COURTESY PAYS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 55, 29 November 1937, Page 16

COURTESY PAYS

Story Of A Relieving Girl Considerable misgivings were voiced In a newspaper office in a town in the United States when the bookkeeper and general office girl announced her desire to take a month’s vacation. It was a weekly paper, and the entire force depended on her to look after small details. Nor were their alarms eased when it was learned that a young, inexperienced girl was to be the substitute for a month. The young girl fitted easily and efficiently into the organisation. Fresh flowers appeared daily on the counter; she greeted everyone with the same pleasant smile and quiet dignity; she asked questions, when necessary; and she assumed many an unassigned task. Further, if a mistake was made, she proffered no alibi, but set to work to correct it. The busy publisher soon found time to stop for an encouraging word. The advertising salesman dropped his sarcasm, and willingly helped with some of the accounts: while the preoccupied and disinterested editor discovered the girl to be a real help instead of a nuisance.

When the month was up, each member of the force discovered on his desk a brief note, beginning, “Thank you for giving me my start in the business world.” A few weeks later the staff was able to assist in having the “substitute” placed in a permanent position elsewhere.