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February 3, 1935      Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine           Page 3

Why Women Won't Stay at Home

Hitler and Mussolini would have a hard time telling American ladies to confine themselves to a kitchen. In Los Angeles alone, they do everything a man can do, do it as well - and in some cases better.

By Barbara Miller
Herr Hitler of Germany, Il Duce of Italy and others of their dictatorial ilk would have an extremely difficult time with the working women of Los Angeles. This is because an American woman will do everything that a mere male undertakes and in a considerable number of cases do it as well, if not better - again I state - than a mere man. Since this piece is being written by a woman you will, of course, understand that my opinion is based on fact and not in any sense motivated by feminine pride. 
If Mussolini or Hitler ordered all American women back to their sweltering kitchens, the result would be this. We would think the gentlemen were trying to be funny and go right on with our jobs. We probably would consider it a poor attempt at humor; rather childish.

Here's Certain Proof
If you think my statements exaggerated, let me point with pride to Jan Edwards,22 years of age, a sophomore at a local junior college. Probably Miss Edwards one day will be a domestic as either Herr Hitler or Il Duce would wish. She is slim, very pretty, amusing; but these traits in no way detract from her ability to outdo a man in the American pursuit of business. At the moment she is running a co-operative store, the Trade Mart, She organized the mart in July, 1933.
What is meant by a co-operative store? Economic authorities have moaned over the difficulties of the book-keeping in a shop where credit replaces cash; but little Miss Edwards is getting along nicely, thank you. 
Perhaps you have a typewriter in good condition. You bring it to the Mart and get credit on the books for its value. This credit may be translated to into dental work or insurance, maid service or riding lessons. Perhaps you are in desperate need of a "permanent" or want your manuscript typed. These also are on the "credit" list.

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Bessie Fuhrer Erb, the first concert master of the first woman's symphony orchestra in the world.

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Mrs. Mayme V. Matthay sells surgical appliances.

Doing Business Without Cash
There is no cash register at the Trade Mart, with its 600 members. It's all a matter of figures in the book. The only cash comes from advertising in the Mart's monthly bulletin, which goes to pay light and telephone bills. The 10 per cent service charge taken by the Mart is paid in trade.
Miss Edwards and her two boy assistants go to classes in the morning and keep shop in the afternoon. On the first display day before Christmas, the Trade Mart "sold" $1200 worth of goods. Most of the purchases were in the 10 to 50-cent class.
What, you might ask with reason is a youngster at 22 doing as the manager of a co-operative? Jan Edwards is the answer.
Is Miss Edwards, of herself, insufficient proof of the contention that woman is superior to mere man? If so, I might cite 100 women in Los Angeles who stand on their own feet and contribute their full share of the enterprise that makes the world go round; but instead I shall make this point with half a dozen examples of what men might dismiss with the trite observation: "What strange things these women do!"

Delightful Mrs. Mims
Consider now the case of Mrs. Myrtle Mims. Mrs. Mims, a delightful ninety pounds of femininity, is the king-pin potentate of one of the most successful aviation businesses on the great United Airport today. Yet it was little more than four years ago that Myrtle Mims became the proud wife of a very proud aviator. She anticipated an entirely domestic career. And then one evening her husband roared away into the dusk, something happened-and Myrtle was alone.
After an interval of grief and black despair, Myrtle turned to an old friend of her husband Luke. They worked out a plan and she took over the business that had been abandoned when Luke "went away." There was a fleet of three planes, two open jobs and a cabin ship. She unlocked the dusty office, stepped inside and took charge. 
She engaged the services of the most competent pilots she could muster from the ranks of former transport airlines; she recalled Luke's former students; reorganized the ground school classes, and studied nights and worked days to perfect herself in all that Luke had not already taught her. She handled the books and made connections with his former charter trip customers. In other words, she went to work. And she has been at it ever since.

Keeps Her Bungalow, Too
In addition to all that, she keeps her little bungalow in Burbank as neat and clean as one of those model bungalows one sees in department store windows. 
Now, a year and a half after the tragic death of her husband, she, single handed, conducts the most flourishing flying school on the airport. 
She uses an airplane herself, just as any other woman would use an automobile-for transportation. She flies anywhere that her business takes her-to San Fancisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Yuma, Phoenix or Nevada. In a field of competition which has licked many men, a combination of grit, stamina and attention to business has made of this small determined girl one of the most successful and outstanding operators in the field of private commercial aviation. She is proving that the tiniest, most reticent "clinging vine" type of woman can stick out her chin and carry on in this changing world.

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The dimunutive little lady on the right, Mrs. Myrtle Mims, is just welcoming a check from one of her flying students. Since her late husband's death, she has been directing one of the most successful flying businesses at the United Airport.

There Are Saleswomen Also
Even in the selling end of business, Los Angeles women decline to follow orthodox lines. Take Mrs. Mayme V. Matthay. As a very youthful matron, she longed to study osteopathy. Her mother objected. A dutiful daughter, Mrs. Matthay gave up her dream of a life outside her home. Her sedate parent called it "unladylike."
But when her husband died, Mrs. Matthay took over the Matthay Professional Supply Company and learned the business. She witnessed operations in order to understand the new instruments just coming into use. She familiarized herself with sickroom needs. The eldest of three sons was 18 at the time of his father's death. He arranges his high school schedule to devote hald his time to the company, half to classes. They held weekly conferences-the Brothers Matthay and their mother.
Even now Mrs. Matthay never misses a day at the shop. She keeps regular hours. Her eldest son has his own business, her second works with her and her third is an attorney.
And this is the woman who meekly agreed when her mother banned extra home activities!
The joke about the woman motorist is venerable. But one Los Angeles woman-at least- daily is making such gibes absurd. For Mrs. Anna Clavner runs a school where women-and men-learn to drive auombiles.
After the deep snows of New York State, Mrs. Clavner found Los Angeles in February very pleasant as a winter resort. That was in 1930. A woman of
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LaDessa Gibson Schaffnit directs the business side of a cemetery

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Mrs. Anna Clavner runs an automobile driving school.