WOMEN HOUSE AGENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 805, 30 April 1910, Page 10

WOMEN HOUSE AGENTS.

A NEW BUSINESS. The Englishwoman's Year Book, enumerating the various careers open to women, expresc""! surprise that so far few women have thought of entering into business as house agents, though it is a career for which they are particularly well suited. . Some years ago a Melbourne girl did take up this business, and made a success of it,-, and now, according to a Syd : liey paper, the.same experiment is being tried in New South Wales. . • .In the .letting of furnished houses in the country (says the "Daily Telegraph) one woman -has. been able to make a fair income; She iclioves the owner'of a house from all irksome duties such as making .an inventory of plate and linen,-having tho house.put m ap-ple-pie" order, and showing- the premises to intending-tenants. As a rule, she lives in the house while.it is let, and thus -ensures 1 that the rooms are properly aired and tho furniture, dusted; When icting as caretaker sheT receives an extra allowance for' living: expense's. ■ If servants are left in the house,' she is. re-, sponsible for them,, and exercises,some supervision as to the amount of gas and electric light used, guarding, against, waste "in'that respect. When intending tenants call, the lady agent'; shows them the house, pointing out any advantages likely, to be overlooked. She draws attention' to -the condition of blankets, uui'tains, arid, chair-covers, the incoming tenant being required .to:give.them up in the satuo condition a.s they are received. A woman zs bettor suited for. this-part of the work than a man, her .knowledge uf household. matters giving her an advantage i;i this respect. : , _ ."■ | .When.one house is "let, the owner often recommends, the lady agent' to friends or- acquaintances .desirous, of letting their houses,--and in this way. a connection is' imllt :«p. It gives-a woman, an 'opportunity 'of seeing, different parts of the j country, undor pleasant. conditions, and (j(i' the. whole.,is pleasant, .remunerative work; ■•■' '.-'" . . ; -. ,■ ■' '.'• Jn.'n city the lady houso agent'acts, oil different' lines. She usually has an' office, where she interviews clients, and' where she keeps her list of properties to. bo -lot,', etc. . She, must employ one .or more assistants for office routine, ,aa her business requires, and someone .to'act.as' outdoor '■ assistant for the inspection of houses. Usually the lady agent also undertakes the letting of- rooms, chambers, and offices; .aiia'prooures paying guests for private families. During the summer months'■ a good business can. bo dono in this last-mentioned branch, but judicious'-, jfdvortising is needed. ' Before entering any house on .her list as a suitable . place for.. -the 'reception. of vjslt.gr«;i._tlii) .Jatly agent;.personally in«pi)cta the jireinlses, and makes strict inquiries as. .to the accommodation provided, the' catering, and the. habits of the-household. An agent is always"-re-sponsible' for tho visitors she intro'ducos, and it therefore behoves her to be' very careful to secure, references from intending guests before she places their names on her books. Another branch which the lady agent can make lucrativo is tho placing with suitable families of children sent over from India for education, _ and the improvement of their health.' Here, again, a woman's knowledge of children's requirements is very useful. Advertisements in Indian papers and recommendation by other: clients is ■ the way '.to mako a connection for this part, of, the business. , ; ;....■ ■.■ .. : As. a lady agent explained, it is very uphill work at first. .One needs, some capital, ; a vast amount of energy' and persovei;ance, and a determination not to fail; ,but;: given .'these; three, it: is not an. impossibility; for" a- .woman .to build tip-, for. herself a' mbney-mnking business, wnioh. ought'to increase, steadily as 'the years, go by.;': Too • much attention"cannot ho given to -mastering .every detail of tho work.'..; ; ' ■":.'.■;. ';,'::'■',::.': ...■"■'■

■ ;■'. .WEATHER'AND THE SKIN. Don't c g«t"it into; your head' that only dry hot weather is trying to the couiplesdon. All outdoor .conditions are trying:, wet or dry, hot or. cold. • The'winter .is sometimes harsher in its effects on the skin than the summer is. The', thing, to do is to so stimulate and feed and .fortify 'the skin that it, can stand 1 any conditions without danger of injury. I To; obtain' that perfect skin health you must use John Strange Winter's-inimi-table skin lotion,. "Lalcshmi." In [ bottles ,3s.- 6d. from ; all' dealers, in highclass, toilet;'requisites, or '3s. . 9d. post free, 'plainly' wrapped, from the Johii Strange -Winter Company, 228 Nathan's Building, Wellington.—Advt.

. 'As a truly'polito nation the French un-; doubtedly lead the world. The other'day; a famous Paris,dentist's servant opened, the door to a woebegone patient. "And whom, m'sieu," .he queried with tender regard, "shall. I have the misery of announcing?": '. . :, : . • A Dumfrifishire. woman, who, by. wav-. ing a fed petticoat, stopped an_ express train, which ,was in .danger owing to a tree, fallen lacross the .-line, has been awarded £5 ,by the Caledonian Railway Company.'

1 HINTS ABOUT YOUE HAIB AND HOME TREATMENT. ' If your hair is falling or. turning grey, do not worry, call on Miss Milsom, Hair Physician and Face Specialist, who diagnoses each case, treats and teaches ladies and gentlemen •• their proper treatment. Ml massuge practised by Mj 33 Milsom is the most sciontifao process, approved of by the leading medical fraternity of London and Pans. Single treatments, nom 3a. lid. All her preparations axe famous aud widespread, am i will not only cure, completely dandruff, foiling and grey hair, but positively pro . mote a thick, new growth in, a very short time. Shampooing, Mectrolysis, Hairdressing done . and taught. - Hair-'-work of every description. Correspondtnce invited. Consultation free. King's Chambers, Willis Street (opp. Carroll's). Telephone 811.—Advt SUPERFLUOUS Hair destroyed, 2s. Gd. Face and Body Massage, Shampooing, Manicuring, Pedicuring, Chiropody, Rheumatism and Nerve Troubles treated. Corpulency cured. Mrs. Hnllen, 208 Lambton Quay, opp. Kirkcaldie and Stains. "The man I marry," sho 6aid, "must be one who always' thinks before he speaks." "Then," replied the young gentleman at whom tho shaft had been aimed, "I fear he'll never ask you." Swallowing.a false .tooth .which had bocome detached from the vulcanite plate was tho .cause of a Lambeth lady's death,, and at tho inquest the coroner warned tho 'lipblic that vulcanite plates would only last.about two years, and there was danger if the shape of the mouth became