The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-12-12
STRAIN Of BUSINESS
BY EDNA koPa

ters1all as sne 0eftly readJusted the
net over her perfectly coiffed golden
head, Il have some sympathy these
days for the poor, overworked bust.
ness man! By observing things daily
In this office and occasionally taking
side glances about through the build
ing, it has been gre dually borne in
upon me that something should be
done to relieve the frightful strain un,
der which the business man suffers.
In winter 1t isn't so bad. All he
has to do then is to get down to his
desk at 8 o'clock, dictate a couple of
hundred letters, close several deals
with wealthy old skinflints, who nail
down every dollar they own and dare
him to get it away from them, put of
six fierce men who want to collect
several thousand dollars worth of
bills and generally wrestle with the
office force. But these warm days,
it is different. Honestly, sometimes
my heart aches for Mr.. Pye and Mr..
Diggins! It's a wonder to me that
their families are willing to go away
for weeks at a time and leave poor
father to slave alone in his misery.
Il know what the women do before
they go away" went on Miss Fatter-
shall. "They have all. the heavy fur.
niture put into rosebud c%retonne slips
and the shades pulled down SO the
rooms are always dim and cool. Mr..
Pye sleeps till 9 o'clock or so, because
the house is so still, and then he
doesn't have to wait for any one to get
out Of the bathroom. He splashes and
shaves at his leisure and makes all
the mess he chooses by throwing
clothes around, because the woman
who comes in daily to take care of his
bedroom and bath doesn't dare scold
him for 1t as Mrs, Pye would do. Then
he saunters out, looking like a freshly
pressed millionaire, and has a poor
breakfast when he gets downtown at
some hotel-one OF those melons on
ice, French omelet and Turkish cot,
ZEE breakfasts where you tip the wait.
er 81 for a $3.50 feed. Then gets to
the Office about II o'clock wearing a
pale and troubled look.
Good morning.! says Mr.. Pye gen,
orally. He gazes at US gently, as if he
were due to die in five minutes or 50
and wanted to leave a good impression.
Good morning! I hope everybody is
feeling well-I'm all in myself. This
having no home and trailing all I'VE
town for breakfast takes. it out of a
man; takes it out! Yet 1 won't com.
plain, because I don't want to deny
my family. What! The thermome'
ter at 76? This heat is grilling!'
Then he fades away into his pr.
vate office and sits down where two
electric fans beat upon his fevered
bow. Five minutes later, when I tim,
idly approach with three letters In my
hands, he removes his feet from the
desk, shakes his newspaper and
frowns. Miss Fattershall.' he says to
me in a languid voice, I suppose these
are absolutely necessary, SO that you
aren't disturbing me u~selessly. Oh,
we'll, give them here!'
HE looks them over and writes 'yes'
or mo- On the backs and tells me to
use my own judgment and answer
them myself.
Then another overworked man
calls him on the phone and wants him
to play golf tomorrow. Mr.. Pye frowna
and says he is badly rushed with bust,
ness. but If it is a possible thing he'll
try and jim him. But it's alwayl
business first, my boy!' he remind,
his friend.
After that he drags himself over to
the club for lunch. This is another
.1ossy repast, all rulled up with pars,
ley and everything iced and with fat
cigars after it. He beats it back to
the office about two o'clock and tell,
the head clerk not to bother him about
such a trihe as a 5000 order-what
on earth is he hired for but to attenl
to such insignificant items?
AT this point another slave enters,
attired In a gray suit that is SO per,
feet you don't believe it is real an ]
wearing on his head a panama hal
that set him back about $50. 'Pye, OH
man. says he, what's the use Of work,
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