers: and, crew. ; Her salary,; which seldom overlaps that of £2 per month, is considerably, augmented by tips.,from the passengers, on which: she mainly depends. On a voyage, say; , of ;five or. six,weeks' duration;-there is scarcely a. passenger.who .will not'giv/e the stewardess a gold' piece,at the-:end of > the. trip. ;■; , And. when thero are upwards of 50 or CO women on board and only-two , of her. calling to wait on thorn her;pickings are , much larger, than her salary:>':- ; :--..|i; ~.-/:■ .- • ;■■■;••■;■' ■■_ i>'."■'■•. ; , )Proferment.- comes with long service. It is not of a monetary kind, but comes by promotion ,to,ia better class boat, .wn,oro'.,'pa'ssengers'are. richer ,and tips'larger.,: ■.{•■ ■'.•> ■■ It, is not; of ton): however, that stewardesses remain/so long at their posts. ,; Many girls' 'and women who are, of course, good sailors ■sock, the .position meroly. for change of sceno or, as -means,to an .end: .They;may-wish to travol from oho country to another, and find it .cheaper-and more convenient to "work thoir passage/. , -; and to bo money,in pockot at'tko last- port of,call,' than to pay for a berth. ■ .■ | - .For this ■and. other, reasons, tho calling' of stewardess.• is: becoming; more arid: more a; favourite,'. php.,i-..;j Women, can, and dp .travel alone in these,enlightened.days,.andihetasto' foreseeing other lands and peoples is long, of satisfying.. ~.'-,..■ ; . ~,i-,...,,., -... .-...;: .'.'-„■.,■.-.' ~