The Lamar register., 1919-12-10
Efficiency
~O
By VICTOR REDCLIFFR
Copyright. 1911, By the western News
paper Uniol-D

nhll ofuer Dusiness OI tnuknitu"e
and profit. The quarters were roomy
and comfortable, the seven girl ste
nographers pretty. cheerful and eff
cient 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 one does
his or her best. don't have to watch
them and the business runs on
creased rollers"
Then came change. Perry decided
to enlarge his trade. This took money,
and retired merchant agreed to
supply the capital.
81 don't want TO be active In the
business primarily" announced Mr..
Gideon Wells. hut have been "A
successful man and | know the meth
ods. AT the end Of each month You
win supply me with full audit"
"Oh. surely that" acquiesced Perry
readily.
''And you must have an efficiency
man put things on n modern working
basis" but at this Perry hesitaied,
asking what this To him unfamiliar
feature might signify.
A spell of gloom. NJ 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
hawklike eye pierced the personality
of every employee as though he was
arranging them In some court as GRIM
I,.n 80 .I.... lat L.. hA aAll-
ing price Of waste paper in the high
est market. and ordered the office hoy
not to allow scrap to escape his
eagle eye. He examined all the type
writer ribbons. After week OF pot
tering around he came into Perry's
office and closed the door.
swell. I've done Some things b.
way of n start" he placidly announced
Charge to waste salvage two dollars
and ten cents. and the ribbons an
economy OF thirty per cent"
yes" nodded Perry. but you have
scared away the hest ONCE 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 Its very root. There -
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 q regular
banquet hall. The employees pool their
dinner money and make a regular
party of it,
They're orderly II happy. aren't
they7" challenged Perry. There are
four engaged couples among the
group. They do their work efficiently.
are contented and cheerful. and thelf
own little Joys and lunch hour relaxs.
tion harm nobody"
That may he. but Was engaged
to put in a system. and Mr.. Wells ap-
proves my plan. | would suggest that
the young ladies' all wear uniform
black dresses. and one by one ! would
dismiss them and replace them with
men typlsts."
Perry resisted. but Mr.. Wells backed
up his expert. The proposed revolu
tion becnme 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 n body"
And all save one forthwith marched
out Of the office. The one was Nellie
Weaver. She was the head stenog-
rapher. with nm aged mother depend
ent upon her earnings. and was the
oldest and most reliable employee in the
place. At her Perry glanced desOlate-
ly 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 doT"
Can | speak freely" Inquired Mel
lie. and ns he nodded willing assent
she continued: III | were you ! would
insist on this trouble maker leaving
at once. Mr.. Perry, half Of the force
are lovers and engaged. and 1t is love
that makes the world go round and Ia
responsible for the harmony that has
always pervaded this office. You can
not replace the trained people who
t., bo..