The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-12

hand and brain when old age comes
on; and she is still on the sunny
side Of forty by a comfortable margin
To step peremptorily from the So
called social swirl into the business
world has required rare tact; for he
social responsibilities Mrs. Chatfeld-
Taylor has carried in Chicago have
been manifold, and extended travel and
residence in London and Paris. as well
as Washington, has widened the obli-
cations.
I have not troubled myself about
burning any bridges" says Mrs. Chat
held-Taylor in explanation. II believe
that one may go to work without losing
ones friends. The woman who works
Is happier, healthier, and ought to be
more interesting to others than the
women with nothing to do. I believe
am better qualified to undertake what
Is really worth while in social life be-
cause of a more serious purpose The
zest of seeking the best on the social
side is the keener because of the toll.
So long as what we call society is not
the main quest mes does not find it
wearisome and proftless."
The repOse of the bindery is often
marred by the intrusion of the man
with a scheme for advertising the bus
mess, the enterprising salesman eager
to call attention to his binding mater
lals, and the miscellaneous multitude
attracted where anything u of the
ordinary is going on. But this CHEEKY
business woman, SO recently emerged
from gentler surroundings, does not
lose her patience. Precise and self
controlled in words and manner, she
deals kindly and tactfully with the in
vaders.
"Of purse they are a trife tiresome
at times" confesses Mrs. Chatfeld-
/ Taylor, but not more so than the peo-
pie to be met at balls, bouse-parties
n in other social diversions"
To a m without financial re-
sources the opening Of such a bindery
might not be SO easy. Mrs. Chatfield-
Taylor admits that she would not care
to depend on it just yet as a sole
means Of support. She disclaims all
honors as a solver of problems for n
n but herself. It is her own saliva
ton b is working out. While she
is willing to give other women similar
~ situated the benefit or whatever
light has come to her, she does not
pose as an Industrial refOrmer. She
has had hundreds of applications from
girls ambitious to become apprentices,
and women of social prominence who
desire to take a hand in the work of
the shop, but to all she makes the plea
Of lack of room.
The bindery is already taxed to its
capacity. The customer who has a
rare edition to be bound is Informed
that the Rose Binder> never under
takes to do a book for less than s35.
Mrs. Characterization does not hesitate
to make it known that the purpose of
the shop is to make money-not SIM
ply a sanatarium for the cure of ennui.
She maintains that Chicago and the
middle west has attained sufficient Gull
ture to appreciate rare bindings for it's
books, and that the price must be paid
to secure workmanship equal to the
best Paris has to offer. The price, it
is said, is being paid.
Concerning the workmanship within
the Rose Bindery there is nothing but
good to be said. Mrs. Characterization
and her apprentices learned their trade
under the best schooling in the world,
and they learned it well. The exam
pies of exquisite volumes that have
come from the Rose Bindery bear testi-
mony of the booabinding skill Of this
erstwhile society O rather
society woman with a purpose.-Se-
lected.