Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-07
MRS. FORD'S LIFE WORK
IS TO Be DOING GOOD
When She Thinks Richest Man
10 Wrong She Doesn't Hesi-
tate to Tell Him.
Philadelphia Record


Philadelphia Record
and doing. These tho two missions
OF the wifo OF the richest man in the
world-Mrs. Henry Ford--about whom
the people OF this country know less
than OF any other prominent woman.
Every school child from New York
10 California knows Henry Ford, his
works. ambitions and published
thoughts, as well as his latest start
ling statement that he. is worth more
than $1,000, 000. 000-fnore even than
John d. Rockefeller: but they know
nothing Of tho dark-eyed. plainly
dressed. rather plump. middle-agcd
woman who has had more to do with
shaping Henry Ford's meteoric career
than has any other person.
Back in the early SOS, Clara
Bryant. a Greenfield. Mich. farmers
daughter, then In her early teens. had
little idea that on April IL. 1883.
would I'm 1922 he looked up TO rs the
worlds greatest business genius. or
that she would be living In veri-
table palace In Dearborn. Mich. sur
rounded by n 700-acre estate. with
servants and every conceivable con-
venience then not dreamed of. But
Henry Ford. who at that time came
20 Detroit ms an engineer for the Edi-
son company, returned. and the coun-
try girl became Mrs. Ford.
From that day to this. as Mrs. Ford
SAYS, ours has been a very happy
marriage. We have been partners in
the business OF life We have con-
suited each other an all points as one
member Of firm consults another.
There in no boss in our firm.
Not that / always agree with my
husband. No, no. II i think he Is
wrong. | tell him so. That is part
OF every wife's duty. II is included
in the vow to love and honor. You
wouldn't love and honor IL you en-
coursgcd a man to 40 on in course
YOU thought wrong. So. IL my hus-
band takes a wrong view in any mat
ter. or one that seems TO me wrong,
turn family oculist: ! endeavor 10
correct his angle of vision
While. Of course, one OF the most
talked-of women I'm Detroit. Mrs. Ford
In one OF tho least known. She could
walk down Woodward avenue and
back again and probably not two peo-
pie in a hundred would recognize her
Her main aims in life are Keeping
house for Henry Ford" and doing good
for people in a quiet way. In fact, "a
quiet way" designates her whole per
sonality. She is quiet In her dress. her
manners and her speech. She is sell
dom seen in public and is said TO 1--we
only for her husband and her son
al -hn Il nj
Ford Motor Company and its active
head.
Mrs. Ford, Il 10 said. acts tho par,
Of any middle-aged vito OF q prosper
GUS business man. Her clothes are
dark and quiet Jewels she seldom
wears. and her friends say the only
ornament she usually affects is hel
wedding rims. with. once In a while
string OF pearls.
But for all her quiet ways her hanC
- plainly to be seen in many of Henri,
Ford's biggest and most philanthropy
works. Witness the recent purchase o
the Lincoln Motor Company for SIS.
900, 900, when Henry Ford saved
rival automobile concern from bank
ruptcy.
The day Of the sale came, and Will
Henry Ford Was TO spend $4,000, 90
OF his fortune 10 satisfy a desire OF hi
wife and his son. Ne did not even al
tend the sale but Mrs. Ford did an
others present say she appeared a
happy over the Lelands' victory a
they did themselves; it meant tn
savings OF a lifetime TO them.
Mrs. Ford's hand is also seen in tn
labor dealings her husband has ha
with his employees. called in som
circles the most drastic and far
reaching ever attempted.
Il entirely agree with my husband
plan for profit-sharing with employee
and for making conyicts honest cit
zens by giving them work with II
hope of better things" Mrs. Ford he
said. Il am with his heart and soul.
consider II a splendid project and
am proud TO be the wife Of the ma
who conceived il.
Il have received many letters fro
wives Of employees telling what prof
sharing has done for them and the
children. 1 receive letters from citi'
where Mr.. Ford has branches of n
/ business. Every one bears witness
the fact that the plan has made f.
increased health and happiness.
Il never visit the families of II
husbands employees. They are h
partners IN every sense of the wor
and we do not want them TO feel
fancy the slightest hint OF patronas
would not visit their homes unless
was invited
Another and lesser reason is tn
am very busy with other work tn
requires my personal presence al
effort. / am on board of manage
OF a working girls hotel and l a
deeply interested in home for youn
er girls-little first offenders who ha
appeared for the first time in Oh
~ dren's Court. | also do personal Wis
Ing among the needy of our city,"
In this connection 1t is well know
here that Mrs. Ford is enc of I
most ardent Of workers for social !
forms. She is personal visitor
the city's detention homes and oft
eats lunch with the inmates Of I
House of Correction, and she is co
stanty in consultation with WON
n police workers. She also employs
II number of agents who investiga
charity cases for her and make I
ports on which she acts. Some S
u visits personally. others her ager
are instructed to care for. Mrs. Fo
IL also constantly in consultation wi
charity organizations.
III a short distance beyond the Fo
estate is Dearborn Valley Farm, viii