Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-10
A Mew Jersey Tocun That Is
Under Pethcoat Domination

simply so many women and girls out for
an afternoons shopping or q pleasure
jaunt into the country. They are laugh
ing and talking in excellent spirits. when
suddenly the carriages are stopped. Their
clear far-seeing eyes are ever on the look
out for things that need attention.
REMOVAL OF AN BYESORE.
One Of the specific objects which the So
ciety has in view is the removal OF an old
burned dock on the waters edge, in front
of the town.
''It has been there so long that we are
simply tired Of looking at it" one of the
women said. during a recent tour OF in
spection, ''and If something isn't soon done
Wen have to come down ourselves and
clear it away surreptitiously."
There is indeed no eyesore or nuisance
too grave or unromantic for these wide-
awake new women vigorously to protest
against and take active measures in re-
moving.
It is through Miss Hart, In the capacity
of town clerk, that the measures Of the
Improvement society are brought before
the town council.
Miss Hart, the town clerk is in the early
twenties. She is a high school graduate.
and, in addition to her borough duties. Is
private secretary to President Coleman OF
the bicycle trust. Miss Hart spends from
till 4 o'clock every day-except Saturday,
when she leaves at 12-in her employers
office in a Park Row skyscraper. Her
duties as a town officer are attended to
in the evenings and on Saturday after
, noon.
On one of these Saturday afternoons
found Miss Hart in her office, which Is q
pleasant little room overlooking the main
street of the town. She had just returned
from her mornings work in the city, and
although she was tired and hungry-for
she had had no luncheon-she very bravely
III, ILL
the box of chocolate and package OF IS
o'clock teas which she carried under her
arm and proceeded directly to business.
Three men were awaiting the services OF
the pretty town clerk, who hastily IN
pinned her veil, took the pins out of her
neat black hat and deposited 1t on q shelf
behind her desk. Then she got right down
to work. First, there was a man with q
budget of garbage bids. Miss Hart too
the documents, examined them carefully
one by one handling them as daintily
and evincing as much interest In their
abstruse contents as though she were
matching ribbons. When the mysterious
papers were all inspected Miss Hart
stamped each of them and attached the
seal of the borough Of Atlantic Highlands.
The next man reported a defective side
walk broken down culvert and an OBJ
noxious stable-all duly set forth in the
legal looking documents which he handed
Hart had to administer the oath, as his
business related to something or other
about public funds. And when his busi-
ness had been properly attended to he, too.
passed out, and then the girl official lean
ed back in her swival chair and laughed.
At all times attractive the town clerk OF
Atlantic Highlands is doubly so when she
laughs.
Now, please don't say that am pretty
and have dimples," she said earnestly.
You don't know how annoyed both Miss
Snyder and I have been over all the no.
toriety and absurd compliments We have
received since coming into Office"
Miss Hart now leaned forward and dip
ped her pen into the inkwell and began to
sign vouchers.
I' must get at this work while
I talk for these vouchers must be gotten
ready in time for the meeting OF the town
council tonight. Now, as a matter OF
fact, there Is scarcely anything to say,
except that am just an ordinary, every
day sort Of girl who happened to be ap-
pointed to office. Ny father was town
clerk for seven years, and at his death our
mayor. DR.. John H. Van Mater. appointed
me to the vacancy"
looked about the bare, businessliko
little ONCE.
What are you looking for?" laughs Miss
Hart, for fancy work and art fiowersf
Isn't II absurd to get out such reportsf It
was the men of the town who did 1t as a
joke. They said that the walls of this
place and the postoflce were filled with
pretty pictures and bric-a-brac, and that
Miss Snyder and worked In rooms strewn
with flowers. Such statements are really
too absurd to merit even a denial"