Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-28

An UnS4ue New York Institution.

From FTeaad's Music and Drama.
Number East Twentieth street is curiosity
| shop. Il is generally known as the '.Woman's
Exchange" But right here want to say that
the half has never been told about 1t, and it is
far too generally unknown altogether.
1t IS not long ago since l myself asked the
question. What is the Womsn's Exchanged"
| and IS / find 1t often repeated when the sub
lect is mentioned propose now to answer It
briefly. az far as am able. In the first place
the Exchange is bazaar where one can
purchase anything from a Canton flannel
pig 10 camers hair shawl: it il also
restaurant where the incest of home
prepared food is served in the daintiest
way In Doth departments orders are filed to
suit personal tastes and eccentrcities. So far
| as have seen. Or as have been able TO learn,
the place IS managed with very little red tape.
| The necessities ofthe worker seems 10 be the
chief condition for receiving work No special
standard o. excellence is established and while
the most exquisite French cmbroideries that
are done in America are furnished to order
here. The Cci'esf oI rag dolls or the most In
slgDintan! Of paG-wipers are not barred out All
articles 81 W0man's liandiwork may be- con-
signed % ttG Exchange. where. if possible they
VIII ho sold. whether they are valued at $500
or ) cents. For these sales Il commission OF ten
per Gems j. charged.
Tho broad; basis OF great phiiant hro1y is
established, and the Exchange thus escapes the
petty iaTgoWHess of sectarian or Of merely local
work from every part of the United States
| the goods come; from the pine woods 81 Maine
ana tile Grat.ieS OF Iowa, from California and
! Florida; 'fa1i Chicago and New Orleans; bat
! chiefly New York and its vicinity supply the
ever-ii,creasin9 demand
The history Of the society Is one full of inter-
est: TIE incidents which have come within the
know edge Of the managers full OF romance and
patf,ds. have space only for n brief mention
, 0i few OF the most important Iacts.
Four years age the society was organized and
when their one room was opened thirty articles
were exhibited for sale Last November when
an account Ct stock was taken there was on the
three floors II the building $3.50 things es-
tiBated Is 81 least SO. coo. Since the urgsni-
zatipn q the society more than eS,.030 has been
paid 10 consigDors OF this sum about $50 Ulo
was paid during the last year. showing how it
has gso"ii n usefulness and importance In
fact, il has outgrOwn its present quarters. The
goods are GeapeG up on tables Overlooking the
shelves, depending from hooks in piles on the
floor. everywhere or anywhere. to the
dlsmay Of the Woodworking attend
ants who are always nobiv striving
TO bring order from chaos. 1t is
evident Nat 3 more eommodons building is re-
Gnired. and for This and for the ptrpose Of ex-
tending tn, work the managers are now endear-
orinc' to Tsirt3 fund of >50CNO. 4 nucleus for
| this fund has already been formed by subscrip-
tons which a,lcunt 10 seyera. thousand dollars
The tr'st IS in thu hands of Judge William g.
Choare. '*ho Is warmly interested III the welfare
of this society. OF which bis wife is the presi-
dent. The mere see of the Exchange the
more am convinced that if is not Gniy the most
benehceiit, Dut he most intelligent work for
woman now demanding public attention IT.
has for ito foundation the true principle of
bringing into a higher estimation the ordinary
avocations ri women by making it possible for
her To receive remuneration for such things
One great reason why women complain of the
DhlTo"ness Of their sphere OF work IS because
as genera: thing. they are nor able to earn
money 10y their home work and il is because at
the Nomans Exchange they are To earn money
IN their own way that the work is OF ncstina-
bic value.
1t should commend itself to every one IT If
really good investment for men and women of
wealth. for who knows where the fortune Of TO-
day may be Tomorrow: \ Young lady who had
spent seven years in studying music under the
best masters, when reycrscs of fortune came
found heiffeT pupils nor Income from her attain
mehts. Out from leitncss in embroidery, which
Size acquired with little practice. She now
earns from 40 io SD Il week at the T., change
where her WORK has become so Wei known
tIiHt she has mere orders than she can ill.,
An English lady, who came 10 New York
armed with letters of introduction from The
historian ffoude, and others. with testimo-
ni1is OF her ability to teach. could obtain no M
pills. and would have starved had she lot given
up her sna;ispuatlons of the piano to manipulate
Hour. she Row earns SIP week a. a biscuit
maker. Another lady was expert a. Il member
and quickly had more rents 10 be repaired than
She could well attend to- But ore might 70 or
indefinitely multiplying incidents and iilustra-
lions and have time now to say only a word
| in regard to the !unch-room department. which
mas been marked success from The time ii was
opened. Families are supplied from it with
homemade bread, cake. rolls. ielIies. preserves.
pickles, etc. To appreciate it one must lunch
at the quiet tables. with their dainty service
aad contrast 1t with the usual CHATTER anu bang
OF the ordinary restaurant.