The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-28
New Fields for Feminine Genius
Womans Adaptaby Hotel Business Proved Big McAp
New York Where Number of Departments Are in Their Charge

I'm the much that has been written
and spoken concerning feminism
of late an important field for
woman's usefulness has been
quite overlooked That is. overlooked
by all. except in one big establish
ment where women have been placed
at the head of a number of depart
ments, and proved themselves well
adapted TO their jobs.
This establishment is the Hotel Nc
A!pin. where the managing director.
Luc.us NJ Boomer. has selected women
to NIL some OF the most responsible
Positions under him. 1t is well TO
state. however. that Mr.. Boomer did
roi do this deliberately as a champion
CO fcminism or to give women prefer
Cmce over men. but simply because he
happened to find women who fitted
the positions to be filled better than
any available men. This condition
came about in some cases by pure ac-
cident and in other cases because the
women were shrewd enough to make
positions for themselves. positions that
had not hitherto existed in the hotel
business.
After all, when you come to analyze
il, hotel is nothing more or less than
a domestic institution on a large scale
and SO why shouldn't women be con-
spicuOus in running them? 1t is pc
Culiarly i'll their sphere. The fact that
women in the past have not been
proves nothing other than that it was
an overlooked field OF endeavor. This
experiment of Mr.. Boomers, although
it IS far past the experimental stage
now and is an assured success. is more
than Nkely to be followed by other
big hotels and thus to open up a line
IF occupation for women that has been
closed in the past. The result may
be much further reaching than Mr..
Boomer ever dreamed of when he first
opened the door.
Big Desk a Mystery.
To learn at first hand what these
hotel women do and how they came to
do it was the object Of my call on Mr..
Boomer. 1 found the managing director
in his private office on the third floor.
a youngish man. with smooth shaver
face, eyeglasses and a pleasant smile.
In front of him was a very wide and
very orderly fiat topped desk. There
was no litter of papers on it to i'm
press one with the idea of a vast amount
Of detail and work. Only pen. ink. pencil
and the one letter he was examining |
at the time. Nothing is allowed to &C
emulate on that desk. Just why he has !
such a big one is still a mystery to me. |
Why" l asked. do women instead |
If men hold some OF the best and |
highest salaried positions in this hotel?" |
Of course it was really none of my bust |
could not resist being blunt and coming |
20 the point at once.
"Oh. it was not premediated," he re-
Piled. 1T has come about in the most |
natural way. I suppose it is simply |
he result OF my endeavor to find the |
most efficient person to fill every posi-
ion, and it seems for certain positions
women are eminently fitted. The handling
IF domestic problems is inherent with
the sex.
Incidentally" he continued. "let me
Tell you that II Is no easy matter to
ind people OF any sex who are capable
If filling posts of responsibility. When
[ was boy used to think that the old
saying that there is always room at the
top was largely bunko. knot bet
:er now. Not only is there always room
here but it is difficult to keep the top
places filed"
How was this note of feminism here
irst struck? Who began the pettIcoat
INVASION OF the hotel businessT"
The Woman Who Started 1t.
"oh. 1t came about in the most casual
tort of way. I should say it really
started from a call One day, several ,
before the hotel was opened, a
ady was announced. 1 recollect that {
1t the time I was immersed in a maze l
If plans and specifications for kitchens, I
pantries, bake shops and so forth. but
pushed them one side and rose to re- :
,eive her. The caller was Mrs. Lois s
well known club woman J
With the best OF social connections. After
We had chatted a moment or two, she
aid: =
The Hotel McAIpin will need a hos S
ess' c
Il asked her to explain. Y
~ have an idea,' she replied. but I ii
lon't just know how to commemorative a
t. She then proceeded to outline her r
~