Page:Frances Wood Shimer 1826-1901.djvu/18

 so large a portion of her time, was not the soul of her work and ambition, nor her chief delight. The real thing was the school. Neither did her tastes lead her to select this business life from choice or preference. She knew that maintenance and perpetuity depended on the strictest economy and attention to details. The odds against her, because a woman, were not trifling. A public unaccustomed to the innovation of “a woman in business,” if not openly expressing its disapproval in words and actions, retired behind an attitude of cool indifference, and to succeed where men failed was a greater offense. She felt keenly the chill, yet hers was the true noblesse of character.

It required the most exact skill in finances to meet obligations. In the purchase of household supplies in large quantities a very trifling difference in price was a matter of so great importance that a single transaction might turn the scale for ultimate failure of success, and, to those who did not know the facts, might seem unnecessary economy. Purchases of land, or unimproved lands taken for school indebtedness, were utilized in raising fruits, grain, and stock for the school consumption. Mrs. Shimer valued money and possessions not for herself, but for what they would do for the school. She had no desire for extravagant or ostentatious display; her tastes, habits, dress were marked with rare simplicity.

Few of those who profited by the advantages of the school knew the cost in strenuous labor, personal sacrifice, planning, thought, and time (reserving daily a scant four hours for sleep) which were the magic forces used by Mrs. Shimer to win success. Work in the open air had apparently restored her health, enabling her to supervise every department of outdoor work, attending to her correspondence at night. This implied not only an expenditure of time and strength, but the sacrifice of time for study, reading, society, and recreation. Intense in whatever she undertook, her plans were always on a large scale, and with a view to the future. They were invariably revolved and re-revolved, viewed from all points, changed, and modified, until not only the best results should follow, but in such wise as to secure them with least expenditure of time and effort. On account of this careful deliberation, she was extremely reticent about conferring