The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-03

genius OF tina clever Clara could not
devise models that would keep the
name of Tomson at the head Of the list
OF wholesale milliners.
To Tom TOmson hats we're what
tons of coal are to big mine operators,
or "best sellers" to the publisher or
magnetic stars to the theatrical man.
ayers. He could no more have design.
ed a hat than he could have designed
yatcht-no more than the mine OPP
orator could have mined coal or the
theatrical manager could have taken
leading role, But he knew, or.
thought he knew, good hats when he
saw them, and 1t was his particular
business in the world of Industry to
produce hats that would sell And
since the war had interrupted Paris
iuportations Tomson's hats had not
been selling extraordinary well.
Perhaps It was because OF this prob.
lem, perhaps It was because Tomson
felt sorry for the solitary little appren'
tiCe-but at all events he OF all per.
sons in the office took no part in the
Ibantering that went on about her re-
markable piece of millinery, In fact
as days went on, no one could fail to
notice that Mr. Tomson was taking an
interest in the sweet.faced apprentice,
and there was look of understanding
among the girls in the workrooms
when he had miss Cherry Hat"
transferred from the workrooms to his
own office.
1t was one fine day a few weeks
after Margaret Daw started to work
at Tomsons that the younger mem.
her OF the company came to his broth
err in a serious mood and began to talk
about the girl. Perhaps the fact that
the elder Tomson had been taking
Margaret Daw to luncheon frequently
made the brother more bold,
~ don't want to butt into your pri-
vate affairs" he said, "but if you
really want to be seen with that little
country girl can't you induce her to
wear a regular hat? Haven't YOU ever
spoken to her about that cherry thing?
mo" answered Tom II haven't, and
perhaps the Teason I haven't Is be-
cause we have had too many other
things to talk about. Miss Daw is an
extremely Charming And capable
young woman"
"Oh, that's the way the wind blows
Is it?" returned the brother. Well,
she does seem nice enough girl. But
honestly, Tom, couldn't you do some
thing about her HAITI I saw buyer
who came in yesterday when YOU were
starting out to luncheon with her. She
had that hat on, and honestly, he
couldn't keep his eyes off it. If he
doesn't think the girls that work hero
know any more about hats than that
we'll, business isn't any too good as 1t
Is, Tom, and II certainly won't help
matters any. You know that's the
darn funniest hats I ever saw
II know business isn't any too good"
interrupted Tom. But 1t is going to
pick up. Wait till two months from
no wand the books will show some i'm
provement. That Miss Daw has got
some ideas that are going to make
things hum"
"You don't mean that she knows
anything about hats! A girl that would
wear that-itS a wonder You don't
want her to take Clara's place in the
worlrooms."
mo, I don't think that will be ne
cessary. She can stay here in the Of
flee with me and simply hand her idea
on to Clara for execution. If she made
that hat with the cherries we could
double our business in six months.
That hats a masterpiece. If YOU saw
woman at Piping rock or at the
Belmont track wearing It you'd get
Clara to have the girls copying 1t fast