Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-06
STRAIN or BUSINESS
BY EDNA koPF

tershall AS she deity 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 chances about through the build
ing. it has been gradually borne in
upon me that something should be
done to relieve the frightful strain up.
der which the business man suffers.
ON winter it isn't so bad. All he
has to do then is to get down to his
desk at s o'clock, dictate 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 off
six fierce men who want to collect
several thousand dollars worth Of
bills and generally wrestle with the
Office force. But these warm days,
1t is different Honestly, sometimes
my heart aches for Mr.. Pye and Mr..
Digginsi It's wonder to me that
their families are willing to so away
for weeks at time and leave poor
father to slave alone in his misery.
~ know what the women do before
they go away" went on Miss Fatter-
shall. They have all the heavy fur
niture put into rosebud cretonne slips
and the shades pulled down so the
rooms are always dim and cool. Mr..
Pye sleeps till 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 it as Mrs. Pye would do. Then
he saunters out, looking like freshly
pressed millionaire, and has 4 poor
breakfast when he gets downtown at
some hotel-one of those melons on
ice French omelet and Turkish cof-
fee breakfasts where you tip the wait
er 81 for q S15C feed. Then gets to
the Office about II o'clock wearing a
pale and troubled look.
"tGood morningn says Mr.. Pye gem
orally. He gazes at US gently, as ii he
we're due to die in five minutes or so
and wanted to leave a good impression.
Good morning! I hope everybody is
feeling welI-rm all in myself. This
having no home and trailing all over
town for breakfast takes it out Of e
man; takes it out! Yet I won't com.
plain, because I don't want to deny
my family. What! The thermome'
ter at 7G? This heat is grilling!'
"Then he fades away into his pri-
vate office and sits down where two
electric fans beat upon his fevereo
brow Five minutes later, when tim
idly approach with three letters in my
hands, he removes his feet from the
desk, shakes his newspaper and
Irowns. Miss Fattershall,' he says to
me in ianguid voice, I suppose these
are absolutely necessary, so that you
aren't disturbing me uselessly. On,
well, give them here!'
"IIe 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
! 20 play golf tomorrow. Mr.. Pye frowns
and says he is badly rushed with bust
ness, but if it is a possible thing he'll
try and join him. But it's always
business first, my boy!' he reminds
his friend.
after that he drags himself over to
the club for lunch. This is another
hossy repast, all ruGfied 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 tells
the head clerk not to bother him about
such a trile as a $4,000 order-what
on earth is he hired fer but to attend
10 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 and
wearing on his head panama hat
that set him back about $50. 'Pye, old
man. says he, what's the use of work
ing yourself to death in this sort OF
weather? You owe it to yourself to
get a little rest and recreation. You'll
be having heat prostration or some
thing like that if you don't take care
of yourself. Come, let's 60 to the ball
camel
"Mr. Pye considers: I hate to go
| and leave lot Of work standing,
Jawn,' says he. Things stop on dead
center whenever I'm not here, you
know. Oh, we'll, hate to disappoint
you, since you've come way Up here
for me- So he reluctantly grabs his
panama and they float out to take the
touring car.
Later on he has another meal at a
roof garden or summer garden with
music, and the check for him and
Jawn is somewhere around $40. The
touring car drops him at his own door
in the moonlight and leaves him to I'LL
| d;ct,,ri,od cIr,rLo that hp may rnSt