The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-23

hunt houses on a business basis. I would
offer up my experience, my time and my
legs for a money consideration, and q
liberal one.
you. no. 1t gave my acquaintance what
the darkey revivalist called liberty -.
They felt themselves free to shunt all
their fatting to my shoulders. I'm con-
WINGED that every one | knew and every
one they knew moved last fall.
i chose apartments of all sorts from
$40 a month TO 81, 500 a year. 1t amused
me. ] wa doing no other work 80 my time
was worth nothing, n ! really made a
nice little sum of money.
I'm going on with IL. I've quite a Glen
t6le now and they will al tell others, I'm
going to have some knowing little folders
printed and have them distributed. j
think I'll advertise.
One who has never tried to find a fiat
In New York needs a guardian. Any one
who has ever tried once will pay well 10
be spared from doing IL again.
Il find out exactly what the person wants
and what he can pay. I'm developing into
a remarkable judge Of human nature.
After ten minutes talk with a l
can give a fair guess as TO the things that
are vital for her comfort and content.
There's a lot In that, What would
suit one person wouldn't do at all for another
person with the same income but different
ideals and tastes.
Il take into consideration the children's
schooling, the husbands office, the woman's
marketing. ! know every nook and cor
nor OF the respectable residence section
Of New York.
Il know a host OF apartment houses so
well that j don even have to go 10 them
10 know whether there is anything in them
that ] want. So much, both in price and
comfort. depends upon n~eighborhood
location. Strangers ne ver understand that.
Even persons who nav lived in New York
all their lives do not always understand 1t,
Given certain money and certain re-
quirements. | know they can only be filed
in certain locations. There's nc use looking
elsewhere.
Some families will be happy In com-
Portable, unp~retentious old flats down
around Washington Square and Waverley
place. Others would infinitely prefer shiny
newness in Harlem. Some must have an
aristocratic neighborhood, II they sacrifice
everything else TO that.
when I've settled location, / tackle the
house and fiat problem. There Is 80 much
to be considered, not only the character,
the general tom Of the house. the number
Of rooms, the lighting, the heating. the
plumbing, but the surroundings, the
nance Of unusual noise. the class Of people
in the other apartments, the appearance
and manner Of the Janitor. Oh, there
are innumerable things to be noted and
looked out for. that the average fiat hunter
never thinks of.
"Ive no patience with these people who
move into a place blindly and then fuss over
the inconvenience and d~iscomforts and
move out at the first possible moment. |
select a few flats, by a process of elimina-
ton. Then / take my client to see just
those two or three.
-One Of them is sure TO be fairly salts
factory. The family moves in, / give
II my blessing and pocket my commission.
I'm thinking Of working a double COM
mission from agent M tenant. They tell
me l could do It. but the agents don't all
| love me. I've met a good many Of them,
but my interests and loyalty are with my
client and III not work on any fat that
doesn't strike me as desirable. SO one time
the agent likes me, and the next time he
doesn't.
MY family don't like the idea OF this
business scheme, bat ] believe I've found a
good thing. Il unites business and philan-
thropy. IN be a benefactor 10 my kind, a
friend TO the suffering, and vet I'll make
money out of il. What could one ask better
than that?
1T beats my sisters settlement work.
I'm willing TO bet | will contribute more
TO the welfare and happiness Of humanity
than she will, and she's not making a mi