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Thoma, Harry C. (ed.) / Wisconsin alumnus
Volume 38, Number V (Feb. 1937)
Kessenich, Henrietta W.
Another pair of top-notch aces, pp. 186-187
Page 186
Aniother Pair of Top-iaotch Aces O. HUM, it takes no Alumnae can be proud of this airline time at all for some of [J[ ur alumnae to become hostess and an outstanding geologist what our editor-in- chief calls an Ace. He probably never dreamed that we would find a real older passengers and heated milk-bottles for the Ace, but we discovered that Selma Tilker, class of youngest ones, she has no record. She does know 1935, is an air stewardess, the only Wisconsin grad- that she can depend upon less than three per cent of uate with a position of this kind, and one of the the travelers to be air-sick,-that is the least of her few stewardesses with a university degree. worries. Miss Tilker entered the University in the fall of Her days are interesting, for she has a real job. 1928 on a scholarship that she had won as a mem- They run something like this. Upon going out to ber of that year's graduating class at the Madison the field, she and the pilots sign in at the dispatch Central High School; and with an average of 2.4, she office of the originating station one hour before sched- was given another scholarship before her freshman uled departure time. They are given a report about year was over. Nicely launched upon her college ca- the weather en route and air conditions they may reer, the crash of 1929 descended upon her and her encounter, the altitude at which they will fly, tem- parents, and she was transferred to the Wisconsin peratures at the various places, and any other infor- General Hospital School of Training where, until she mation that may be pertinent. They then check was given her diploma three years later, she received the cabin of the ship to see that all the equipment is her board and room and was given opportunities to there and in order. Although others clean and stock earn the needed money for uniforms and books. the planes, it is the stewardess' responsibility to see But she still wanted a degree from Wisconsin. So, to it that the job is well done. continuing her work as a graduate nurse at the hos- pital, she carried part time work at the University, S HE stands by the doorway of the ship, greets earned pin money by giving riding lessons, took passengers as they enplane, and assigns them to their courses by correspondence, attended a summer school, seats. Before the take-off and the landing, she and in June, 1935, she received her B.S. in sociol- sees that the seat belts are fastened, and she asks the ogy. In her spare time, during her senior year, she passengers to refrain from smoking until the illu- took tap-dancing and exhibition ball-room dancing minated No Smoking sign is turned off. as a hobby, and appeared in Kehl's dancing revue Among her other duties, Miss Tilker gives out shortly before graduation. the latest edition of the newspaper from the city they are leaving. She serves complimentary lunches which D NE night a friend took her for an airplane ride are prepared and packed by the caterer at the various over Madison and she became intensely interested in stops. She collects tickets and checks baggage, passes flying. She began to read articles about air-hostesses, cigarettes, and offers magazines. If a passenger wishes and the idea of becoming one haunted her. She to sleep, she pulls down the curtain, reclines his chair learned that there were certain basic qualifications for and gives him a blanket and a pillow. If his stomach such a position. One must be a graduate registered is upset, or if he has a headache or a bruise, she gives nurse, under five feet-four inches him medication. She is used to tall, under 120 pounds, in perfect 77- rolling up her sleeves and going in- physical condition, under twenty- i- to action as a temporary nurse- five years of age, unmarried, at- maid. tractive, and have a charming per- Selma Tilker loves this business sonality. of flying because she feels that she Selma Tilker easily measured is part of an industry that presents up to every requirement, except a spirit of pioneering. The in- for one thing. When she was dustry is young and so are those in given her physical examination, it it. The workers must develop was found that she could not pass new ideas, new principles, new the eye test. But, she was told, a machines, and new precedents much needed rest might remedy which will be followed in the the condition. Luck smiled upon years to come. By the experience of her. She secured a job as camp these pioneers, future generations nurse at an exclusive girls' camp are to profit. near Rhinelander, and finally after * * _ many attempts, in January of last year she passed the required test. FLORENCE BASCOM was a In a year's time she has flown youthful graduate of a few years over 1200 hours and over 200,- back who showed promise that her 000 miles, or more than the dis- future would be a brilliant one,- tance equal to seven times around a promise continuously fulfilled the world. As to the number of Selma Tilker since then. Four years from now, times she has passed gum to the 200,000 miles of flight let us hope that she will return to 186
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