Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-16

things about him. If a man u them
or even said them he would not care so
much. but he is sensitive as to the opin-
ion of a woman, even though she be a
stranger and a collector.
There are some lines of trade in which
women have never made their mark as
collectors. Furniture houses, for instance
seldom employ them. especially those
houses that sell goods on the installment
plan.
women" said the manager of one firm,
ARE too soft hearted for our kline of work.
No matter how far in arrears a family
may be, Just let them put up some pitiful
tale about the baby's Group or the fathers
mashed hand or the eldest sons loss OF a
position, and the collector sits down on the
plush couch for which they still owe $3.50
and begins to cry.
oh, you poor souls!' she says, I am
so sorry for you. 1 don't blame you for
not paying for a little thing like furniture
when there are so many things you have
to have. You must not worry about little
bills like this, and don't think of paying
us a cent till you get on your feet again.
We won't bother you
Naturally, a collector who talks ike
that is going to do the firm more harm
than good, and by the time she has cod
died a few families for a month or so we
have TO send our hercest man collector
around and back him up with a half dozen
sherins before we can get any money out
of the delinquents."
Appeals to sympathy.
Renting agents raise the same objection
to women in the capacity Of collector. A
tale of hardship, whether 1t be true or
manufactured for the occasion, arouEes
- g,afaad ~ fnEisfinp nnOn
the ayments Justly due her employers,
she grants an extension OF time and thus
allows the tenant TO run still deeper into
debt.
When It comes to d-ressmaking and other
feminine trades women collectors develop
| contradictory tendencies. II employed by
the dressmaker. they prove entirely toe
lenient, but II proceeding against the
modiste for somebody else they become
hard as nails. Again the cynic, who Is al
WAYS masculine, comes TO the fore with
an explanation. They are anxious 70 ao-
solve the financial sins OF their sisters, he
maintains, even as they hope for absolu-
! ton, but they nave suffered so much al
the hands Of dressmakers on account OF
wrinkles and crooked seams. that they
push her for payment 10 the very limit OF
the law, and II they could double the
amount and exact II several DAYS before u
was due, they would press their extortion'
ate demands g~leefully. Although cynicisn
runs riot in that explanation OF the womar
| collectors erratic procedure, where dress.
makers and miIliners are concerned, II Il
a view Of the case worth considering.
Many doctors are partial to women Al
| collectors Of old debts. Some lawyers alsc
like them. and when obliged TO give theil
outstanding bills into the hands OF a col
lection agency, they supulate that tn
work be given TO a woman There Is on
publishing firm in New York whose col
lecting Is ion by a woman, and IL is tn,
boast OF the woman and the hrm tina
they have fewer d%elinquents on their book
than any other house In the business.
One woman who has been q collector 10
many years says she believes the chief fac
! tor contributing TO her success has beel