Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/281

 Popular Science Monthly

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���A Business Office in the Open Air

ONE of the most remarkaljle testi- monials ever given for the fresh air cure is that of Roger Babson, the famous statistician, at his Wellesley Hills, Mass., office. The confinement of Mr. Babson's work broke his health to such an extent that his physician ordered him to live in the open, even during his working hours.

A large office, built in the rear of li building, was so arranged that it couli be enclosed in stormy weather. As ma} be supposed and as our illustration.-- show, his office force is heavily clothed : the altitude is high, and the thermometer often drops below the zero mark.

The main difficulty was found in oper- ating their typewriters. It was neces- sary that the hands of the typists be pro- tected with heavy woolen mittens ; but even with this covering, it was almost impossible to operate the machines with speed. The difficulty was solved when Mr, Babson suggested the use of two curved sticks. These are held one in each hand, to depress the keys, in much the manner that a Xylophone performer

��Roger Babson and his staff work in the open air. As the thermometer often drops below the zero mark, the office force must be heavily clothed. The heavy woolen mittens make it impossible to operate the machines with speed, so two curved sticks are provided with which the keys are de- pressed. Good speed is thus attained

plays upon his instrument. After some practice, the stenographers become ex- pert in the use of these novel tools.

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