The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1928-03-22
BY Pauline Suing Bloom

II
ington for 81 years She is secretary treasurer and
credit manager of the Brown. Johnston Company.
of which her son. Erie Johnston is president aud
general manager.
II comes as II surprise that Spokane should he
making parchment lamp shades for Boston MasSa-
chuSettS. hui shipment of 80 exquisite shades.
two exactly alike. just ready for mailing to
MaSSe and Company of that city when had the
pleasure of going through factory at Mis- Lin
coin of which Spokane should be most proud.
Lamp shades take up just department of this
business. They are in no wise Important the
making of the lamps. electric fixtures and wrought
iron furniture which is the business of the Brown.
Johnston Company. hut il sent Il thrill through me
Ia feel that there is demand for art work in
Boston. and Boston is just one of the cities of
the territory from Los Angeles to New York that
is served 10y the Brown. Johnston Company We
do hesitate to compete in the open market with
the hest made fixtures in America" Mrs Johnston
said 1t is interesting to note. too. that the spray
department. which handles such Il myriad of coiors
that strike harmony in interiors of every
kind and description, is in charge of Spokane
girl Miss Grace BackwoOd.
There is perhaps as much difference in an elec-
tric light fixture of the 1923 model and the 1901
model there is in old and new model autono-
bles. Certainly there is nothing that adds
Ia the attractiveness of home as lovely humps.
and it seems that we are passing into AN where
wrought iron and cast bronze are restoring the
purity of Americana.
Mrs. Johnston has enjoyed watching the growth
and development of women in the business world
the war. women still have much in the way Of ol,-
position TO before it can he said that they
enjoy equal opportunities with men," She said
the time is coming rapidly. however. when the
question of will he entirely eliminated from the
world of workers "Women just as keen. just
as capable. and the only question Of the future
will be- Who can do the work? Who can deliver
the goods?
The virtues of one sex are no greater than
those of the other God planted and women
because each needed the other; what he gave I"
one he did not give to the other Women take into
the business world the feminine touch il needs. just
men take into the home the touch il needs Ia
make it the real home Women have intuition and
staying qualities. To men he gave ind"minable
will power and strength to Slrmount obstacles.
Today men are keener to start for themselves. hut
I believe that that is matter of training. In
other one hundred years women will he just APP
and ready tn start out for themselves men,
Decency. honesty and hard work will overcome
all adversely, Mrs. Johnston believes. If you make
'hese three factors your rule of life you have
unbeatable combination. Anything can he worked
out If you face the issue squarely. and your
self humble and clean"
Mrs. Johnston is an active member of the Esther
Reed Chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution. She comes from II proud line of Col
onial ancestors. her mother having been charter
member of the Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton in Washington, II. G.
Much of her girlhood and young womanhood
spent in the nations capitol, though she was
born on II large farm six miles from Keokuk, Iowa.
where her grandfather. Judge Franklin VI. Bal.
linger, who made history an abolitionist, went
when he could no longer make Kentucky his home.
II. A. Ballinger former secretary Of the Interior
and the writer of the Remington and l'anger
Code of Washington, is her cousin
Mrs. Ballinger is an incurabe optimst. She
thinks that and women everywhere
joyng feeling of appreciation for each other and
for art. beauty and the opportunity to make some
thing of themselves, that is growing with the years.
II know the world is better than it used to be-.
she said. "Women especially essentially finer.
Whole groups get together and visit for entire
afternoon without an unknd word being said about
another woman. That is growth-spiritual growth