Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-12

Chickering. secretary; Miss Strong, Miss Thomp-
son, Miss Wood, Miss Pentland. Miss James
Miss Shellabarger. Miss Kennedy, Miss Patter-
son, Miss Alley, Mrs. Wight, Miss Jewell and
the Misses Childs.
WORK FOR ALL.
In addition to the fancy articles which are
afforded market through the medium of the
exchange, orders are taken for the making of
preserves, cake. plum pudding, &C. In fact,
there Is no gift or talent which women can exer-
else that the exchange will suffer to 90 to waste
for lack of encouragement. 1t is the intention
TO start work room, where plain sewing and
dressmaking will be done. Women who are
out OF work will be given an opportunity in
TINS way to earn some money. They will be
furnished the material and then paid for what
they do.
81 don't suppose that this branch of our en-
terprise can be made to pay" remarked Mrs.
Weed the secretary of the WOmen's Home.
whom The STAR reporter found at the rooms.
" 1t never has in other places, I believe. You
see, many of the most deserving women are in
competent seamstresses. and their work is of
little value. Still. here is where the charity
Will come In. | think that it is great deal
better for all concerned to give these women a
chance to work than to give them money.
But you must not think that all our work
will be badly DONE" she continued. "When
we receive orders for work from ladies'. as we
superintendent Of the very capable young lady
who is in charge of our rooms, and incapable
women will not be allowed to undertake this
kind of work"
"Are there many cases of deserving and needy
women in this District" asked the reporter.
Yes. think that there are a great many"
was the reply. 'The ladies of the home make a
regular provision for such cases, and you can
see from the number of articles that have been
sent in here that there are many women who
INF an n 10
money"
Il do hope" resumed Mrs. Weed, 'sthat peo-
pie Will come here for their Christmas things.
mere are SO many pretty things which know
that they will buy somewhere else, and just
think how much more good it would do If they
Will only make their purchases at the exchange.
They will not only secure nice things, but they
will have the pleasure Of knowing that they
have aided those of their sex who are in strait
eneu and needy circumstances.
NO UTOPIAN IDEAS.
The funds necessary to inaugurate this work
has been obtained mostly from private sources;
but in order that the contributions may take a
more systematic form and the cooperation of a
larger number secured. membership cards will be
issued upon the payment Of 81 per year. 1t is
the intention to increase the number of the
young lady's committee, and to make the enter
prise practical and worthy charity. The found
ers entertain no Utopian ideas as to what will
be accomplished, but they believe that the plan
offers remedy for many existing evils
in the present system Of private and ndiscrimi-
nate charity. They are firmly convinced that
the money now devoted to the relief of poor
women can more effectuay secure this end in
the hands Of the Women's Exchange, while the
notifying and degrading influence Of direct
charity will not be felt. Ladies in reduced cir
cumstances will have an opportunity of earning
money without offense to their pride. while
those who are inclined to trade upon the COM
passionate charity of their fellows will be COM
PEELED to work for what they receive