New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-17
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
DO NOT CONCENTRATE
A Woman Who Has Succeeded Explains
Why Few Of Her Sex Rise
Above Mediocrity.
BY Isabel Stephen.

The reason that 80 many women never
rise above mediocrity is that they WORK
with one eye up the chimney ana inc
other on the dinner pot" as our darkies
gay down South. The pink tea. MISS
Neishbor's new hat the theatre or per
sonal gossip Is the chimney. which gets
= great deal OF attention. and the stunio
or office Is the dinner pot when Is CON
stantly sighted.
There are wonderful opportunities
meeting women Of to-day at every coi
ner Instead OF concentrating All tneh
energies on their business. however anu
taking advantage Of every chance To push
forward, the average woman noats aio"5
with her head too full OF air castles 10
recognize the little opportunity which
would lead to the biz success.
II was Mrs. Marie Scales Henry VINO
rave her opinion of the women who have
not won out in business. Mrs. Henry.
who is much better known as MISS Scales
in the advertising world speaks WIN a"-
thority Beginning at the very 1907 Oh
th. ladder she has steadily climbed IN
I'll she is now head of a large business
and employs many Young women
Mrs Henry was born IN ST. LOUIS Out
spent most OF her childhood in NashViie.
Tenn There il little of the IanSull
southern in her manner however ana
Tins she explained by ner energies III the
Northern world.
eft was nv roommate at college VINO is
responsible for my going into the oe-
signing business" Mrs. Henry said She
left the college near Nashville, where we
were both studying, and went 10 fatI9
10 study art I left college. TOO. ana re-
turned home. After two years my frleh"
returned brimful Of plans for conquer'ns
New York. She convinced me OF the pos
sibilities Of success. and ! agreed TO go
with her.
when We came to New York We look
q large. pleasant. furnished room. anu
this served both as a home and studlo.
interviewed the merchants and manulaC'-
urers and newspaper editors. ana ny
friend STAYED home and did the WORK l
continued TO study art in New York and
also helped out with the work ~nen
had time.
We had one strict rule. and that was
that pleasure should never interfere WIN
business. We went out frequently. but
ravar at tho expense OF our work. 20"
ev,rv evening We went out We stayed
home two evenings
Gradually our business grew. " ne
came necessary 20 get assistants tof our
work was satisfactory TO the business
mon we dealt with We dealt with them
on a simple straightforward business pa
sis. As rule women are too free ana
too familiar. and then they are surprised
and hurt at the result. man was tell
ing mo lust Yesterday about woman
who wanted to place some work with nm.
He did not need the work then, but told
her II he did need her work az any time
he would let her know. The next DAY
when he was out. she managed 10 get
past the office boy somehow and placed
a bunch OF pansies Oh the man desk
with her card II put the man in very
uncomfortable position. He felt that al
though he did not want her work ne
ought 20 buy il 10 pay for nor pansies'
on second thought. however. ne consigned
tin. pansies TO the wastepaper basket. Tor
from what he had seen Of the woman lie
Judged that the other way would Only
be encouragement FOR more annoyance.
have done a great deal Of work for that
man.
There is one thing that want 70 tell
girls who are in business, and that Is TO
spend their money for one good tailor
made suit and good neat hat. The slrl
who goes about looking for position
dressed in picture hat and gown To
match does not make the desired inn
nression. When q neatly dressed little
girl comes TO my studio seeking work
am naturally inclined to give her
chance. for say 10 myself: There's
little girl who looks as If she would DO
neat. clean work.
Secondly | want 10 say that the girl
who is just leaving art school should