The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-03
THE THING SHE KNEW
One Useful Occupation, Thoroughly
Learned and Faithfully Followed,
.-.-.. Usually Brings Results. L. s.,.
st. Louis Star,


If love did not laugh at 1ocksmiths this
particular story would not have to be told.
Because love does laugh at locksmltns,
also prudence, and parental restraints
it happened a few years back that a pair
of young people, we'll, even luxurtously
reared, found themselves within week
after their runaway marriage, with hard
Nv a dollar in and. What the husband
did, though he acquitted himself manfully,
is out of place here. The pair were In
New York city. The wife went to rich
woman whom it happened she knew
slightly, asking, not charity, but advice as
to how she might best help in the battle
for bread.
The rich woman thought a bit, then
asked: What can you do? Not sing
ing, playing, painting china and that sort
of thing-but something, anythlng-at
which you excel. Tell me that-and Lean
readily help YOU
The poor woman thought a, minute:
my talent, if I have any-runs to lamp
shades" she said. Il have made some
gorgeous ones" 49,: 49,.
you shall make more" the rich wom-
an interrupted. THE first of them for
me. Here, take this money-for ma
terials-and let me see what you can do as
quickly as possible. If it Is something IN
dividual, the rest will be easy
The completed shade, carried home the
next day but one, was not only individual
but strikingly beautiful. The rich woman
went into raptures over it, and instantly
ordered several more, paying for them
generously, and in advance. BY, the time
they were done she had orders for half a
dozen, secured for her protege among her
friends. To the protege along with the
orders, she gave sound advice: "Nevel
send out a shade that Is less than your
BEST she said 'And charge for it ac-
cordingly. People who have money are
only too glad. to pay we'll for anything
really distinctive. Keep away from the
shops and the shop models: Trust your
eye for color harmonies, and your own
sense Of lines. It is the shops with their
set patterns for the multitude that would
rather be out of the world than the
fashion,, which stif1e originality, or else
pay it's moderately it has never fall
chance. Take a shop OF your own-in a
good quarter. nc; matter how tiny--be 2po-
Gus, don't lower prices nor Workmanship
and you will do we'll" . q s......; :.
The little shop in a swell Quarter was
duly taken, Very shortly there was a
.Workwoman in 1t to help the proprietor
And pretty soon the one workwonan ha6
| companions, many or few according *
season.. The shop, too, was outgrown be.
| fore a year had passed. Next year one
! twice its size proved also much too small
| not for Christmas PUSHES and such like
times, but for steady custom. So othel
floors were added, and later other store
fronts. AS a result, the. proprietor nov
spends three months OF each year, abroad
| studying colors, materials, heaven know!
| what. She owns, one Of the biggest ant
most artistic lamp shade shops, in the cen
trail Fifth avenue region, is always on thu
lookout for women with artistic ability
and when she finds them, pays them tt
work for her at rates that remember hel
/ - g. 49, .~s,S
setting up wholesale business, albeit b!
selling at retail she has already laid b!
comfortable sum. All Of which goes tt
show that there is money in artistic :flnge
tips-if there is common sense in. tn,
head that goes along with them. -