The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-10-25
Efficiency
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By VICTOR REDcLIFFE
Copyright. 1910. by the Western News-
pap% Union.)

"Nt 'l"h tlut vi AVN IefIy VINO 'hu
y mail order business OF magnitude
and profit The quarters were roomy
md comfortable the seven girl ste
poglmphers pretty, cheerful and cfll-
cient and the young men. from the book
keeper down TO the bill clerk, model
employees.
'rhey are like some happy family"
Perry told a friend. Every one does
his or her best. l don't have to watch
them ana the business runs on
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 ! have been a
successful man and l know the meth
DDS At the end of each month you
viii supply me with a full audit"
"oh surely that" acquesccd Perry
readily.
and You must have an efficiency
man put things on a modern working
basis but at this Perry hesltarcd.
asking what this 10 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-lkc, severe face His
haWklilIc eye pierced the personality
of every employee as though he was
arranging them In some court as Grim
inals. He ser to calculating the sell
ing price of vase paper in the high
est market, and ordered the office boy
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 PeTys
Office and closed the door.
"Well, I've done some things by
way Of a start he pacidly announced
Charge TO waste salvage two dollars
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, l wish to attack your bust
ness system at its very root There is
altogether too much hail-felow we'll
met among your employees"
"Why, what do you mean" deman-
ded Perry, rousing up
".Iust 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 |
theyT challenged Perry. "1'here 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-
tion harm nobody"
THAT may be, but I was engaged !
TO put in a system, and Mr.. Wells APP
proves my plan. I would suggest that
the young ladies all wear uniform
black dresses, and one by one | would
dismiss them and replace them with
men typists.'
Perry resisted, but Mr.. Wells backed
up bis expert The proposed revolu-
tion became known to the Office force
One afternoon their duly appointed
chairman came to Perry.
eve all feel sorry, sir" spoke the
but we know 100 wcll
how the tactics of this efficiency
of yours will end amt
we have decided to resign our po-
sitions in body"
And all save one forthwith marched
out of the office. The one was Nellie
Weaver. She was the head sIcnog
rapher with an aged mother depend
cEt upon her earnings, and WAS the
oldest and most reliable employee in the
place. At her Perry glanced deSolatc.
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 wtching TO the per
picked Perry.
'Miss Weaver. he said what am
going to doy"
"can | speak freely" inquired Ncl
lie and as he nodded willing assent
She continued: "If ! were YOU would
insist on this trouble maker leaving
at once. Mr.. Perry, half of the force
are lovers and engaged, aud it is love
hat makes The world go round and Is
for the harmony that has
always pcrvadetl this Office. You can.
not replace the trained people who
ave just resigned. Please LET them
III come back-all of them, even to the
)fficc boy
Tin going to see Wells at once, and
lelI agree to your suggestion or
viii cancel our partnership
Alvin Perry was gone an hour, when
le returned he was excited, almost
uhilant no more efficiency ex
'erts,' he announced with zest Il
Icpend on you to see the others and
rrange for matters as they were. lou :
re wise. precious little adviser