The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-12-26
Efficiency
o~
~ VICTOR REDCLIFFE
(Cepyright. 1919 BY the western Vows
paper UnioA.)

Nv q q hbSi hiS 10y
out than that of Alvin Perry who did
a mail order business Of magnitude
and profit. The quarters were roomy
and comfortable. the seven girl Ste
%nOgraphers pretty, cheerful and eff
Gent and the young men. from the book
keeper down to the bill clerk, model
employees.
"They are like some happy family"
Perry told a friend. Every n does
his or her best. l don't have to watch
them and the business runs or
creased rollers"
Then came a change. Perry decided
to enlarge his trade. This took money,
and a retired merchant agreed to
supply the capital.
Il don't want to be active in the
business primarily" announced Mr..
Gideon Wells. but l have been a
successful man and I know the meth
DDS. AT the end of each month you
will supply me with a full audit"
ooh, surely that" acquiesced Perry
readily.
"And you must have an efficiency
man put things on a modern working
basis" but at this Perry hesitated.
asking what this to him unfamiliar
feature might signify.
A spell of gloom, Of dissatisfaction
was cast over the little office group
the day that Mr.. Paul Smith strobe
into view. Efficiency in saving showed
on his -hatchet-like, severe face. His
hawkllke eye pierced the personality
of every employee as though he was
arranging them in some court as Grim
inals. He set to calculating the sell
ing price OF waste paper in the high
est market, and ordered the Office boy
not to allow a scrap to escape his
eagle eye. He examined all the type
writer ribbons. After a week Of pot
tering around he came into Perry's
Office and closed the door.
"Well. I've done some things by
way Of a start" he placidly announced.
and ten cents. and the ribbons an
economy Of thirty per cent"
/. Eyes" nodded Perry, but you have
scared away the best Office boy we
ever had. and worn ribbons work out
some pretty weak looking copy"
Efficiency, my dear sir, efficiency.
Now then. / wish to attack your busi-
ness system at it's very root. There is
altogether too much hail-fellow we'll
met among your employees"
"Why, what do you mean," deman-
ded Perry, rousing up.
"Just this: at the lunch hour you'd
think your back Office was a regular
banquet hall. The employees pool their
dinner money and make a regular
party of It," -
They're orderly If happy, aren't
they?" challenged Perry. 'There are
four engaged couples among the
!! group. They do their work efficiently,
are contented and cheerful. and their
own little joys and lunch hour relaxa-
ton harm nobody"
''That may be, but l was engaged
to put in a system, and Mr.. Wells APP
proves my plan. l would suggest that
the young ladies all wear uniform
black dresses, and one by one l would
dismiss them and replace them with
men typists.'
Perry resisted. but Mr.. Wells backed
up his expert. The proposed revolu-
ton became known to the Office force.
One afternoon their duly appointed
chairman came to Perry.
I'VE all feel sorry. sir" spoke the
individual, but we know too well
how the tactics Of this efficiency
phenomenon of yours will end. and
we have decided to resign our po-
sitions in a body" :
And all save n forthwith marched
out Of the office. The one was Nellie
Weaver. She was the head stenOg'
rapher. with an aged mother depend
ent upon her earnings. and was the
Oldest and most reliable employee in the
place. At her Perry glanced desoiate
~ and desperately. and gratefully. too
that she had not left him entirely In
the lurch. Her eyes were troubled
but full Of sympathy, too. They had
never looked so witching to the per
picked Perry.
"Miss Weaver" he said what am
going to do?"
j"Can 1 speak freely" inquired Mel
lie, and as he nodded a willing assent
she continued "If l e you | WOULD
insist on this trouble maker leavina
1t once. Mr.. Perry. half Of the force
are lovers and engaged. and It Is love
that makes the world 20 round and II
responsible for the harmony that has
always pervaded this Office. You can
not replace the trained people who
have just resigned. Please let then
all come back-all Of them. even to thu
Office boy"
I'm going to see Wells at NICE. and
he'll agree to your suggestion or
will cancel our partnership"
Alvin Perry was gone m hour. wher
he returned he wal excited. almost
jubilant. "NO more efficiency cx
rorta hn announced 9th zAaf. 81