The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-30
WOMAN DETECTIVE BUREAU.
Chtcagoan the First to Establish a
Feminine Sleuth Agency.

From the Chicago Tribune.
Women detectives there have been
for a good many years-successful
ones, too, despite the old fiction of
women and their secrets being soon
parted-but in Miss Cora M. Strayer
Chicago has the first to take the di-
rection of an agency and employ 9TH
! ers.
She tells the story of her work fore
| IDLY and earnestly, and it carries con-
viction of her enthusiasm.
I drifted into the work without de-
liberate choice she said IAN attor-
| ney asked me to do a little investiga-
ton on a case for him. 1 had studied
and practiced law for several years,
but had been forced to give it up on
account of i'll health. The lawyer
thought 1 had some ability in the in
vestigatElg line, and 1 found quickly
what demand there was for this kind
of work
"A woman with her quicker sympa-
thies and intuition has great advan-
tage in winning confidence. Although
I am usually fortunate in this respect,
still I often have people come to me
and tell me a story which 1 can per-
ceive Immediately is but half truth. 1
ask them to wait until they have
thought the matter over and then
come and tell me everything. Some
times an hour will elapse.. again sew
eral days or weeks.
Mine is difficult business, wearing
to the nerves and depressing. At times
have gone to pieces completely and
had to get away from the town, but
in a few days letters and kilograms
arrived and the old eagerness to be up
and at it returns. Suddenly I feel
entirely recovered and come back to
begin again. The work is terribly con-
lining. can scarcely get out for suf-
ficient exercise. 1 am like the switch
board OF telephone, constantly in
touch with all my subordinates.
My observation led me to believe
that most people get into difficulty
from a failure to distinguish between
right and wrong. In most cases it
is lack of training in youth. Many
times l am able to make the person
see this, and that is one reason why
l can recommend this profession to
other women who have any adoption
for it,
Despite the general depression of
having to deal so constantly with
wrong doing and foolishness, the COM
edy side viii turn up now and
then. For instance, an elderly couple
living in the country received inforn1a-
ton concerning a young man engag-
ed to their daughter stating that he
was married man with three chill
dren. The poor parents We're almost
frantic. 1t took the young mans
solemn oath and Miss Strayer's sub
sequent investigations to convince
them that their future son-in-Iaw was
as straight a young bachelor as the
city afforded.
In comparing men and women oper-
atiVes, Miss Strayer said: 'I have
about an equal number of men and
women under me. The women are bet
ter in some things, but, of course, men
are absolutely necessary in Others.
Some of them have been in my employ
for years, and to them 1 often confde
all the details of a case. To Others l
merely give their instructions for the
day What 1 demand of my people is
the truth. Failure / am willing to par
don and assist, but if a man or woman
will lie to me he will lie under any
conditions, and is liable to betray my
client. For the faithful and skiltul
there is always good pay and conf-
dence.
It's wonderful what ever renewing
interest one can get out of work II
she only puts enthusiasm into it,
am constantly drawn to mine by the
opportunities 1 find for helping peo-
pie. Even above pecuniary rewards /
place some of the grateful hearts
which / know thank me for what /
have been able to do for them.
Il certainly have a big opportunity
to study human nature, but If l were
10 write some Of the strange thihss
that come under my eyes they Woulu
moi he believed"