The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-22

miss Lena Ross Of Elmira will kindly
give us a few words on her irwin
@. Herman. POSTMASTER at the ban-
quet OF the National Association OF
Realty Brokers at the NcAlpin Hotel
last week, got no further with his re-
marks. Miss Ross was on her feet ana
in a pleasing voice which trembled just
a little she asked to be excused, As she
had come u~nprepared for such honors.
Miss Ross is the first and only woman
member of the National Association or
Realty Brokers. formulated last April
for the purpose OF almalgamating the
real estate interests of the country Tor
the good Of the brokers and the general
public. The leading broker OF each
county In the United States. about $500
in all. will be asked to become a menu
Der OF the association.
An ASSOCIATION of leaders the 100 or
more men who had travelled here from
various parts of the country to at
tend the convention, were a bit sur
prised to find a woman a real estate
leader. Who is She? What has she
done? and a number OF similar questions
few around the parlor of the McAipin
Hotel. where the convection was In ses-
slon when Miss Ross put In her APP
pearance.
No one seemed able to answer. When
the banquet came round apd Miss ltoss
was asked to tell about herself there
was visible pleasure on the race OF
every diner. for now they were to Know
all about the woman member ana from
her own lips. The disappointment was
90 apparent when Miss Ross sat down
without telling her story that THE SuN
decided to dc II for her, merely to sat
isfy the natural curiosity OF the maze
| members OF the national association OF
real estate leaders II SUN woulu
do this much II for no other reason
than to satisfy the interest OF MIR. Young
of Lake winnepesaukee. Mr.. Kelly OF
the Kansas City Board OF Brokers or
benjamin Fox. president OF the Chester
Pa. Board OF Trade.
Miss Ross has sold 100000 worth
OF real estate since 1910. In a city oil
the size OF Elmira, y. Y, this rep
resents a lot OF business. For three
years Miss Ross sold on an average a
house a week. Not only did she sell
houses blu business buildings, the
largest and finest in her city. department.
stores, factories and sites for factories
and large areas for subdivision and de-
yelopment with homes for Elmira :
workers, She managed the office, bossed
the carpenters. brickiayers ana maso's
VIII build for the Elmira company AND
operated the company's lumber yard.
Success was forced on Miss Ross
Nine wears ago. while still in her teens,
she suddenly had thrust on her the duties
and RESPONSIBILITIES mat usually fall 10
and officer and a man of much business
experience. She was a b~ookkeeper for the
Elmlra Building Company Al III time
and knew little OF business and business
customs. A contract was something
foreign 20 her and reading building plans
was an impossibility to her al the time
The chance to show her ability came
, when the secretary OF the company sud
denly resigned. Confusion followed hi'
leaving. Pioneer and largest buildinl
company IN Chemung county the q
ness Of the concern was not small
Folks wanted homes. builders sites
and manufacturers plants. Miss Ross
had to meet them and try to satisfy the'i
demands. Though she knew nothinl
about selling real estate II was her duty