Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-14

r. FIFTEEN years ago a maid of al
work in an Iowa farmhouse
earning $1.25 week "and hel
keep by cooking potatoes, washing
disncs ana scrubbing floors.
Today patent attorney in Chicago
with an annual irromo of $4,000
licensed to practice in the United
record of having put a $5,OOO,OO0 cor
poratiOn entirely out of existence by
proving in open court that the corpora =
ton was wrong and that her client was
right.
These are the extremes of the
achievements of Miss Florence II
King of Chicago VINO is n Self-madc
woman if ever there was one. The
kitchen experience is the alpha of this
Woman's battle for a livelihood. The
Staying of the corporation which meas
ured it's valor against hers is not the
omega. II simply marks her entry into
the sphere of really great accomplish
mentS and fC atokens other tlumphs
to come. Scattered along the years
that lie between the farm and forum
in her life are buffetings and victories
that mean inspiration and hope to 9TH
ers of her sex.
Miss King has her office on the six
teenth floor Of the Monadnock build
ing, in Chicago. 1t was there she re-
ceived a Herald correspondent 1t is
modestly appointed place, with a re-
CeptiOn room and two private consult
ing rooms. There are no pretty calen-
dars, no dainty kniCkknacks on the
walls. Where they might hang are
pictures of trains, Of locomotives, pf
intricate machinery. There is but one
outward evidence that a woman is the
presiding genius of the piace-superla-
tive neatness. A bit Of paper on the
carpet rugs would be jarring note.
In the private office where Miss King
transacts her busicess with clients is a
bright red carpet. Desks and cabinets
are of oak, innocent of carving and
suited exactly to the needs of the place.
On the walls are framed certificates of
admission to the bar 'of Illinois and
licenses to practice in the district, cir
cult and supreme courts of the United
States. A document bearing the sigma
ture of former Governor Richard Yates
commissions Miss King as a notary
public. Roundabout are lying, in prinl
order, pretentiOus briefs. Into this
inner chamber Miss King might enter
blindfolded and lay her hands uner-
ringly on any chosen document.
The veriest boor, unschOoled in the
ordinary gallantries, would remove his
hat in this presence by unconscious
impulse. Beyond the serious eX-
FOUNDER of the law he would discern
the gracious woman. compelling defer
ence and respect For an office back
ground he would have a mental pic
ture of cozy home somewhere. 1t
is an atmosphere at once charged with
business energy and melloWed by a
womanly gentilty--an atmosphere that
admOnishes to low speaking and stimu-
lateS the imagination
Miss King gave to the Herald corre-
spondent only the colOrless brief of
her life, her struggles and her con-
quests. For the lights and shades it
was necessary to go to others. While
she was drawing the bare outlines of
the story, neighbor and his wife came
i'm for a minutes social call and chat,
carefully choosing a time when she
would be most at leisure from the
duties of the business day. Instantly
the serious mien of the woman of law
vanished and there appeared the
charming hostess with radiant face and
cordial manner. Welcome was spoken
from her eyes and from the hearty
pressure of her hand as she moved
quio ky forward to receive her guests.
The home woman stood disclosed, a
picture of sincerity. When her guests
were gone and Miss King resumed her
story she was again the dignifled gem
tie voiced attorney who looked you
straight in the eye and made you un-
derstand not only that every word she
uttered was the truth. but that still
deeper human interest lay hidden
among the spoken words.
on a farm near the village of Hud-
son, iowa, Miss King was reared. Hers
were the advantages that were offered
to the average farmers daughter She
received a common school education.
Her father died when she was a child
and il was the ambition Of her mother
that the only daughter should become
a country school teacher The plan did
not appeal TO her, because teaching
was not TO her taste. and when she was
sixteen she started out to earn her
own living as d domestic. In this way
she made her first money, and after