The age-herald., 1901-06-02
WOMAN "SH|NER"
 HAS MANY PATRONS Miss Parkhurst of Brooklyn Runs a BootbIaCk Parlor HAS MANY INNOVATIONS Establishment Is Located In New York and Is Comfortably Furnish
 ed and Proves Popular With
 Members of Her Sex.

From the Brooklyn Eagle.
 Women have entered all sorts of pro- fessions and business enterprises once believed to be exclusively the domain of the sterner sex. The field of invasion is steadily growing, and one of the pioneers in a corner which has hitherto been monopolized by the darky and the son of sunny Italy is a Brooklyn woman The Coleman shoe shining parlor, at 42 West Twenty-second street, in the heart oi Manhattan's shopping district, is owned and operated by Dot Parkhurst' who has been known for years in this borough by reason of her prominence in the per formance of some of the leading amateur dramatic organizations.
 Miss Parkhursts mother was formerly an amateur actress of some note, and the promoter of this new venture is a niece of J. Sloat Fassett, although she makes TO effort to have the fact known, as she prefers to depend entirely on her own efforts for the success which already promises to reward her departure from the beaten track.
 Miss Parkhurst is known among her friends in this borough as of a decidedly self-assertive character. She says she thought out the idea of opening a shoe polishing establishment for women while commenting on the trouble and embar- rassment of having her shoes cleaned, as she wished them, on the public street, or under the observation of men. Being a woman of quick action the thought was soon followed by the deed. and she was the first in the field in either borough and is reaping the benefit.
 The shoe shining parlors which she opened at 42 West Twenty-second street are furnished daintily and appropriately, just as a woman would desire. There are lace draperies at the windows, with car pet on the floor, a writing desk and ma terials for those who wish to use them and long distance telephone. At one end of the room, shut off by screens, Is a platform of Italian marble. on which there stand six chairs. Here three small boys polish the shoes of the pat rons, free from public geze. A manicure establishment Is a,ao maintained in con- -jnrotic::l ith the shoe polishing force.
 Miss Parkhurst established the place about six weeks ago, investing consider able money in the enterprise. She has had no previous experience in manag ing a business, but has acquired a gen eral knowledge. which Is serving her in good stead.
 To an Eagle reporter she said:
 'I have no desire for notoriety in this matter, as I am in it for the purpose of legitimate money making and not to ex- ploit myself or advertise my relation ship. I hope to take care of myself and am succeeding better than hoped Wo- men patronize freely and I have fre- quent requests over the telephone for the services of my boys. I would like to em- ploy girls as bootblacks, but do not seem able to get any, as those who would be neat in appearance do not like this sort of work They may be willing. however, to benefit themselves in the future. My personal belief is that woman is ordi- narily as competent to carry on business as man. am certainly willing to try.