Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-23
M ODERN OFFICE BU DIN G
hASSA AgSSSA "A WO RID IN ITSELF

much more besides that the recounting would be
wearisome, is itself machine that requires expert
guidance. 1t is a public character and as such has a
reputation to lose. 1t is capital and such must be
watched and nursed. 1t is a community and as such
must be governed A recent incident which took place
in downtown office building Is of interest.
The chips were clicking merrily and the cards were
flirting from the Dealers hand with precision that
spoke eoquently of that gentleman's long practice.
The third to the left, with long, solemn face
and keen eyes, glanced around the approvngly.
Three other tables held their quota Of seekers after
truth as exempfed by the royal flush.
Neat scheme of yours, this he observed, with the
gold mining company blind"
The dealer nodded. Smooth friend got the place
for Always way of putting it over" he said.
"They watch office buildings pretty close, don't
they| asked the third man, picking up his hand.
Nav" said the dealer. "Once you get By the
superintendent you're all right"
The solemn faced man glanced at his cards. tossed
them aside with yawn and rose. I'm going after a
cigar down stairs he announced and started for the
door into the hall.
"Hey, not that way" the dealer called after him.
We've plugged that up. Go the way you came,
through the outer Office"
But the other seemed not to have heard BE crossed
to the door and laid hold of the knob.
ITS locked" called the dealer again. But appar-
emily he misinformed. The knob turned, a smart
pull Brought the door open and shook out the cotton
crack stuttngs. There a shuttle of feet fash
ing of brass buttons and the dealer started with
frightened yell that brought his clients white and
trembling from their chairs Too late. In the door
way stood lieutenant of police with squad Of men
behind him. Some few of the players made III ad-
vsed efforts to slip away through the adjacent Of
fees but were quickly corraIed
The calmest figure during the brief hubbub was
the solemn faced individual who had opened the door,
He stood among the policemen while the lieutenant
was arranging the transfer Of the prisoners TO the
patrol wagon. The dealer noticed him and thrust up
close, snarling, so 1T was you who gave us away,
eh2 Who the devil are you, anyway?'
said
"Oh, I'm the superintendent of the building"
Thus in traditional dramatic STYLE enters the be-
lated hero of this yarn And he deserves curtain can
before ne gets any further If for other reason
than because, though of the most important per
sons In metropolitan life, he has hitherto passed un-
noted and unsung The janitor is famed In "but-
terck" story and evil jest This is pow
erful and lot more respectable than any hundred
janitors and many times more interesting
An office building bearing out its analogy with a
city In itself, has its officials and departments.
large building has sometimes as many as two
hundred employes-engineers to run the huge heat
ing, lighting and pumping plants fremen, special
policemen elevator force hall cleaners, vacuum
plant operators, window washers, carpenters, paint
ers, eterers electricians, experts Of various kinds
and degrees. Above them looms the superintendent.
The superintendent of modern Office building is
kind of sublimated Cerebus He lies in wait at the
portal of the premises he is hired to guard and he
to be lured to sleep with cakes of honey cakes
of anything else. He Is a combination watch dog,
renting agent detective walking gentleman, financial
expert censor, committee of public safety, Nemesis
and tyrant To live IN his community the applicant
must show himself commercially spotless the
Himaayan SHOWS; to remain he must prove himself
solid and upright the Bank of England At least
such is the guiding theory.
stranger appears at the Office of the superintendent
and demands know whether there Is available
for rent.
"What firm or who forT" asks the superintendent,
dispassonately.
"Chlcken Feather Extract Company" says the
bther.
'What referencesT
"Th1s and "Tother banks"
The superintendent takes many notes.-the nature
of the business, machinery If any, noises any,
vious location, space wanted, what goods to be
premises, names of company officers and stfn more
references.
I'VE will let you know" he says.
Within the next few days he makes directs an
investigation. Either personally through an as
sistant he looks up the applicant from all possible
angles No enterprise with questionable standing
a questionable purpose is considered The office
building must be kept free from financial from
social reproach This governor is on the ground to
see that the lid" is nailed fast.
If the applying firm through every test It Is
invited to step up and sign steel ribbed rock bot
toned, iron clamped lease which leaves 1t neatly IN
the path of rectude with the promise OF being
thrown out for cause.
But surveillance does not end here. The gupaF4n-
tendent of high class Office building holds his posi-
ton through his ability to keep the good name OF the
place unsmrched. If there Is anything sl4 >csous
going he is going to know II, If he has 10 gum
shoe" himself.