The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-21
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strenuous a task for her and then 1t
was that Agnes left school to support
herself and mother. She did the usual
thing, entered a store and was put
wherever there was a shortage OF help
until finally she was made a regular
member of the sales force in the furni-
ture department, which included cur
tains. rugs and draperies.
Her salary, If it might be called that,
was IS a week when she started on her
business career. She worked in the
same store for seven years, during
to the dizzying heights of SIS a week,
| when an occasional additional commits
sion for selling some white elephant In
her department or some of last years
stock. 4
Mrs. Heller's health continued to fail
until Agnes found herself with the
cares of the household and an invalid
mother added to the hard work of her
store duties. When her mother died
after her prolonged illness Agnes was
left alone. Her grief combined with
the worry and strain Of her months of
nursing caused a nervOus breakdown
and she was forced to leave the store
for an indefinite period.
She had saved some money, not
much, but enough to keep her from
worrying while she took a rest for two
months. Then 1t became necessary for
| ilCI W bO UdIh W WUIh. lutyf were
keeping her position for her at the
store, but when she told her physi-
clan that she was going back to the
store he would not consent. He adj
vised her to take at least one more
month before doing any kind of work.
She insisted that It was imperative that
she do something Immediately and he
finally said that il she found some kind
of outdoor work she might do some
thing for a few hours a day.
This sounded like an impossible plan
TO Agnes. She had never dor anything
in her life but sell furniture and rugs
and lamps and the like. To start some
thing different after seven years OF the
same thing seemed to her not only i'm
possible but foolish. The doctor was
firm, however, and said he would have
to give up the ease II she would not
follow his instructions. 1t was then
kAgnes realized the seriousness OF her
case and she sat down and tried to
think of some outdoor work which she
was qualified to do. 1t was hard, for
she knew of few kinds of work and
those she could think of were indoor
jobs. She looked through the papers,
hoping to get some help there, and fl
nally this ad caught her eye:
WANTED-Young woman to act
as salesman in real estate office.
Good opportunity for right person.
Box 22-Z. n
That would surely be an outdoor job
and It would probably be short hours
n then, too, she certainly ought to be
qualified to sell, for what else had she
done eight hours every day the past
seven years. She applied for the posi-
ton and got 1t. Her time was practi-
cally at her own disposal and she was
to be paid a commission on all her sales,
She found the work far more interest
ing than the work at the store and she
regained her health much more quickly
than was thought possible. II was but
one short year before she had become
as successful as many Of their best
statesmen who had been in the business
for years. She had more money than
she ever had before and she. finally
started investing her wi money In real
estate, buying houses and lots for her.
self when she saw a good buy.
The year the war started building
was practically stopped and houses and
even rooms were at a premium. Agnes
decided to take a large old house which
she had bought and furnish 1t up for a
rooming house and then sell 1t. She
went to her old department store and
picked out complete furnishings at bar
gain prices, for she knew the value Of
the things even better than the young
| girl who was selling them to her. Then
she went to the manager asked him
IL he would give her a special price
on the things because so many OF them
were odd pieces left from sets and old
: pieces a bit shopworn. HE was glad to
get rid of many OF them and he made
her q good reduction. Agnes then fur