The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-07

which is brokers' Office, the following sign
is displayed: Ladies trading ROOM through
the open Board of Trade" A number of
women were found standing about the door
and sitting in the office most of whom were
plainly dressed, nearly all were tall and thin,
with crowfeet in the corner of their ewes
Odd enough, they bore sort OF general re-
semblance as if they belonged to one family.
though the diversity of features was very
great. The resemb lance was possibly due to
the expressions of the faces, which seemed
to be regulated by the same general feelings.
Hope, fear anxiety and determination were
represented in each countenance; no smile
without restraint, and every expression was
more or less guarded. Of course they were
talking about the market the prices of
wheat, the McGeoch failure, but more par
ticularly about the rapid rise in wheat. I'm
fortunately, most OF the party had counted
on the decline of the price of that product,
and all their margins had been swept away
like the chalk figures from the call board.
Some of them" said the broker, are so
far as can learn, very estimable women, but
l should rather my wife did not speculate.
1t changes a woman's character almost COM
pletely. She seems to absorb too many of
the sayings and mannerisms of the man of
business In association with them you
scarcely feel that they are women, so little
do you hear from them that appertains to
of them are an abomination. To their credit
it may be said that very few indulge in
strong drink, and they bear reverSes of for
tune without resorting to profanity; but, to
express the idea briefly, we SO impressed
by their want of formality and the absence
of sex resemblance that we soon feel that
that tineSse OF courtesy existing between gem
temen and ladies of the best society would
be altogether out of place with them. We
cease to lift our hats when We meet them,
while on the contrary it would be perfectly
consistent with the social atmosphere which
seems to surround them to offer hand and
say: How do you do, Smith; will you
have cigar? l have found many men who
praised their qualities Of self reliance and in
dependence, | have even done business for
some married women with the consent of
their husbands; but for my own part l say
when 20 home let me hear no more OF the
saleboard until l come back to business. My
idea of wife is i woman who knows how to
| be woman"
Mrs Jennie Wilson, manager of THE La
dies Trading Parlors," rooms 60 and 20 of
the Exchange building, said, when asked for
information in regard to the subject: Now,
if you want facts, l can give them to you;
but if you merely want TO give us a breeze
| you can do that just as well without taking
| up my time. No doubt you have been talk
ing to some one else about us already. Just
| speak to one OF the brokers down stairs and
| you can get almost any kind OF story you
want They are losing their trade for
| the reason that women are beginning to
learn where the exclusive places are and
! they are concentrating their trade there.
Some of the old brokers who have enjoyed
| their patronage are accordingly disgruntled."
What do you think OF women as traders"
my opinion is that they are cooler headed
and more careful than men. 1t is all nom
| sense about their neglecting their home ties.
They do become careworn as a matter Of
course, but they are less likely to become
! ruined by speculation than men are. 1t is
true that they kick when they lose, but the
men do that, too We generally get along
all right. To-day there was a little more
confusion than we have ever had before.
! Nearly all our margins were lost, and most
| OF our customers thought the market would
| huctuate They did not calculate that it
would go up so-s:eadily and with sucn rapid
strides. Our trades run from 1000 to 900
| bushels ordinarily, but some ladies buy
heavier occasionally. Most of them are very
careful, and they generally come in regularly
| on certain days. One OF them is the wife of
q well-known broker, who brought her to
me and told me 10 take her trade and do the
! best I could for her. Nearly all OF our GUS
toners are married ladies, who play in
whatever their husbands give them"
How about clearinghouse keepers and
working women?'
| 1--we never see them, nor do We have many
widows. Women possessed of large means
and altogether indie pendent trade on the reg
ular board through brokers' Most of those
who trade regularly make money. ! have
! heard of quite q number who have picked
up neat little fortunes in this very way.
! Some of them manage things SO quietly that
| they are not known to the business public.
You can be very sure of one thing, and that
| is, that if a woman wins money she will put
it TO the best use. 1t will not be left around
| in the saloons and on the faro-tables, but she
will take care to see that somebody is made
| Il -