WESTON, GEORGE. Mary minds her business. il *$1.75 (2½c) Dodd
20–4960
Of the long line of Josiahs of the firm of Josiah Spencer & son, successful manufacturers, Mary’s father was the last. His cousin, Stanley Woodward, had long been figuring on the eventuality of Josiah’s demise, to get entire control of the business. But he had not counted on Mary. His first shock came when Mary had herself chosen president of the corporation and proceeded, with the coaching of a friendly judge and business councilor to run things for herself. And run them she did in a most revolutionary manner. She employed women to such an extent that the factory was finally worked entirely by women on a greater level of efficiency than ever. Other reforms went hand in hand—a rest room, nurseries, kindergarten, laundry, an orchestra of one hundred pieces all played by women. Of course there was fighting to do, Uncle Stanley to be over-ruled, his son Burdon to be shown his place. When the scheme was out of the woods and the most pressing suitor married off, the woman in Mary was alone and aweary and it was then that Archey Forbes, the construction engineer, came into his own.
Booklist 16:315 Je ’20
“The light story has sometimes, under Mr Weston’s pen, developed a diaphanous quality, which has made us wonder why it was worth writing at all. Now in surprising manner Mr Weston has discovered some ideas—not very new ones perhaps, but nevertheless things of substance.”
+ Boston Transcript p4 Je 2 ’20 200w
“Brightly written, full of action, and with a love interest kept discreetly subordinate to that of the extremely efficient Mary’s management of the factory, this story also has the merit of dealing with a question which many will think has been thoroughly answered—the proper sphere of women in this age.”
+ N Y Times 25:30 Je 27 ’20 400w
WEYL, MAURICE. Happy woman. *$1.75 (2c) Kennerley