The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-14

Mrs. Frost's office had caused a noticeable
increase in the business of the establish
ment 81 must say" he added, that to
fill such a position as she does, continually
answering questions, one must have the
temper of an angel, but l think that she
has that. No man of US could stand the
strain. much less stand il sweetly. When
woman who knows nothing about bust
ness comes asking us questions through the
window, some of the questions so foolish
and unnecessary, IL is mighty hard for
man to be polite"
Mrs. Frost with somewhat of the angelic
spirit credited TO her, puts the difficulty
about women asking questions In differ
ent light. "a woman loses her head, says
she, when she must speak out loud over
a counter at a man, but when she can come
in here and sit down face to face with me,
we talk together as one woman to another,
and soon her business is transacted Why,
If L had a counter and grating here, II
would rob our conversation of its essence"
Fortunately for Mrs. Frost, she is able
to shake off the impressions of the day
when she leaves her office for home, else
the strange stories which women pour into
her sympathetic ear might overwhelm her
with sadness. For Ii is almost a confess
siOnal," she has said. Whether a woman
has much or little money her(possessions
become in a sense the center of her vital
interests. The more hardly her savings
were accumulated the more does the re-
sponsibility for them burden her soul.
Strange boards have been brought to light
by one woman and another who has gained
confidence from conversing with Mrs. Frost.
One lady of advanced years. after being
convinced that ii was better to invest her
all than to let ii lie without interest drew
forth $500, which for years she had car
ried about her person, matted and dry, re-
sembling a flat, burned pancake, rather
than a roll of money. Servant girls, who
are among the best savers of any class of
women, have found out that there are
places more secure than empty stoves or
cotton mattresses for hiding money. One
of these women has reached the point
where she is willing to pay IS year for
deposit box in the basement She cannot
yet be persuaded that it would be wise to
open savings account and receive 3 per
cent. interest on her money. This may
come in time, but she prefers now to have
the treasured sum where she may look at
it if she chooses.
One of Mrs. Frost's visitors was n woman
whose gray hair had been largely added
TO by the fact that she and her husband
jointly possessed 81 900. They took turns in
carrying il. she taking it one day and he
the next. He was a laborer, employed in
very rough portion of the city. During
his absence his days of carrying the
money his wife was distressed until his
turn. When ii was her. turn her hus-
band could scarcely wait till home coming
time, and at night both were worried lest
the house should burn down.
a which has burdened another wom-
an was speedily disposed of by Mrs. Frost
This visitor has the care of an afflicted
child, and although she herself has money
enough TO support her charge. the fear
has continually haunted her that on her
death the child might be deprived of what
| he ought to have. An account was opened
| for the child. with the lady as trustee and
with provisions that insure protection for
the child whatever may happen.
The second St. Louis financial institution
to create a woman's department and 10
place a woman in charge was the Missouri
| Trust Company. at Seventh and Olive
streets. Mrs. Florence NJ. Latin has been
appointed to this responsible post and dur
| ing the brief period she has been in charge
she has also listened TO some strange
stories from women.