The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-10

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To the average woman the intricacies
of a railroad timetable are incomprehensi-
bic. They represent a problem to be
solved by some male relative or by the
more or less supercilious official who
conducts the information bureau Of the
station. Her struggles in this direction
have been the theme Of many chest
nut.
Yet there Is woman In New York
who can route you in the most direct
way no matter whether you want to
go to Hickville. Ind. or to the iner-
most regions of China. She can give
you positive information about all those
allurtng vacation resorts. telling you
whether the rolling pillows can really
be seen from your bedroom window or
IL the cooking is really superintended by
some famous chef. II you want a room
with a southern exposure in a hotel
within so many blocks Of certain
church or near attractive theaters. Miss
Ruffner can pick out the right place for
You.
This is not a business which can be
picked up in a couple of years" said
Miss Ruffner. in speaking Of her work
the day when l visited her in her head
quarters at the Hotel McAlpin. New York
City. I'm order to give reliable informa-
necessary to have visited the places and
travelled over the different railroad lines.
Il was born in New York. but have
been a traveller ever since was two
years Of age. Every year ] 60 over 10. 900
miles. looking up different places and
investigating improvements. 1t 10 very In
teresting work to me because L never
grow weary Of seeing new plAces.
Il started in this business while work
department which was devoted to CIV
ing information to readers about winter
and summer resorts and the best way
to reach them. i did similar work for
different newspapers. and then was Of
fered a position by the New York Central
Railroad Always. however I felt that
my work was hampered, for. naturally,
while one Is working for a railroad II
Is necessary to route people over that
line IL possible. II was the same with
my magazine and newspaper work.
simply had to recommend hotels which
advertised with us.
when / decided to start in business
for myself / wrote to every hotel knew
of and explained my scheme to the man.
ayers. / knew those hotels thoroughly
and could recommend them: SO / sug-
gested that as I did not charge the
public anything for my information they
should pay me certain yearly salary.
The managers found the thing feasible.
and / opened an Office of my own. 1t was
not long before had over 1000 hotels on
my list
This New York hotel manager. know
ing my work and experience, asked me to
move my office up here. which promptly
did.
People OF all nationalities visit my
office and ask every conceivable ques-
ton. For instance. some woman will
come in and want to know where some
favorite minister is going TO preach on
Sunday. The hearing of this man Is one
of the treats which she has promised
herself on visiting New York. Seeing the
sign, Information Bureau she comes in
to inquire. A man will come in and
want TO know which is regarded as the
best sanatorium in America and all
about the management. the treatment.
and the rates. OF course. / have all the
Information about famous establishments
at the tip of my tongue. and such in
formation is easily supplied, but there
are many questions asked which are
really complicated, and It is necessary
for me to do some tall seeking through