Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05
By wEARE HoLBROoK.

- ONE Of Us oidtimers still can re-
membe. the DAYS when an office
vas an Office. II contained roll
~ top desk. a linoleum carpet.
xali calendar presented with the
compliments Of the local lumber COM
psny. telephone, cuspidor and
swivel chair that would tilt back TO an
angie Of As degrees and squeak in seven
different keys The lucky dog who oc-
cupsec j: zore slee.e garters and de-
tachable cuffs. which ne removed before
s.ar.ing TO work. Transacting business
vas a simple matter. You worked until
-pu we're through. and then you sat
around and read the paper And that's
al there vas 10 do
II vas a pretty soY6id way 10 make a
living. ] must admit. But We didn't
know any better in those days. We were
proud o. DIR s!Z-story ONCE buildings,
with their canvas awnings over the VIM
ooys and tl1e.r ornamental tin cornices
But about 20 wears ago architects be-
gan 70 realize that although the Nc
Gt1ris Building az the corner Of Tenth
snc Main vas useful. the Cathedral al
Cologne vas much easier on the eyes.
They agreed that the logical thing 70 Go
voilS De 20 combine the two, retaining
the best features o. each. So they did:
snc they still are doing it-Tith the re-
SIT that the business world has under
gone complete renaissance.
Notion picture directors are partly re-
Fpons.b.e for the change that has taken
pace. When called upon 10 depict he
once o; captain Of industry they In
EaFiao.Y tSke room the size 81 the
union cepot and flt IL up with a huge
6at-topped ce$k leather diyan. Orr
entail rUgk and Gooeiinxky tapestries
Then. when real captains 81 industry
SEE tae picture. they feel that they have
bsen csleateo out u some Of the good
things 81 I!e and Immediately remodel
their Offices after the fashion Of the
cecli-ce-niiilonaires
Indeed. the oyersizs desk problem Is
oecop9iag more serious each DAY. The
bigger INF executive, the bigger the
ctsk Sometimes You can scsn the Ysst
mahogany plateau for hours a. time
riote SoliIsyy sice president appears
on the horizos Tie size of the tables
H. the cire@;Ors' rooms has increased
proD9yiaonatejy Many o! them would
fnaEs icesJ stating INKS. and IL Is only
= matter e tins until ne directors viii
nave ~ CSe Eop scout xi2~wag signals
~ Dro~f " communicate with each
rlnet Th* cigar sraoke signal system
u SDE@Sy ~ vogue snloglg the directors
81 $)nls cTrastio'3s when voting two
lj.rs sigDsfying AYE" ard one puff
PERIOD furniture he's been great
hop " tilF teop.e who want " make
in~3F ofLcet i03s As unlike Offices a.
i>selDl@- TIE Cr&nc Rapids swivel
Eisii lk fspssGec ~ q Venetian folding
'psjs II g2lceS walnut and t1oied
Rather anc there il Eoknara rug
HDfie ne jn-oie2n csrpet asec " be
The ~hl1-ogiisF sage sta tt desk oi
the Loeik ~ pef.oc which is deEOrs ted
vain EleS1asf n1aroue.ry ormulu
mounts arc EeVfes plaques When he
washes " refer ~ "YouFs Of the 2sth
lnEt. IN re $$4 pipe casting foG Kan
res City" he oonSIlts letter fies in q
Teceptscle with i,sHeIs u japanese lar
q4sr ia the style ~ Csf3es1 The hirD
TER ConDsnys Wall calendar has been
s9ppiantEc ny En etcning. SIC the only
article even feHptely resembling . cils-
pad1y iE a Jsce Doai NJ the Mig dy-
nasty
u IL IL the disposal ~ the telephone
thss the ingenuity VI interior decDrstlae
reaches itA fullest flower. Apparently
There If something obscene sb0ut THIS
useful instrument If 1lnunicstioff n
must Ne hidden a. all costs CoEse-
oVently, la the modern Office, when ths
telephone TlnPs there is frantic search
u fro IL Furniture il overturned. Ora
pereE ere rUng aside. rugs are lifted
Presently some one remembers 70 pikf
ksIx the secret panel Ia The fireplace