The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-06
SOMETHING FOR WOMEN TO Do.
A Lady Who Earns $4,000 Year From
Preserves and Pickles.

nave often heard it complained that
there was nothing for women to do hi
which they could earn as much "A men.
rerhaps there is nothing in the same
line OF business as that followed by
men, but, taking all the professions fol-
lowed by women, it seems to me that
thefe Is great deal of money made by
them- The enormous sums made by
singers ana actresses are too well known
TO need mentioning. But there are other
INES OF business that women NAV follow
who have no natural gifts such as these
heard. the other day, of a lady who
was making HANDSOME income for
herself, and all in the most quiet way.
This lady is a Miss Martin. I do not
suppose that there is any objection to
my mentioning her name, as it is wei
known among great many people.
Miss Martin is the daughter of gentle
man living near Auburn, in this State,
who at one time was very wealthy; but,
although the family still live in the old
homestead, which is noble mansion,
they are very much reduced in cireunf-
stances Miss Martin, when she be-
came old enough to want money, and
to know that it did not always come for
the waiting, cast about for something to
do BY which she could at least earn q
decent living and not be dependent upon
her father. 1t seemed as though all the
avenues were closed. She was not
gifted in any particular way, though she
q Of =,
and had all the advantages that came
from high social position But she
neither sang well enough for stage pur-
poses, nor had she any histrionic talent.
In giving the subject serious eonsidera-
ton, she remembered that there was Ole
thing she could do very well, and that
was picking and preserving. She told
her friends that she was going to make
a large quantity of pickles and preserves
OF different kinds, and that she wanted
to sell them. knowing what an excel
lent housekeeper she WAS. they knew
that anything that was made under her
supervision would be sure to be good, so
she had no trouble in selling all she
made the first year The second wear
she made more vet, and was unable to
supply the demand. The fourth year she
increased her facilities, and her reputa-
ton had by this time spread so far that
she did very large business, and even
sold to some of the larger stores in New
\ DIRK. Now, friend of hers told me
the other day that her profits from
pickles and preserves reach the very
comfortable sum of Sc, 900 to $4,000 a
year. And she only works from May to
November Auburn being a little far
from the New York markets, where
fruit can be bought best and cheapest.
Miss Martin has come down aud taken
a place at Glen Cove, to be near her
friend, Mrs 5. l.. Barlow, as we'll as to
gain the advantage of a nearer residence
to New York. One of the secrets of
Miss Martin 5 success is that everything
she makes is the very best of its kind
All the ingredients she uses in her pick
les and preserves are the best in the
market, and, though tshe employs a
number OF men and women, she super
intends everything herself and, while
her articles are all in the shops, they
have a home-like taste that is unmis-
taxable. All the jars bear her initials,
written in. fac-simile of her autograph,
on a neat label on the side A sister OF
Miss Martin, on seeing her success, cast
about her for something to do, OF
course, she did not want to go into the
same. line of business, and finally she
struck upon cake-making as a means OF
livelihood, and her cakes are now al
most as celebrated as her sister pickles
and preserves. She lives at Auburn,
but she receives orders from New York,
and even from Newport. Miss Martins
cakes are considered an essential part
of a well-regulated pantry in New York.
--Ne1O York Letter.