The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01

crossed from a single room with
Elk quarts OF broth as a stock in
trade To million dollar building COM
pletely equipped with appliances to turn
the ordinary home into a hospital by
oapitalizing the spirit Of nelghborilness.
For nearly twenty-five years Mrs Mary
Hatch Willard has been New Yorks
professional neighbor.
She found herself in 1890 suddenly
thrown upon her own resources, with
neither capital nor training Her one
money making accomplishment, she de-
oided after taking stock, was the knack
of making good broths and jellies. ac-
quirod during the long Illness OF sis
ter-in-law. Such knack Is common in
the small town where neighbors may be
depended on TO keep an invalid supplied
with delicacies while the housekeeper
turns nurse.
But the city knows no neighbors out
side It's teuements. SO Mrs Willard SET
about supplying the want. She had
great difficulty in getting started. for a
single room in which she could do her
cooking as we'll as her selling was hard
to find Her capital was limited to 81
and she had TO go in debt for her stove,
her saucepans and even her rent. And
IT the end of her first day she had had
only one customer--her father.
Gradually orders began to come in.
Friends heard of her struggle and she
was not too proud to deliver her bowls
Of jelly and pals OF broth at their doors
I herself Finally as her business grew
/ the tailor downstairs offered her half
f Ct his boy" BY the end of the year she
"a MI "a ON har laht ~ isT-
ant and an established business
81 never let people go away disap-
pointed she says OF those early strug
giles. III didn't have what they wanted
/ went out and got Il. II found
couldn't furnish thing at the appointed
time | let them know at once so that
they could make other arrangements.
tried to keep faith not only with my
patrons but with myself. \ woman In
business must avoid growing masculine
and | have always devoted some care tc
my own appearance and surroundings.
I'm this particular business there
was another danger-indifference. The
people who came to me wanted not only
the best that money could buy, but they
wanted IL with a smile. So ] made VI
my mind that the people who assisted
very first assistant ! employed wa'
not an experienced clerk, but tn,
daughter of "A friend.
TO each one who has come to M
since ! have given the same motto
| Remember that the people we serV,
are in deep trouble. They must be mad,
To feel that We are not only able bu
glad TO help them II has benefited m,
as well as my customers, for | find tina
these young women of intelligence taxi
as much interest in my business as il
; II were their own. | was willing To pay
for courtesy, soft voices and light steps
and the investment proved good one
! like To feel that II gives the house Al
atmosphere of its own
This atmosphere Is IN evidence in al
parts of the big hrownstoue mansion
that has been Rebuilt for business pur
, poses The business office j. NOR" lik,
, q great reception hall, with its toluuia
fireplace, hung with copper utensils an,
its rag carpet
But no home ever had kitchen Tx
the one beyond with It's white walls anC
white saucepans. The glasses an,
paper boxes that line It's shelves ar,
all stcrilizca I'm live steam; Cverythlns
must be not only actually but surglcallN
Clcan. So there IL stcrili2'ng room
with steam tanks where the gauz,
dressings aud spongrs used in surgica
upcratiuus. rs well as All the containers
OF food are made safe,
FOR Mrs. Wizards business Ia,
grown To such an extent that she car
turn the ordinary home into "A hospita
at "A few hours notice with operating
room. cots wheeled chairs scrvini
a. .at. l. ~.