Evening journal., 1915-04-06
BY ALICE ROHE,

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
RoMr' March 2s.--gBy Mail to
New York; Tho American woman's
commercial invasion Of Rome is
study in the much discussed "femin-
inc economic indcpendence"-which
oven war with its depressing effect
upon business cannot change.
The Italian wife OF the money
earning classes has ever been an ac-
tive adjunct of the husbands alfairs
but IL remained for the American wo-
man 10 enter the gates of the eternal
City and spell business in large COM
mercial type.
The most successful and the most
prominent American business woman
I'm Rome is Mrs. Juliette Downs VITA
Every American tourist knows Mrs.
Vita's big Roman pearl establishment
IN the picturesque and historic Piazza
D'Espagna. When Mrs. Vita started
in the Roman pearl business eight
years ago and began TO collect
large patronage because she made
pcarls that didn't wear off" she call
ed her place "The Roman Pearl Co.
The denizens OF the United States
with the tourist habit we're always in
uuiring however. Have you visited
the American" or "Have you seen the
pearls at the Americans so Mrs.
vita took down her original sign and
now. in the Piazza UEspagna one
sees greeting the shop dlsgusted tour
ist tho welcoming sign "The Ameri-
can" That's what this big Roman
nearl place. one OF the biggest pearl
Embellishments abroad is called
Sometimes il is called "The American
club" for. no American ever Nisils
Rome without having entered the por-
tails OF this business house run Dy
rooiV and truly American woman.
Mrs. Vita comes from Mobile, Ala
Her father was vice-president OF tne
Great Northern railroad and lost MS
life in a wreck in Washington. her
mother is Mrs. Ellen Kirk Downs anu
both mother and daughter, since me
death of Mr.. Downs, have ihustra'eu
in different lines what women can 40
as Economic factors
Mrs. Downs is a writer and lee
turer Her book on the Sistine Chep-
eI has been adopted in the American
GUNNER schools. Her lectures on ko-
man history and life are features OF
intellectual Rome. This year now
ovor with the slack tourist trade ana
tbo scarcity of Americans, Mrs. Downs
4. Going hack TO the States TO lecture.
A. founder of the "Woman's World
and editor OF that magazine for years
Mrs Downs. when she entered tne
commercializinc OF history and ART IN
po-n. had an the necessary literary
t.,t;ng Her daughter, however
,'hor economic reasons urged her INTO
the learning living business ueo,a IA
"a even in Rome Win us nls.ol s.,s,i -
ar, 20 20 straight to the oonnine' ''''
How did I ever choose Rome ,...a soa "
nusiness life" repeated MIS-. 80
~Uhv. inst because Amefiyens na
found trading IN Rome SO oisVS''a ~ -,
inr remember one thine, 80 80
van, 40 20 into business go IN lol o"e .
maj IS well known and don s'ai' !"
ny -rbst Is a real American business
.stc,--and Il has certainly Worheu
ant we'll in the somewhat go-df-you-
please Italian system
~ have tried everything but COM
nerce before / started IN business
said Mrs. Vita, who is young anu
nrett, and attractive and whoi de-
snite her keen business sense. ls
decidedlv feminine woman. Il was
Srsmatic critic on the Portland ore
contain and later ] was on the stage
VAS with Frohman and then was
Leading woman at Thor,as Ken.
"Two important maNims -qulte
. ,ovel in Rome are-be orderly and
i I'm time When 1 promise thing at
NJ certain time lit is ready.
NJ Il safe to say, and I'm sure the
&atement will be backed by every
kourist who ever visited ltaly-that
(rs. vita stands alone in this respect
While many shops in Rome nave
een closed owing % war depression
The American" is open and doins
usincss.
.'Tve got my good years, I'm willing
O stand pat when a bad year comes,
aid Mrs Vita. Rome was good q
nc and let me tell you, Italy Is
mighty good place for person tC
TART in business. for the government
gives any new venture one year fret
3f taxes-just to give person
,hahce TO make good" Another Amer
can woman whose name is known 4
very American and English residen
If Rome as well as 10 tourists is Mrs
Joyce Cullen Strano. Mrs. Strano II
Californian and her tea rooms II
he via Grcgoriama and at trascat
,re evidences OF her successful com
nercial invasion Of the Eternal City
In the Piazza di Spagna there Is al
English library OF many years stand
nr called Piale's The onternrisinf
proprietor today OF this much fire.
fnentcd place is an American young
woman. Mrs. Sinclair Pouley. Mrs.
9ouley is a niece OF Admiral Schiey.
The exquisite art photos OF Ruin
Turner Liherma are known where
Ner aesthetic standards are establish