The New York herald., 1921-04-24
ny HARRIET sIssoN GILLESPIE

4 by HARRIET sIsSON GILLESPIE.
\ Mrs. Gerritt Smith. recently elected to
active membership in the Real Estate
Board OF New York. has achieved tri-
umph that marks a milestone In the
feminine invasion Of business. In the
past women have been elected to asso-
ciate membership in the board. but never
before have they been received into ac-
tive cooperation as governing members
of this honorable body. AZ a matter OF
fact. the proposition to do so has never
before met with popular favor, owing
doubtless to that inherent conservatism
which still exists among so many or the
older business men of the community.
For this reason the unanimous in
dorsement of Mrs. Smiths candidacy.
when at a recent meeting her name was
presented to the members by Douglas
4. Elliman, one of the most conspicu-
ously successful real estate men In New
York city, is not only indicative OF the
complete change Of heart which mas
como about In regard to women fillins
high positions in the business world, but,
1t Is pointed out, paves the way Tor the
admission of other women to such places
in the future While there are to-day
perhans n hundred women in the realty
business in New York the number OF
those who conduct their own business
as brokers could be counted on one
hand.
And what OF the woman who Is the
modest recipient OF this unusual favor
Mrs. Smith possesses a dynamic tempera-
ment. Professionally she combines the
work of a realty broker with the more OF
less allied occupation OF interior decora-
toy Personally she is q woman of many
talents. with an enthusiasm sufhcient TO
carry them all through to fruition II she
were so minded. Her studio office Is 10
Gated at 81 East Forty-eighth street, IN
a reconstructed dwelling over the en-
trance to which Is q quaint sign bearing
the legend, eat the Sign OF the Elm
Tree"
It is always interesting to trace the
events that decided a persons destiny.
and Mrs. Smiths case serves to show
how often some purely psychological
drift turns ones life into new channels
at an unexpected crisis. Her story, Tor
this and many other reasons Us therefore
nightly interesting.
Ten years ago Mrs. Smith was solo
singer In a church. She was living
quiet life, far removed from the mael-
astrom of business career. To-day she Is
sole agent for big suburban residential
tract having a total valuation of $4,000
600, 1875 of which she has sold to spe-
cial clients. She Is personally response
BILE for the development Of the exclusive
colony at Tokeneke. Conn.,. and Is reck-
oned as one OF the cleverest realty brok-
ers in New York city.
Mrs. Smith came from the same local.
ity as did her husband, Gewitt Smith.
who was native of Peterboro, Oneida
county. NJ Y. The latter was grand
son of Col William Fitzhugh Of Mary
land and granddaughter and name
sake of Gerritt Smith, the famous aboli-
ZIONIST and philanthropist Of Geneseo.
N. Y.
Young Gerritt Smith, after musical
and art education abroad, came to New
York as organist Of the Old South
Church, where he met the future Mrs.
Smith. then soprano soloist in the choir.
Mr.. Smith occupied a position of impor-
tance in the musical world. where he
was known as a composer and a writer