The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-05-15
In New York
BY PAUL HARRISON

New York.-Life in Manhattan
really is absurdly simple. It's sim
pie, at least, for people who arc
able and willing to pay for the in
Vulnerable special services that are
at hand, on every hand.
II one wants to be awakened at
"a certain time, or reminded of en-
gagements, or advised on how to
spend ones time in New York,
there are agencies which provide
such services. It's possible to rent
or buy anything from a trained
flea to an elephant, or to hire SER
wants, or to obtain information on
anything under the sun-all by
telephoning the right people and
stating ones requirements.
The most diverse responsibilities
are undertaken by a society woman
named Mrs Katherine Blocker
Meigs, who works for one of the
telegraph companies. She started
an information bureau with the
idea of telling people how to eat
artichokes, what to wear at bap-
tizing, how to phrase social cor
respondence, and that sort of thing.
The idea was that inquiries would
be answered by collect kilograms,
which would be the only cost to
the inquiring individual.
In Tune With Job
But Mrs Meigs now finds herself
doing all manner of chores. Ways
sending birthday messages TO-
friends hire her, at SO much per .
word, to call the friends and sing !.
Happy birthday to you. Happy
birthday" and so on. Mrs Meigsss
doesn't mind. Shed sing Rock of
Ages" If anybody asked for it.
Celebrants at parties have made Z
lots of odd requests. She has sour =
ried around and provided, in hur-
ry, snails, midgets, a peacock. az
stork, and three ancient horses. The.
latter were joke-prizes at a golf.
tournament. A man who was in the
habit of overs1eeping paid for "a
kilograms to be delivered to him
self at q certain time each morn
ing. They all read: Get out of bed.
you lazy tramp A woman called
up and ordered telegram sent tc.
her husband every half hour dur-s
ing a day. It required: Have YOU,
had your hair cut yet, darling \,
Mrs Meigs doesn't provide won =,
en- companions for lonesome men,
or gigoIos for women. But she does
furnish licensed private detectives
who will act as escorts. She hasn't
had a single request for a chaper-..'
one, and reckons that nobody res.
quires them any more. y
\
Society Rivals e
"A somewhat similar service is1
maintained by a group OF society,"
women who call themselves Host
esses, Inc. The profits go to a char--l
ity. These people open and close
houses, attend the details Of NOV
ing, interview servants, arrange
travel tickets and hotel reservaS
lions, and mostly plan and SUPER
wise parties. fashion shows and
benefits. They manage lot of.
chiidren's parties because there are
so many wealthy parents who ares
so busy with their own affairs that
they lust haven't a minute left for
the youngsters.
Surprisingly enough, there are
many such services which can be.
obtained without any cost.
young woman named Sally Plun~
kett is such a professional bur
den-lifter. She finds houses or
apartments for clients. furnishes
them, opens them and hires alL
the servants. She'll plan and buy
complete wardrobe for we'd
ding or a trip around the world.
She shops for women who are too
lazy or busy to do their own buy
ing, and will oven look after
household cleaning or repair jobs.
Haunted Speeches
For busy executives who need
help on speeches and special ar
ticles, there's q phenomenally. suc-
cessful concern called Ghost
writer's Bureau. It will turn out
anything from q three-minute ado
dress Of welcome for q buttons
hole makers convention 10 q full.
length book on ecclesiaaticai art. y
A couple OF ex-newspapermen
named Fred Baer and Henry
| Woods started the bureau three
years ago with the belief that az
long as there were business men
there would be speeches ane
printed statements 70 DO prepareQf
They were right. Baer and Woode
do little OF the research now
they mostly make nrranHements
with clients and polish on TIP
products turned IN BY lesser nhoAh
many OF them college profehsYIF
l--NhO work on eommlhn'ofs
There's no arbitrary rate pu
weFd on any Job tho cost W w