New-York tribune., 1900-08-28
A NEW DEPARTURE.
SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT STORE PROB
LENS BEING SOLVED By A PRovI-

DENCE FIRM.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir Last November an article apueared in The
sunday Tribune announcing the desire of a Boston
department store to employ a person whose duty
should be TO devise methods for improving the ser
vice and general welfare of its employees. It was
assumed that such person whether man woman,
should be a college graduate. and interested ex-
perimentally in social work Commenting this
Application. which had been made 10 the Office OF
the International Social League The Tribune pre-
dicted that the Office of social secretary. II was
called, would within a few years become in
dispensable adjunct Of every well appointed estab-
Hshment
The item riveted the attention of a Providence
merchant, who determined TO try the experiment
although 1t seemed almost wholly philanthropic
project He realized. however. that results might
come from it which would prove Of material aid
20 business. He called in a woman who. while
lecturtng in a quiet way on current events, was
also deeply interested In social work. She entered
upon her new duties at the beginning Of the year
and when her object was announced TO the en-
ployes the IDEA proved too novel to be accepted
readily, so that for period of several weeks she
was generally regarded as some sort OF detective
or spy set over the clerks-suspicion in the
very air But gradually, definite duties IN
folded themselves. difficulties unraveIed. mis-
understandings between employer and employees re-
moved, doubts Of good faith dispeed improve
ments of all kinds put in operation the sick visited
and cared for, personal assistance rendered when
ever and wherever opportunity offered, whether in
business or home life, and distress of every sort
relieved. Then il that the secretary found
her hands full Within a few months most Of the
five hundred employees had become known 10 her
personally and conhdenJaIly. and her influence for
good was acknowledged. About this time the general
public began be interested. and the matter
became known friends Of social betterment hast
ened to express deep and hearty appreciation OF
the service Patrons Of the house were invited
to suggest whatever might seem to them 70 be OF
interest to the employees. and whenever found pos
sibe these suggestions have been carried out, as,
for instance. the custom OF permitting about half
the girls to go out at o'clock on stormy after
Moons.
Many things which have for long been recognized
as If not evil unfortunate conditions have
been made subject Of study and new plans de-
yised and put into operation which prove TO better
general conditions to marked degree. The time
| has come when the sentiment "let well enough
alone" is obsolete-progress is the watchword every
where and nowhere is the pressure so great as
In social science In this work the apartment
store holds important place. , -.
Experience proves that thls WORK IS oaseo & on on
purely business principles ana tha me gam 10 eI ne
firm is material and important People OF social
prestige are continually making applications Tor
employment In the house OF young men anu -
whom they indorse; thus II is made posSlDie 10
maintain high degree OF efficiency IN clerks -
+ - ~ Ia-sa+ ~ aronloyes and in the Provi-
dence talks given regularly by the secre-
es 1errsiTi6 M to their lives or work Plans for the
Coroine T-inteT include course Of lectures for
all employees on topics of general interest Physi-
clans are employed Nby the house and many things
have been inaugurated some OF which are new
and some following the example Of houses in New
York and elsewhere All these improvements can
be maintained successfully only when there Is l.
some one person whose time can be devoted 70 tnelT
superintendence Such person should be woman
oF tborouen edlca ton. endowed with abundance
of tact She should be paid by the hTm ana not
by employees She should possess originality in
devsing and revising rules and regulations, napli
Of close observation and ready tact Sne snouIo
be sympathetic and wise withal in her visits 70
homes Of employees just and discreet in medtating
cases Of friction. interesting and instructive IN
informal lectures, and OF a winning personality
Most proprietors are desirous Of surrounding their
EMPLOYEES with the best conditions consistent with
business theory. Especially is this true when II Is
shown that such conditions result in improved ser
vice and Increased profits. Yours truly.
A WOMAN WORKER
Providence r. /, Aug. q, 1900