Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-04
HOW ONE AMERICAN WOMAN DIRECTS AND MANAGES
ONE OF WORLDS GREATEST DEPARTMENT STORES
BY DOROTHY DALE.

CHICAGO.-The big grasp on Affairs
for-men-only theory is no longer the
forcible argument IL has been Mrs.
Charles Neteher. of this city, has attend
ed to that. For while men the country
over have been politely but insistently
explaining that woman is all right in
the arts and Lesser business positions but
really hasn't the big grasp you know,
and women have been modeStly bowling
acknowledgment, Mrs. Netcher has gone
calmly and easily about crumpiing that
theory into a pulpy ball and tossing II
into a pulpy ball and tossing II into the
waste basket.
Mrs. Fletcher is sole trustee. absolute
owner with her children. and acting man
ager Of one OF the greatest department
stores in the world. the Boston Store, OF
Chicago. Her investment amounts "a
x5.o0.ooo- Her store covers Is acres She
employs 1000 people
And. no. all OF this immense property
was not left to her.
When Charles Netcher died six years
ago the Boston Store was occupying an
old building that was put up Just after
the fire I'm Il Mrs. Netcher took hold Of
the business at once
In the six years elapsed she has more
than doubled the volume Of it's business.
she has replaced the old building with q
new 11-story fre-proof structure and has
built nav additions One IL In construe-
ton now. and when completed the store
win be i've times the size IT was six years
ago.
Mrs. Netcher's business motto is
cash" Cash sales and cash payments
she masks her money on cash discounts.
She is known as the biggest buyer on
ssfha 9fraeffs State street,.
After Mrs Netcher had told me OF ell
this and how I'm all those six years she
has been absent from her once only II
working days. the question came to me
that I think would come TO most people.
I asked why she wasn't satisfied TO live
on the income OF the millions Mr.. Netch-
er had accumulated instead Of trying 20
increase thsm-
TT wasn't a question OF making more
TO enjoy she said quickly "A right
minded person does not need any more
money than enough for comfort. educa-
ton and restful recreation ] have no pa
tieuce with extravagance- Why. would
rather bury the money that represents
the difference between what one OF my
children needs and that which he could
spend for what is useless or not right
I would rather bury II and let IL rot than
put Il into one OF their hands
But that's undemocratic- don't
think IL would have shown good citizen
strip. IL wouldn't have done anything for
Chicago. And ] am a Chicagoen. born and
brought up here
AS Il Is. / have given the city well
built block for an old. unsightiy one Ny
employees have a well ventilated. we'll
lighted and safe place 20 work in instead
OF an old building"
Mrs Netcher didn't say what else she
has done for her employees But some
OF the employees did
Each clerk gets per cent on every
sale. In some departments this raises
the salary OF alert clerks TO from SIS TO
xs5 a week. and in others from so to
$50
Everything Mrs Netcher does say is In
the quiet, even tone Of a mind made up.
She is commanding In appearance. but
there Is none Of the rush and testiness Of
the average business man about her.
Her eyes are a clear grsy-blue. Their
gaze is steady and direct. They are just