Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-11-22
EARNING A LIVING.

The question which Interests wemeI
IN particular at present 10 how 10 oblaiI
q living without becoming factory handI
on being employed IN shops, womei
are realizing their importance I'D factor
IN the commercial welfare OF the eOtn
thy, and are gradually claiming reeogni
tion as such, The consequence u ~
abundance OF decorative art work BY
women, which has gained such q popp
lafity and which returns Very respect
able profit to tho laboier Women have
acquired night to enter into slmosl
any business by their persiatcnee aud
remarkably good work, end we have nc
sympathy for grl who Hlts at home
with folded hands because she can't
earn wages enough TO dress herself or 10
gerye as pocket money,
At the wareroOms Of one OF tho deco
fatiyo art societies reporter was
informed that goods were received from
Gil pats OF tho county, II was not
necessary for woman TO present her
work In person, The goods or the
article could be sent to the society by
expro 0, and II Il passed tho committee
II would DO sold-ii not, the package
would be returned to ita sender vt her
expense. Tho managcress said that the
received dozens Of articles each week oi
various excellence. "The craze at pres.
ent IL are'screcng. We receive them
pGihted aGd embroidered and carved.
aad they sell from $40 to 1900, The
moro cxpenGiye ones require u great
deal OF work, but the profit woman
receives IL fully 200 per ccn.um Crcwel
work ior mpniel coverings ~ greatly
esteemed, and II well done amply repNys
woman for her trouble, Tho articles
we receive range from an embroidered
pOckothandhcrchicf NJ q sample to oil
paintings, We gell thcm 10 qaickly as
We Gun, because to us IL 10 n matter OF
business, and, "a our percentage is not
more than 0 cents on tho dollar, we are
obliged TO dispose Of large quantity OF
goods before VIC realize any profit worth
speaking Of The things that sell most
readily with us are decorated pottery
and household utensils in unique de.
signs. Painted porcelain and brica
brac are quickly disposed OF, because
the ono is necessity, the other is an
elegant fancy. We have received lately
numerous plaques in mctal--brass and
bronze especially, The design, instead
OF being in relief, is intaglio, that is, 1t
is carved irom the surface. The women
seem to proIer the most commonplace
subjects, such Us fruits and flowers, or
fish and birds. Although they are quite
pretty and are valued ut from $40 to $50
for a plaque tho size Of large meat.
platter; they will soon become tiresome.
The original is what we want, and II q
woman can manage to yamp IN idea Of
an attractive sort she is sure OF securing
neat sum OF money. The high art we
have no room for. Great paintings
from unknown women will not sell for
the price of their frames. If a woman
is On artist she needs an artistic atmos-
phcre in which to sell her work. We
are more troubled with women who have
mission than we ere with the disposi'
ton of our old stock. Apropos OF
paintings, there is one calling that goes
far to redeem women painters from gen.
eral condemnation. II is that OF tint.
ing. The caloring OF photographs has
grown to be almost n separate art, and it
has become wonderfully profitable. The
photograph OF q well.known painting
can be purchased for from % cents to
So, and if colored with due regard to
its requirements it can be sold at times
Tor as much as $40 or $50. These
colored photographs are taking to q
great extent the place of oil paintings,
for they have the appearance OF being
highly finished water.colors' Portrait
photographs, if colored in the manner l
have mentioned, are usually satisfactory
to tho woman's patrons and call for q
very respectable price.
Painting on glass for cathedral
effects in dwelling houses has been
given up to women, and we have quite
an array, as you see, OF pieces OF plate
glass that bear the representation OF
melancholy maidens and withered
flowers. A piece OF glass that has been
we'll painted, and measures 2 by teet,
will sell very quickly for S25, We have
numbers of commissions to have dinner
or tea sets painted. If person has an
exceptionally fine piece of Dresden or
Sevres ware that has become discolored
or marred in any way upon thesssurface,
the damage can be remedied by a brush
in the hands OF a skillful woman. A
tea set OF dainty cups and saucers,
which could be purchased i'll a china
stora for SO, could, il beautitied by o
bunch Of rosebuds, violets or forget.me-
nots, be sold for $50 or $50. The paint.
ing OF leather hus been sanctioned by
fashion, and is very pleasant employ.
ment. Pocket hooks with the name OF
the owner painted in one corner, fans
with Watteaus on their silks, lamp
shades and an infinite variety OF shades
are decorated by hand, and have been
given almost exclusively into the
care of women. One of the prettiest
ornaments of the drawing. room and one
OF the articles of which We sell large
numbers are those beautiful shells lined
with the gorgeous hues Of mother Of.
pearl, in the interior painted with some
choice seascape, the shadings OF the
pearl lending themselves to the illusion
of tossing biilows and sunset skies.
From what have tod you, it will not
he difficult ior you to understand that,
this cry that women can tind no congo
NAL employment i, he yeriest nonsense"
The interior decorators employ num-
bers of designers whose entire business
is to furnish worlmen with ideas in
reference TO the carving or general shape
of furniture. These designers are paid
large salaries, ranging from S12OO to
$1,000 year. The reporter ascertained
that two of the best-known decorators
in New York employ women in prefer
ence to men, and that their work is done
in their own rooms without the espion-
age so much complained of. The more
important manufacturers employ per.
sons to paint flowers and various designs
upon the upholstery Of drawing room
furniture and pay thom either by the
piece or give them very liberal salary.
The manufacturers Of wall papers and
makers of decorated cards offer two or
three times each year large premiums to
the persons who will bring them original
designs, and winning one of these prizes
is sufficient to make a woman's fame as
designer. Through the necessity of
making salable articles as nearly perfect
as possible, the employers require that
the applicant for employment shall
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