Popular Science Monthly 



253 



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. 



