New-York tribune., 1920-01-29
Ho.u Funds Grow
With Some Reference to the
Wuys of Providence
the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Irlounc
Sir: New York is full of funds.
Each one is being raised for the pur-
pose of building, feeding or American
izlng something. Their ends may be
different, but there is strange simi-
larity in their means.
There is the chairman. She Is
very important person. Whenever you
mention her name people say, "Mrs.
Jones? Oh, Mrs. John Jones!" Then
they heave respectful sighs. What
ever is wanted she can ARRANGE" She
always knows somebody, or at least
somebody who knows somebody, on
the inside of everything She never
has to bother about that straight line
which is the shortest distance between
two points; she knows too many roads
of indirect influence. She Is giving
herself heart and soul to "the cause"
She is rushed to death, she is neglect
ing her husband and children she tells
you with q sad, sweet smile. Every
day she hurries into her limousine and
dashes down town to the office. She
tells people to call her up early in the
morning, ooh, very early, as early--as
-half-past nine"
There is the first vice chairman. Shs
is likewise an important person who
does business in ostrich feathers snd
q oIcly 1,,t cL e,Yti
head for which any business firm would
pay her thousands a year. She knows
how to make quick decisions and how
to stick to them. She also knows
how to give her subordinates the In
preston that they are doing good work
and had better 60 ahead and do some
more Of the same kind. She is not
fulsome about this; she is subtle.
Women executives are more skillful IN
this gentle art of encouragement than
men. Men are too prone to think that
not to blame person is the same thing
as praising him.
There is the very sweet lady who has
perfect confidence in you" because
she doesn't IN the least understand
what you are doing. She is the sort OF
person who looks upon the appointment
of committee as splendid piece OF
concrete, constructive work. She Is
filed with enthusiasm for "the cause
and spends hours day at her desk
writing long drafts of letters
for her stenographer to put into shape
and holding scores Of earnest, enthu-
siastic, futile interviews. The way to
work for her is to agree with every
thing she says and then go and do as
you please.
There is the professional woman who
comes into the office two mornings
week and puts through more work
than most Of the ostrich feather ladies
DO in SIX days. They admire her tre-
mendously and keep asking her advice
about all sorts Of things with when
she has nothing TO do. She endeavors
earnestly to systematize them, but oy
the next time she comes they nave
forgotten the details Of the system ana
She has to begin all over again
There is the publicity man. He mas
hair that stands up straight in the a'f
and he is always chewing the dying
remnant Of cigar. His red haired
typist is Injured to the smell, but no
leaves it on his desk when he goes 10
one Of the ostrich feather ladies 1os
an O. X. Everything has to be O. No
great many times. This is party
because of the elaborate system OF or
ganization by which no one Is superior
to any one else and partly because tho
ladies are a little alarmed about Inc
publicity. They arc afraid 1t Is not
always quite dignitied.
And yet somehow the fund Is always
raised and the cause Is fed or built OF
Americanized. The ways of Providsncs
are strange. NJ
Orange, N. j., Jan. as. 1920