The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-09-19
THE GIRL WITH IDEAS.

VIII "ouIuu Oe h. typewriter or
saleswoman and who couldn't be
cloak model or any of several things to
which the average girl turns when con-
ditions at home make it imperative that
she can earn her own and perhaps sew
eral other peoples living.
Nevertheless, this young woman has
demonstrated that it is possible for
tenderly reared girl to take up, at the
age of 20, the burden Of family and
carry it without a. stumble to a point
where future success is assured. In
fact, she has already built up an income
of about $1,000 year, and all this in 4
sphere Of business life in which it is
generally supposed a girl has no place
originating advertisements.
This is what she has ACCOMPLISHED IN
a space Of three years:
First-Bought a sixty acre farm in
New Jersey, with a fine house on il:
cost $4,000.
second-Remodeled the house at
cost Of $1,000.
Third-Furnished it completely. snend-
ing more than $1,000 in that way.
She is Miss Florence e. Van Deusen.
typ1cally energetic and resourcef,l
girl, whose cosy home, Vue de Mount.
Is IN bergen county, New Jersey, in the
snaooW OF the Ramapo mountains. She
declares that work is the sharpest SOUR
10 effort and has the force of authority.
my undertaking was not witho,1t
many trials and disbursements said
size lew days ago, "for it is easier to
originate new plans and ideas than to
correct old establis shed ones. found the
New York bushes men quick to grasn
new ideas and ready to help any woman
VINO determined to meet them on
purely business basis. T found them
courteous and encouraging and T feel
today that I owe to them all that T
know of business methods -
nave always maintained that
business woman must keep her social
life apart from her business career
tnat lunches, little dinners, etc., are a
drawback to the business woman. The
man who has spent a. delightful evening
at your home does not feel free to tell
you the next day thatHhes thinks a. new rev
scheme .tommyrot, IS he may buy the.
idea he does not care for end avoid
seeing you the next day in the fear YOU
able. The purely business acquaintance
who Is sure you will say what you have
to say in a few words and leave him
Tree to decide upon it's merit, always
mas time to see you, no matter, how
busy his day.
with my first sketch went to
trade paper. The day is almost indelibly
impressed upon my brain, for my rent
was overdue and 'dispossess' would
follow on my failure to meet it that
day. So when I asked what price
wanted for it promptly answered $35,
the amount for my rent. got it. I then
mentioned that had two other ideas
which I considered equally good and
should like to submit Them ''Go ahead''..
1 was told, Submit them in the rough"
Il flew home, worked until late
hour that night and brought in the
finished sketches by o'clock the next
morning. The man who passed on these
matters asked: "Why did you finish
them up?" replied:
Because I want the money! He
laughed and drew me a check. can
confess with egotism that I achieved
some little prestige.
These three designs which I signed
were evidently what a lot Of people
were looking for. It was not long be-
fore French firm wrote for my terms
to furnish Paris business. Two or three
business houses in the West engaged
my services on the strength Of my first
efforts in pictural advertising. >"
II called upon prominent business
man with a sketch which was, I felt,
not up to my usual standard and so I
had not signed it. He received It with
a superior smile and told me he did
not think could sell it, but he added
that, as I seemed to be a bright girl,
he had no doubt I might sell some
things if they were good, and adviced
me to meet Miss Van Deusen, who was
doing such good stuff for a certain
trade paper. I asked him If he had any
thing of hers, and he brought out one
of my own sketches. I laughed and
produced one of. my cards. Then he
laughed and shook my hand heartily.
He bought the sketch on condition 1
would sign it. -
During my early days always car
ried an eraser, and T., would write a
catch phrase bringing in firms name.
Then If that firm turned it down I
would erase it and substitute some
other firms name, SO that each might
feel that the idea was designed especi-
ally for him.
about this time I took position as
art editor on small trade paper. I
saw the men bringing in advertising
| contracts and drawing fat: commissions.
so asked for some contract blanks and
started out to try my luck. In: two days
got nine pages from the houses had
designed pictures for b. !. 49,.
Then I called upon an old conserva-
tive silk house, asking them to make a.
small appropriation for 4 little adver-,
}tising: campa ign which viii 6 had. mapped:
out, and it brought results. i then set
to work t.. stud y up. thessilk industry,
which u did ~ S II ia k as 160o.szjI
made myself / thoroug lilly fanili ars with:
every bra neh, terial
up. to- the broad goods, Is that II could